Draft:1952 DC-3 Plane Crash in Iran

1952 DC-3 Plane Crash

A DC-3 similar to the crashed aircraft
Accident
Date	December 25, 1952
Summary	Crash
Site	7 km from Mehrabad Airport, Near the village of Yaftabad, Tehran
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Douglas DC-3, C-47A-35-DL Skytrain
Operator	Iran Air
Registration	EP-ACJ
Flight origin	Shiraz Airport, Iran
Destination	Mehrabad Airport, Iran
Passengers	25 or 27
Crew	5
Fatalities	24
Survivors	1 or 2

The crash of the DC-3 plane in Iran was an accident that occurred on December 25, 1952, involving a Douglas DC-3 aircraft owned by Iran Air. The plane was en route from Shiraz Airport to Mehrabad Airport in Tehran when it crashed, resulting in the deaths of 24 of its 26 passengers. This incident marked the first major aviation disaster in Iran's history where the majority of passengers on a commercial flight perished. This crash, along with several others between 1948 and 1952, and the country's need for a state-run airline, led to the merger of Iran Air Company with Iran National Airlines under the government of Mohammad Mossadegh.

Aircraft Details

The ill-fated plane was a Douglas DC-3, model C-47A-35-DL Skytrain, commonly referred to as the Dakota in Iran. It was manufactured in 1942 with the serial number 09692 by Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California. Initially operated by the U.S. Air Force and later by the British Air Force, the plane was eventually acquired by Iran Air Company under the registration EP-ACJ.

According to Ettela'at newspaper (December 29, 1952), the plane was valued at approximately 300,000 tomans at the time of the crash. However, officials from the Ministry of Roads estimated its value at 700,000 tomans.

The Incident

On Thursday, December 25, 1952, the DC-3 flew from Tehran to Isfahan, then to Abadan, and finally arrived in Shiraz at 1:30 PM. The aircraft departed Shiraz for Tehran at 2:20 PM, its fourth scheduled flight of the day. Reports indicated the plane had experienced delays during its operations.

As the aircraft neared Mehrabad Airport, a dense fog enveloped Tehran, reducing visibility to less than 2 meters. The plane failed to locate the runway and could not land. Airport staff attempted to illuminate the runway by setting fires, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Mehrabad Airport's air traffic control instructed the plane to divert to Isfahan due to the fog. However, the pilot reported insufficient fuel to make the journey.

At approximately 5:15 PM, during a final approach to the airport, the plane crashed.

Crash Site

The plane crashed approximately 7 kilometers from Mehrabad Airport, near the village of Yaftabad.

Causes of the Crash

News reports on December 27, 1952, attributed the crash to an "unprecedented sudden fog" over Tehran and insufficient fuel, which prevented the plane from diverting to another airport. In the memoirs of Bahram Momeni, a former aviation inspector and accident investigator, it was noted that the plane made several attempts to land but failed due to poor visibility. The airport staff burned oil and gasoline in barrels around the runway to guide the pilot, but these efforts were futile. During the final attempt to land, the plane's landing gear was not deployed, leading to a crash that caused the aircraft to break apart and catch fire. All but one passenger died in the crash, with the sole survivor ejected from the aircraft in their seat.

Momeni also noted that the crash was not due to technical failure but rather inadequate guidance and the absence of proper navigation and communication tools.

Passengers

There is some discrepancy regarding the number of passengers. Newspapers Ettela'at and Kayhan reported 25 passengers, while some sources mentioned 26 or even 27. The passengers boarded the plane in Abadan (3), Isfahan (9), and Shiraz (14). Five crew members were on board, with the flight commanded by Lieutenant Zanjani.

Notable among the deceased was Karim Saeedi, a prominent figure.

Ettela'at reported two survivors. One, named Seyyed Hossein Adl, was hospitalized with no significant injuries. The other survivor was identified as "Engineer Khazaeini."

Grave of Mansour Zand Karimi

Aftermath and Legacy

Establishment of Iran Air

This crash, the third DC-3 accident in Iran, drew significant attention due to the number of casualties and was the deadliest aviation disaster in Iran's history at the time. Following the crash, the government of Mohammad Mossadegh suspended Iran Air Company's flights for 40 days for thorough investigation. Recognizing the need for a state-run airline, Iran National Airlines was established in 1961 with a capital of 17 million tomans and later absorbed Iran Air Company.

Discovery of Cash at the Crash Site

Large amounts of 10- and 20-toman banknotes were found at the crash site. It was later revealed that the money, totaling 500,000 tomans, belonged to a money exchanger in Shiraz. Kayhan reported that the money was being transported on behalf of a Shirazi banker by a deceased passenger.

Death of Karim Saeedi

Karim Saeedi, head of the National Forestry Organization and founder of Saei Park, was among the victims. It is said that he was not originally scheduled to be on the flight but exchanged his ticket with another passenger to attend an official meeting in Tehran. The crash received significant media attention, with radio stations interrupting regular programming to announce the tragedy.

References

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• December 1952 events
• Aviation accidents and incidents in Iran
• Aviation accidents and incidents in 1952
• Accidents and incidents by airline of Iran