▁the ▁second ▁attempt ▁to ▁land . ▁The ▁number ▁one ▁prop eller ▁to ▁hit ▁the ▁water , ▁causing ▁port ions ▁of ▁the ▁engine ▁and ▁cow ling ▁to ▁break ▁off . ▁All ▁ 1 5 ▁on ▁board ▁surv ived . ▁The ▁aircraft ▁was ▁rep a ired ▁and ▁returned ▁to ▁service . ▁▁ 1 1 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 6 : ▁Fl ight ▁ 5 4 6 , ▁a ▁Douglas ▁C - 5 4 B ▁( NC 8 8 7 2 9 ), ▁struck ▁a ▁r idge ▁near ▁Alexand ria , ▁Virginia ▁while ▁on ▁approach ▁to ▁Washington ▁National ▁Airport ; ▁all ▁ 2 6 ▁on ▁board ▁surv ived . ▁During ▁the ▁approach , ▁the ▁aircraft ▁had ▁desc ended ▁too ▁low . ▁▁ 1 9 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 6 : ▁Fl ight ▁ 6 0 5 , ▁a ▁Douglas ▁C - 5 4 B ▁( NC 8 8 8 1 3 ) ▁coll ided ▁in ▁mid - air ▁with ▁Universal ▁Air ▁L ines ▁Fl ight ▁ 7 , ▁a ▁Douglas ▁C - 4 7 ▁( NC 5 4 3 7 4 ), ▁near ▁Aber de en , ▁Maryland . ▁The ▁C - 4 7 ▁depart ed ▁New ark ▁for ▁R ale igh , ▁while ▁the ▁C - 5 4 ▁depart ed ▁New ark ▁ 1 5 ▁minutes ▁later ▁for ▁a ▁non - stop ▁flight ▁to ▁Miami . ▁Near ▁Aber de en ▁the ▁C - 5 4 ▁fle w ▁past ▁the ▁C - 4 7 . ▁The ▁C - 5 4 ▁co - p il