Zone
Illinois

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Cleveland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
196
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Chicago – Cleveland
Location:
Cleveland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Cleveland, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The aircraft impacted a bridge over the Cuyahoga River and crashed on a railway road. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 Twin in Mendota: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
130
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minneapolis – Chicago
Location:
Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Minnesota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Minneapolis-Wold Chamberlain Field, while climbing to an altitude of 2,500 feet, the left engine failed. The pilot made a sharp turn when the airplane side slipped and went into a nose dive. It crashed in Mendota, about 4 km east of the airfield. One occupant was killed and the second was injured. The accident occurred 10 minutes after takeoff.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Batavia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
76
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago - Omaha
Location:
Batavia
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Checkerboard Field (Chicago) to Omaha, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. While flying at low height, the airplane collided with telephone wires and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot Bryan McMullen was killed.

Crash of a Junkers-Larsen JL-6 in Pemberville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Junkers-Larsen JL-6 (Junkers F.13)
Operator:
Registration:
308
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cleveland – Chicago
MSN:
560
YOM:
1920
Location:
Pemberville
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The engine caught fire in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. He reduced his altitude when the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. Both occupants, the pilot W. H. Stevens and the mechanic H. L. Thomas, were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 in Cleveland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
204
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cleveland – Chicago
Location:
Cleveland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Cleveland Airport, while climbing to a height of about 300 feet, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Two occupants were seriously injured and the mechanic N. C. Montis was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Burton

Date & Time: May 4, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
95
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Cleveland
Location:
Burton
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. Just before landing, the pilot lost control of the airplane while manoeuvering to avoid a telephone line. The airplane crashed and was destroyed. The pilot was injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 in New Paris: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
65
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Cleveland
Location:
New Paris
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a mail flight. En route, weather conditions worsened and visibility was poor due to fog. The pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft contacted trees and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot C. W. Stoner was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 in Cleveland: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1919
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
61
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cleveland – Chicago
Location:
Cleveland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cleveland Airport, while climbing, the engine caught fire. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.
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