Douglas DC-3C

Douglas DC-3C

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02/28/2011. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "This Douglas Model
DC-3A-456 was ordered by the USAAF as a C-47A-30-DK s/n
43-48193 and delivered on July 24, 1944. It was transferred to the RAF under Lend-Lease on August 1, 1944 as a Dakota Mk.III s/n KG777. By December 1944, it had been assigned to RAF No. 231 Squadron based at RCAF Station Lachine, Dorval, Quebec, Canada which was tasked with ferrying American- and Canadian-built aircraft across the Atlantic to the UK.

On May 2, 1946, it was sold to Eldorado Mining & Refining Co. of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and registered CF-DGJ. The aircraft was transferred to Eldorado Aviation of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and used to carry passengers and freight for Eldorado Nuclear Ltd. and Northern Transportation Co. to northern Canada.

The aircraft crashed on December 4, 1957 about 62 mls (100 km) North-Northwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta. The DC-3 had departed Edmonton, Alberta at 11:37 hours for a flight to Port Radium, Northwest Territories, Canada with refueling stops a Fort Smith and Yellowknife. The aircraft climbed to 9,000 ft (2,743 km) on a direct route to Fort Smith.

At 13:20 hours the aircraft was about abeam Fort McMurray when it encountered freezing rain. The course was changed to Embarras, Alberta with the intention of joining the airway and following it as far as Fort Smith. Ice built up rapidly and the aircraft descended to 7,000 ft (2,134 m). This altitude could not be maintained, so the crew continued down to 5,000 ft (1,524 m), still running through rain squalls. Further altitude was lost and at 4,500 ft (1,372 m) severe turbulence was encountered. This, together with the accumulation of ice, caused the plane to descend further until it struck trees. The captain closed the throttles and carried out a forced landing. There were no fatalities.

The probable cause was: 'The aircraft continued its flight into an area of freezing precipitation until the accumulation of ice and severe turbulence resulted in partial loss of control during which the aircraft struck trees'."


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02/28/2011. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "This Douglas Model DC-3A-456 was ordered by the USAAF as a C-47A-30-DK s/n 43-48193 and delivered on July 24, 1944. It was transferred to the RAF under Lend-Lease on August 1, 1944 as a Dakota Mk.III s/n KG777. By December 1944, it had been assigned to RAF No. 231 Squadron based at RCAF Station Lachine, Dorval, Quebec, Canada which was tasked with ferrying American- and Canadian-built aircraft across the Atlantic to the UK. On May 2, 1946, it was sold to Eldorado Mining & Refining Co. of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and registered CF-DGJ. The aircraft was transferred to Eldorado Aviation of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and used to carry passengers and freight for Eldorado Nuclear Ltd. and Northern Transportation Co. to northern Canada. The aircraft crashed on December 4, 1957 about 62 mls (100 km) North-Northwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta. The DC-3 had departed Edmonton, Alberta at 11:37 hours for a flight to Port Radium, Northwest Territories, Canada with refueling stops a Fort Smith and Yellowknife. The aircraft climbed to 9,000 ft (2,743 km) on a direct route to Fort Smith. At 13:20 hours the aircraft was about abeam Fort McMurray when it encountered freezing rain. The course was changed to Embarras, Alberta with the intention of joining the airway and following it as far as Fort Smith. Ice built up rapidly and the aircraft descended to 7,000 ft (2,134 m). This altitude could not be maintained, so the crew continued down to 5,000 ft (1,524 m), still running through rain squalls. Further altitude was lost and at 4,500 ft (1,372 m) severe turbulence was encountered. This, together with the accumulation of ice, caused the plane to descend further until it struck trees. The captain closed the throttles and carried out a forced landing. There were no fatalities. The probable cause was: 'The aircraft continued its flight into an area of freezing precipitation until the accumulation of ice and severe turbulence resulted in partial loss of control during which the aircraft struck trees'."