No fatalities

1978-09-24: Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (G-BFPU) — Warbirds of Great Britain — Karima, Sudan

Karima, SudanFlight

On September 24, 1978, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration G-BFPU) operated by Warbirds of Great Britain was involved in an aviation accident near Karima, Sudan in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine problems caused by and excessive oil pressure and cylinder head temperature. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781226119Data APIEditorial standards

A crew diverted to Toulon for left engine repairs, then experienced right engine issues. After left engine backfire, they feathered propeller and made a belly landing northeast of Karima. Both pilots uninjured; aircraft destroyed by fire.

Flight History

The crew was completing a flight from London-Gatwick to Aden with intermediate stops in Nice and Karima. The aircraft was scheduled for delivery to Alyemda in Aden. On the leg from Gatwick to Nice, technical problems occurred, forcing the crew to divert to Toulon. At Toulon, spark plugs and the carburetor were changed on the left engine.

Incident

While flying in the region of Karima, the right engine's oil pressure and cylinder head temperature exceeded limits. Additionally, the propeller oversped. In response, the crew feathered the propeller. Shortly thereafter, the left engine backfired.

Outcome

The captain decided to make a belly landing in a desert area approximately 11 km northeast of Karima. Both pilots escaped uninjured. However, the aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire.

Probable cause

Engine problems caused by and excessive oil pressure and cylinder head temperature.