3 fatalities

Disappearance of Aircraft on Route from Maiduguri to Geneina (41-38584)

Chad, ChadFlight

On August 18, 1944, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 41-38584) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Chad, Chad 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-25Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft vanished while flying from Maiduguri to Geneina, Sudan. No wreckage or survivors were located, with the crash site suspected to be in the Chad desert or northwest Nigeria.

What happened

The flight was operating en route from Maiduguri to Geneina, Sudan, when it disappeared from radar contact. Subsequent search efforts failed to locate any trace of the airframe or the personnel on board. Authorities concluded that no survivors were found and the aircraft remained missing.

Findings

Investigations indicated that the accident likely occurred in a remote area. The primary hypotheses for the crash site place it either within the Chad desert or in the northwest region of Nigeria. Due to the vastness and inaccessibility of these terrains, no physical evidence was recovered to confirm the specific location or provide further technical details regarding the failure.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 18 Aug 1944 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Chad, Chad?

An aircraft vanished while flying from Maiduguri to Geneina, Sudan. No wreckage or survivors were located, with the crash site suspected to be in the Chad desert or northwest Nigeria.

Were there any fatalities in the 18 Aug 1944 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 3 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Aug 1944 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration 41-38584, operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947), at Chad, Chad.