1952 — Nov 14, USAF C-119C Flying Boxcar flies into mt. (overcast), 20M E of Seoul, Korea–all 44

–44 Aviation Safety Network. USAF C-119C Flying Boxcar crash near Cho-ok So. Korea.
–44 Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 54.
— 7 crew
–37 passengers

Narrative Information

Gero:
“Date: 14 November 1952 (c.14:45)
“Location: Near Songch’on-ni, Kyonggi-do, South Korea
“Operator: US Air Force
“Aircraft type: Fairchild C-119C (51-2551A)

“All 44 American servicemen aboard (37 passengers and a crew of seven) were killed in the crash of the twin-engine transport, which took place some 20 miles (30km) east of Seoul. En route from Ashiya Air Base in Japan, the aircraft struck a mountain and burned while approaching to land at a US military base, designated K-16, using ASF instrument procedures. Its undercarriage still retracted, the C-119 was on a westerly heading and flying level longitudinally, though banked slightly to the right, when it crashed at an elevation of about 2,000ft (600m). The base weather at the time of the accident was overcast, with solid coverage at approximately 3000ft (1,000m) and scattered clouds down to around 1,500ft (500m), which obscured the tops of the surrounding mountains, including the one hit by 51-2551A. The visibility was about 7 miles (11km). The Air Force investigation revealed no evidence of inaccuracy in the aircraft’s pressure altimeter reading or any indication of power plant failure; the suspected cause of the crash was, however, not disclosed.” (Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 54.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar crash near Cho-ok So. Korea, 14 November 1952. Accessed 6-3-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19521114-0

Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.