Détails:
The DC-3 aircraft had been decommissioned by Spanish Air Force and stored at Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport. It was auctioned in July 1979 and bought by Kurfiss Aviation of Germany to become part of an aviation museum. The aircraft was then repaired by mechanics contracted by the new owner. A provisional, restricted Certificate of Airworthiness was issued to allow the airplane to be ferried to Frankfurt via Perpignan Airport (PGF).
On the day of the ferry flight a VHF radio was installed but two-way communication could not be established. The departure was delayed until finally took off at 15:29 hours, without authorization, using a runway which was not rated for the weight of the DC-3 aircraft. There was no communication with the flight due to the radio problems. The aircraft presumably reached the zone of Barcelona in very low visibility conditions, due to both the hazy conditions and the diminishing daylight hours. The airplane did not arrive at Perpignan. A search operation was started but no sign of the plane was found. It is presumed to have crashed in the Mediterranean Sea.
CONCLUSIONS: "The cases of disappearance of aircraft are surrounded by the mystery that results from the lack of data. In the case of the ECT-025, no one knows what occurred after take-off from the Cuatro Vientos Airport, and as a result, no probable cause of an accident can be determined."
» Expediente Tecnico A-049/80
» The Search for Douglas DC-3 ECT-025 / Ruud Leeuw
| Statuts: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | vendredi 3 octobre 1980 |
| Type/Sous-type: |  Douglas C-47A-35-DK (DC-3) |
| Compagnie: | Kurfiss Aviation |
| Immatriculation: | ECT-025 |
| Numéro de série: | 13375 |
| Année de Fabrication: | 1944 |
| Moteurs: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830 |
| Equipage: | victimes: 2 / à bord: 2 |
| Passagers: | victimes: 0 / à bord: 0 |
| Total: | victimes: 2 / à bord: 2 |
| Dégats de l'appareil: | Disparu |
| Conséquences: | Presumed damaged beyond repair |
| Lieu de l'accident: | between Madrid and Perpigan ( Mer Méditerranée)
|
| Phase de vol: | En vol (ENR) |
| Nature: | Convoyage |
| Aéroport de départ: | Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport (ECV/LECU), Espagne |
| Perpignan Airport (PGF/LFMP), France |
The DC-3 aircraft had been decommissioned by Spanish Air Force and stored at Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport. It was auctioned in July 1979 and bought by Kurfiss Aviation of Germany to become part of an aviation museum. The aircraft was then repaired by mechanics contracted by the new owner. A provisional, restricted Certificate of Airworthiness was issued to allow the airplane to be ferried to Frankfurt via Perpignan Airport (PGF).
On the day of the ferry flight a VHF radio was installed but two-way communication could not be established. The departure was delayed until finally took off at 15:29 hours, without authorization, using a runway which was not rated for the weight of the DC-3 aircraft. There was no communication with the flight due to the radio problems. The aircraft presumably reached the zone of Barcelona in very low visibility conditions, due to both the hazy conditions and the diminishing daylight hours. The airplane did not arrive at Perpignan. A search operation was started but no sign of the plane was found. It is presumed to have crashed in the Mediterranean Sea.
Probable Cause:
CONCLUSIONS: "The cases of disappearance of aircraft are surrounded by the mystery that results from the lack of data. In the case of the ECT-025, no one knows what occurred after take-off from the Cuatro Vientos Airport, and as a result, no probable cause of an accident can be determined."
Sources:
» Flight International 25 October 1980 (1546)» Expediente Tecnico A-049/80
» The Search for Douglas DC-3 ECT-025 / Ruud Leeuw
Photos
Plan
Ce plan montre l'aéroport de départ ainsi que la supposée destination du vol. La ligne fixe reliant les deux aéroports n'est pas le plan de vol exact.
La distance entre Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport et Perpignan Airport est de 609 km (381 miles).
La distance entre Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport et Perpignan Airport est de 609 km (381 miles).
Les informations ci-dessus ne représentent pas l'opinion de la 'Flight Safety Foundation' ou de 'Aviation Safety Network' sur les causes de l'accident. Ces informations prélimimaires sont basées sur les faits tel qu'ils sont connus à ce jour.
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