Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) crash, Sep 5, 1945 (17 killed)
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident on September 5, 1945 near Istres-Le Tubé Bouches-du-Rhône, France with 17 fatalities. Cause: The pilot likely...
- Date: September 5, 1945
- Aircraft: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
- Location: Istres-Le Tubé Bouches-du-Rhône, France
- Fatalities: 17
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: The pilot likely mistook a mist bank for high ground after a night takeoff in mist, pulled the nose up and stalled, with Flying Control not having warned him of the mist.
Dakota KP235 of 78 Squadron, transferring from Istres to Egypt, took off at night into thick mist. The pilot likely mistook the mist bank for high ground, pulled up and stalled, and the aircraft struck the ground and was destroyed. Seventeen people were killed, including four aircrew and 13 ground crew passengers.