1 fatality

Aircraft Crash During Takeoff Results in Crew Fatality (41-37292)

Accra, GhanaTakeoff (climb)

On January 27, 1944, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 41-37292) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Accra, Ghana during takeoff. One person was killed. 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 2026-08-25Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed shortly after initiating a takeoff maneuver, resulting in the loss of at least one crew member. The specific cause of the incident remains undetermined.

What happened

The incident occurred during the initial phase of flight, specifically while the aircraft was executing a takeoff. For reasons that have not yet been established, the aircraft lost control or suffered a critical failure, leading to an immediate crash. The airframe impacted the ground and subsequently caught fire, coming to rest in flames. The severity of the impact and the resulting fire resulted in fatal injuries to at least one member of the flight crew.

Findings

At this stage, no definitive conclusions have been drawn regarding the technical or operational factors that contributed to the accident. The investigation into the specific cause of the crash is ongoing, with authorities working to determine why the aircraft crashed during the takeoff sequence.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 27 Jan 1944 Douglas C-54 Skymaster accident near Accra, Ghana?

An aircraft crashed shortly after initiating a takeoff maneuver, resulting in the loss of at least one crew member. The specific cause of the incident remains undetermined.

Were there any fatalities in the 27 Jan 1944 Douglas C-54 Skymaster accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 27 Jan 1944 involved a Douglas C-54 Skymaster, registration 41-37292, operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947), at Accra, Ghana.