Narrative:
The RAAF air ambulance flight departed Morotai for Darwin, via Ambon. The C-47 arrived at Ambon at 08:50. The captain decided to await the arrival of another aircraft which arrived from Darwin to find out more about the weather conditions en route. Weather was poor but the plane departed from Ambon at 10:40. Approximately one hour into the flight Darwin Aeradio, received a message from the flight stating that they wished to place a message. No response was ever heard from the aircraft.
» Australian Military Aircraft Serials and Aircraft History web site
| Status: | |
| Date: | Wednesday 19 December 1945 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47B-30-DK (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF |
| Registration: | A65-83 |
| MSN: | 32875/16127 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 21 / Occupants: 21 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 25 / Occupants: 25 |
| Aircraft damage: | Missing |
| Aircraft fate: | Presumed damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Timor Sea ( Indian Ocean)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Ambon-Pattimura Airport (AMQ/WAPP), Indonesia |
| Darwin Airport, NT (DRW/YPDN), Australia |
The RAAF air ambulance flight departed Morotai for Darwin, via Ambon. The C-47 arrived at Ambon at 08:50. The captain decided to await the arrival of another aircraft which arrived from Darwin to find out more about the weather conditions en route. Weather was poor but the plane departed from Ambon at 10:40. Approximately one hour into the flight Darwin Aeradio, received a message from the flight stating that they wished to place a message. No response was ever heard from the aircraft.
Sources:
» VH-CIZ Missing Dakota website» Australian Military Aircraft Serials and Aircraft History web site
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Ambon-Pattimura Airport to Darwin Airport, NT as the crow flies is 1011 km (632 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
Distance from Ambon-Pattimura Airport to Darwin Airport, NT as the crow flies is 1011 km (632 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 2210th loss
- 691st fatal accident
- 18th worst accident (at the time)
- 113th worst accident (currently)
Indian Ocean- The worst accident (at the time)
- 5th worst accident (currently)
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