1943 – Oct 29, USAAF C-47 engine loss, approach crash, Hoffman-Mackall AAF, NC–    14

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-19-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

 —  14  Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description, USAAF Crash, October 29, 1943

—  14  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 566.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1944:

“Date:                          Friday 29 October 1943          Time:  19:16

“Type:                         Douglass C-47A-15-DL (DC-3)

“Owner/operator:        United States Army Air Force – USAAF

“Registration:              42-23391

“MSN:                         9253

….

“Narrative:

“Part of a nighttime paratroop dropping exercise,  an Army Air Force C-47 with a complement of 15 passengers and a crew of 4 takes off from Hoff-Mackall Army Air Force Base, NC, equipped with two fully loaded externally mounted para-racks. ‘While on its way to the drop zone, the no. 1 engine failed. The propeller was feathered and the pilot decided to return to Mackall AAF. He did not jettison the para-racks….After a slightly high final approach the pilot decided to abort the approach. Full power was added on the remaining engine and the airplane banked against the no. 1 engine. The C-47 partially stalled, the left wing tip struck treetops and the airplane cartwheeled into the ground.” (ASN, USAAF Crash, Oct 29, 1943.)

Mireles: “At 1916, a Douglas C-47A crashed at Camp Mackall Army Air Field, Hoffman, North Carolina, killing fourteen crew and paratroopers and seriously injuring six others. Investigators stated,

“Plane was engaged in a night paratroop dropping mission and equipped with two fully loaded [externally mounted] para-racks. Before reaching dropping area the left engine went out. Pilot pulled out of the formation and went on single engine procedure, feathered the propeller, etc., and headed for Mackall Field for an emergency landing. Paratroopers were ordered not to jump because of low altitude (approximately 300 feet above terrain). Pilot made a normal single engine flight with slightly high, straight-in approach at Camp Mackall Field causing slight overshooting of the field. Pilot changed mind about landing, pulled landing gear up, applied power again and attempted to go around for another approach. From this time on the airplane was in a partially stalled condition as evidenced by the indicative vibration dis­tinctly felt by survivors. The pilot went into a gentle bank against the dead engine, which gradually steep­ened until reaching an angle of about 40 degrees. Left wingtip struck treetops and cartwheeled airplane into the ground.”

“Investigators stated that the pilot should have jettisoned the two para-racks when the engine failed and that he should not have attempted a turn into the dead engine. It was also noted that the airplane had been serv­iced with 91-octane fuel and was heavily loaded. Inves­tigators recommended that all transport airplanes oper­ating with very heavy loads be serviced only with 100- octane fuel.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 566.)

Source

Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Army Air Force, Douglas C-47A-15-DL, Oct 29, 1943. Accessed at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19431029-5

Mireles, Anthony J.  Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 2:  July 1943 – July 1944).  Jefferson, NC:  McFarland and Co., 2006.