Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3) accident at Malcolm, United States of America, 19 Jul 1943 (42-68801)
On July 19, 1943, a Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3) (registration 42-68801) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Malcolm, United States of America in flight. 13 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident could not be determined but the assumption that the airplane may have been struck by lightning while he was flying through a low pressure area is not ruled out. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined but the assumption that the airplane may have been struck by lightning while he was flying through a low pressure area is not ruled out.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
En route from Des Moines to Alliance, Nebraska, the pilots encountered very bad weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a pasture located in Malcolm, 17 km northwest of Lincoln. The plane exploded into a huge fireball and scattered wreckage over 400 metres all away round. All 13 occupants were killed. Crew: 1st Lt James S. Mills, pilot, 2nd Lt Edgar D. Rogers, copilot, S/Sgt Walker H. McCartney, Sgt Robert D. Hager Jr., Sgt Frank P. Krejci, Cpl Edward A. Bloom, Cpl Arthur R. Markham, Pfc Sam Ross, Pfc Howard E. Wiegand, Pfc Robert A. McClymonds, Pfc Joseph T. Jurczyk, Pvt Chester T. Beczynski, Pvt George Ralich.
Probable cause (official findings): The exact cause of the accident could not be determined but the assumption that the airplane may have been struck by lightning while he was flying through a low pressure area is not ruled out.