Investigation Summary
On December 18, 1945, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (44-76368) operated by the USAAF crashed shortly after departure from Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas. The aircraft was bound for March Army Airfield in California, carrying 17 personnel. During the initial climb, the aircraft lost altitude and impacted the ground, resulting in a severe post-crash fire. The era was marked by high-tempo 'Operation Magic Carpet' style movements and general post-war military transport, where C-47s were frequently used to ferry personnel across the United States. The specific cause of the loss of control or engine failure remains unspecified in general historical summaries, though the destruction by fire was near-total.
Final Conclusions
The crash of C-47 44-76368 resulted in the deaths of all 17 individuals on board. While the official USAAF accident report (Form 14) would contain the specific mechanical or pilot-related findings, public historical records conclude that the aircraft failed to maintain flight during the climb phase, leading to a catastrophic impact and fire near the airfield perimeter.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Interesting Facts
- 01All 17 occupants, including crew and military passengers, were killed.
- 02The accident occurred during the initial climb phase of the flight.
- 03The aircraft was a military version of the Douglas DC-3.
- 04The crash resulted in a post-impact fire that consumed much of the wreckage.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the estimate published in the entered by an editor. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.