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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Douglas DC-1 / DC-2/R2D / DC-3 Dakota / C-47/R4D Skytrain / C-53 Skytrooper
    Latest Model:C-53-DO Skytrooper
    Last Military Serial:T.3-58 EdA
    Construction Number:04890
    Last Civil Registration:ZS-OJD
    Compressed ID:Douglas C-53-DO sn T.3-58 EdA cn 04...
    Latest Owner or Location:Congo Communications

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a C-53-DO by Douglas at Santa Monica, CA.

    Circa 1941

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 41-20120.

    To unknown owner with c/r NC44884.

    10 August 1946

    To Iberia with new c/r EC-DAL.

    From 1 October 1947 to 1 December 1965

    To Iberia with new c/r EC-ABQ (Douglas DC-3-A-405 (C53-DO), 4890).
    Operated with fleet number 36.

    9 December 1965

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the Ejercito de Aire with s/n T.3-58.

    Markings Applied: 745-58

    Markings Applied: 911-09

    3 July 1978

    To Fairoaks Aviation Services with new c/r G-BFXA (DOUGLAS C53 DAKOTA 3, 4890).

    16 November 1978


    Photographer: Chris England
    Notes: Douglas C-53 Skytrooper G-BFXA at Exeter

    28 November 1978

    To Kanana Sugar Corporation with new c/r ST-AHK.

    16 May 1990

    To Air Kenya with new c/r 5Y-BGU.

    31 January 1994

    To Flying Doctor Services keeping c/r 5Y-BGU.

    23 December 1998

    To TAC Air Services with new c/r ZS-OJD.

    6 April 1999


    Photographer: Mike Powney
    Notes: At Lanseria

    2000


    Photographer: Thomas Ingendorn
    Notes: At one stage owned by Debon-Air and named Victoria at Lanseria Airport

    2000


    Photographer: Thomas Ingendorn
    Notes: At one stage owned by Debon-Air and named Victoria at Lanseria Airport

    31 August 2001

    To Congo Communications keeping c/r ZS-OJD.

    December 2001

    Crashed.
    Summary: The airframe was written off. The accident occurred at Lubumbashi-Luano (FBM) (Congo (Democratic Republic)) while landing. Narrative: Reportedly the undercarriage collapsed on landing. The aircraft had arrived from South Africa; previous owner Debonair had sold or leased the plane to an operator in Congo.
    For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Airbus, Boeing, Convair and Douglas Production List
    Aviation Safety Network
    Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom
    Spanish Register of Civil Aircraft Since 1920 by Jose Ramon Valero
    Individual Contributors
     Terry Fletcher
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