No fatalities

Aircraft fire and crash during takeoff involving JATO equipment (TA-33)

Ellsworth Station, AntarcticaTakeoff (climb)

On December 10, 1962, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration TA-33) operated by Argentinian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Argentina was involved in an aviation accident near Ellsworth Station, Antarctica during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The ignition of a fire during the takeoff roll involving JATO equipment led to the crash. 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

An aircraft equipped with a JATO system experienced an onboard fire during its takeoff roll, resulting in a subsequent crash with no reported fatalities.

What happened

During the initial phase of flight, an aircraft utilizing a Jet-Assisted Takeoff (JATO) system encountered a critical emergency. As the aircraft was performing its takeoff roll, a fire ignited on board the vessel.

Following the onset of the fire, the aircraft crashed. Despite the severity of the incident and the impact of the crash, there were no casualties reported among those on board during the event.

Findings

  • The presence of a JATO system was noted on the aircraft at the time of the accident.
  • The sequence of events began with an onboard fire during the takeoff phase.
  • The primary factor contributing to the accident was the ignition of a fire while the aircraft was accelerating for departure.

Probable cause

The ignition of a fire during the takeoff roll involving JATO equipment led to the crash.