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21 fatalities

Thunderstorm Encounter Leads to Fatal Crash, All 21 Occupants Killed (D-13)

Lom nad Rimavicou, SlovakiaFlight

On July 3, 1956, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration D-13) operated by Czech Air Force - Ceské Vojenské Letectvo was involved in an aviation accident near Lom nad Rimavicou, Slovakia in flight. 21 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control due to severe vibrations on elevators and wings caused by turbulence while traversing a thunderstorm area. 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 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

While cruising at 3,000 meters, an aircraft entered a thunderstorm area. Turbulence caused severe vibrations on elevators and wings, leading to loss of control. The aircraft dove into a field, killing all 21 occupants.

Accident Details

While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the aircraft encountered worsening weather and entered a thunderstorm area. Turbulence induced severe vibrations on the elevators and wings, resulting in a loss of control. The aircraft subsequently dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all 21 occupants.

Crew

The crew members were:

  • Pilot: Lt František Holman
  • Copilot: Lt Václav Havlík
  • Lt Jaroslav Bureš
  • Lt Jiří Filc
  • Lt Antonín Havránek, radio operator
  • Lt Karel Souček, flight engineer

Passengers

The passengers were:

  • Lt Karel Filipovský
  • Cpt Jan Zach
  • Lt Emil Hulín
  • Lt Jaroslav Šimek
  • Lt Hosef Obst
  • Cpt Václav Uhlíř
  • Lt Otakar Kodyš
  • Cpt Jan Hrubý
  • Lt Stanislav Jurka
  • Lt Jan Satoria
  • Lt Ladislav Skřiček
  • Maj Josef Florian
  • Lt Josef Konečný
  • Lt Michal Uohlav
  • Lt Bohumil Bulla

Probable cause

Loss of control due to severe vibrations on elevators and wings caused by turbulence while traversing a thunderstorm area.
Weather

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 3 Jul 1956 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Lom nad Rimavicou, Slovakia?

While cruising at 3,000 meters, an aircraft entered a thunderstorm area. Turbulence caused severe vibrations on elevators and wings, leading to loss of control. The aircraft dove into a field, killing all 21 occupants.

Were there any fatalities in the 3 Jul 1956 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 21 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 3 Jul 1956 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration D-13, operated by Czech Air Force - Ceské Vojenské Letectvo, at Lom nad Rimavicou, Slovakia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Loss of control due to severe vibrations on elevators and wings caused by turbulence while traversing a thunderstorm area.

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