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Ground Looping Accident Involving a Twin-Engine Aircraft (R3707)

Rushinga-Forward Airfield, ZimbabweLanding (descent or approach)

On February 21, 1975, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration R3707) operated by Air Force of Zimbabwe was involved in an aviation accident near Rushinga-Forward Airfield, Zimbabwe during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the brake systems upon landing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 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 ground looped after landing due to brake failure, resulting in detached propellers and a torn main gear. The pilots were uninjured, the flight engineer was slightly wounded, and the aircraft was later written off.

Incident Overview and Immediate Aftermath Following touchdown, the aircraft experienced a ground loop caused by a failure in the braking systems. The incident resulted in both propellers detaching from the aircraft. The airplane eventually came to a stop with its left main landing gear partially torn off. The aircraft was subsequently transported by truck to Salisbury for repair, but it was ultimately determined to be a total loss and written off. ## Personnel Injuries The flight crew consisted of two pilots, Ed Paintin and Frank Wingrove, and a flight engineer, John Mitchell. Both pilots were uninjured in the accident. The flight engineer sustained minor injuries. ## Official Findings The official investigation identified the probable cause of the accident as the failure of the brake systems upon landing.

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