3 fatalities

Single-Engine Aircraft Crashes in Zagros Mountains; Three Killed, Two Wounded (55-3317)

Mt Zagros, IranFlight

On January 27, 1962, a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter (registration 55-3317) operated by United States Army was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Zagros, Iran in flight. 3 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine aircraft crashed in the Zagros Mountains 500 km south of Tehran at 3,600 m altitude in poor weather. Three occupants were killed and two passengers were evacuated with serious wounds from low temperatures.

Accident Overview

A single-engine aircraft crashed while cruising at an altitude of 3,600 meters in poor weather conditions. The accident occurred in the Zagros Mountains, approximately 500 kilometers south of Tehran. The wreckage was located several days after the crash.

Occupant Casualties

The aircraft carried one crew member and four passengers. The pilot, Maj Carter, and two passengers—Col Walter R. Johnson and Cpt Daniel Knotts—were killed. Two other passengers, Col Vann and Col John Porter, were evacuated from the scene with serious wounds attributed to low temperatures.

Recovery and Rescue

Search and rescue teams discovered the wreckage days after the accident. The two surviving passengers were transported from the remote mountainous area for medical treatment.