FlightFinder
Check my flight
32 fatalities

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident at Salalah AFB, Oman, 31 Jul 1944 (KG690)

Salalah AFB, OmanFlight

On July 31, 1944, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration KG690) operated by South African Air Force - SAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Salalah AFB, Oman in flight. 32 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Pilot was well briefed at both Sheikh Othman and Riyan in correct approaches to Salalah and was instructed that in thick weather only safe approach to Salalah was on bearing between 300° and 360°. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

Pilot was well briefed at both Sheikh Othman and Riyan in correct approaches to Salalah and was instructed that in thick weather only safe approach to Salalah was on bearing between 300° and 360°. Pilot was approaching Salalah on a bearing of 051° which is unsafe in thick weather unless approach is made at not less than 5,000 feet. It was impossible to ascertain from the wreckage whether there had been engine trouble but assumed not as aircraft was in good w/t communication with Salalah immediately before crash and made no distress signals.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The airplane was completing a flight from Riyan to Salalah on behalf of the 44th SAAF Squadron, carrying five crew members and 27 passengers, among them locals. While approaching Salalah from the west in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain, crashed and exploded about 48 km west of Salalah. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 32 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found about 630 feet above sea level. Crew: Lt C. J. K. Schutte, pilot, Lt J. H. Glenny, copilot, Lt G. C. Pennington, observer, Cpl R. Hosmer, wireless operator, Cpl R. B. Boraine, wireless operator.

Probable cause (official findings): Pilot was well briefed at both Sheikh Othman and Riyan in correct approaches to Salalah and was instructed that in thick weather only safe approach to Salalah was on bearing between 300° and 360°. Pilot was approaching Salalah on a bearing of 051° which is unsafe in thick weather unless approach is made at not less than 5,000 feet. It was impossible to ascertain from the wreckage whether there had been engine trouble but assumed not as aircraft was in good w/t communication with Salalah immediately before crash and made no distress signals.

Related events

Same operator

More accident analyses