Douglas C-54 Skymaster accident at Chhukha, Bhutan, 3 Nov 1945 (45-0528)
On November 3, 1945, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 45-0528) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Chhukha, Bhutan in flight. 44 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: It appears that the pilot did not follow the assigned airway and flew a direct route from Karachi to Dibrugarh. Due to low visibility caused by night, he was unable to distinguish the mountains and natural obstacles. 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
It appears that the pilot did not follow the assigned airway and flew a direct route from Karachi to Dibrugarh. Due to low visibility caused by night, he was unable to distinguish the mountains and natural obstacles. The accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
While cruising by night at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the aircraft hit with its right wing some trees and crashed in a dense wooded area. The wreckage was found a month later and all 44 occupants have been killed. Crew: Cpl James R. Bell, Sgt Harold F. Benjamin, S/Sgt Herman E. Beyer, Sgt Charles H. Burkhardt, Sgt Adrien D. Cambron, Sgt Adam T. Diamont, Pfc Samuel H. Doolan Jr., Cpl William J. Fisher, F/O Francis P. Fisk, Sgt Richard K. France, Sgt Warren L. Frank, F/O Charles M. Fulton, F/O Philo A. Goodrich, F/O Frederick C. Grainger, S/Sgt Spencer R. Gunn, S/Sgt Robert G. Harrigan, Pfc George L. Hassell, Sgt Hillery E. Howell, Sgt James F. Huff, F/O Howard F. Hulslander Jr., Sgt Joseph A. Jenkins Jr., F/O Harry E. Jones, Cpl Nathan Kramer, Pfc Kee Kui, Cpl Iradell Lee, T/Sgt Ralph J. Luca, Sgt Roger C. Mallard, 2nd Lt Theodore A. Marshall, S/Sgt James E . McGee, Pfc Beverly A. McHenry., Sgt William F. Miller, Sgt Frank L. Moser, S/Sgt Daniel F. O'Callaghan, Sgt William T. O'Hara Jr., Sgt William Occhialini, Pfc Robert E. Osborne, F/O John S. Owens Jr., Pvt Joseph N. Peloquin, F/O Euei Ratliff, Cpl Chester E. Ross, Cpt Warren A . Roth, S/Sgt Paul D. Selanders, Sgt Thomas C. Setzer, Sgt Robert L. Smith.
Probable cause (official findings): It appears that the pilot did not follow the assigned airway and flew a direct route from Karachi to Dibrugarh. Due to low visibility caused by night, he was unable to distinguish the mountains and natural obstacles. The accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain.