Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) crash, Dec 2, 1978, Des Moin...
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident on December 2, 1978 near Des Moines Iowa, United States with no fatalities. Cause: Crew misjudged distance and...
- Date: December 2, 1978
- Aircraft: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
- Location: Des Moines Iowa, United States
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Crew misjudged distance and altitude on final approach, striking an embankment short of the runway. Airframe and windshield icing in sleet and freezing rain were contributing factors.
On 2 December 1978 a Douglas C-47 (DC-3) N41447 operated by SMB Stage Line was flying a cargo service from Chicago to Des Moines, Iowa. On final approach the crew misjudged the aircraft's altitude and it struck an embankment about 300 feet short of the runway 03 threshold. The undercarriage was torn off, the aircraft nosed over and it was destroyed. Both pilots were injured.