Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-16-FA Flying Boxcar off Gampo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
49-0172
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pohang – Seoul
MSN:
10409
YOM:
14949
Location:
Gampo
North Gyeongsang (경상북도)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising along the coast, the crew encountered a major technical issue with both engines. The pilot-in-command elected to ditch the aircraft few km off Gampo. Three crew members were killed while two others were rescued. They were performing a supply mission from Pohang to Seoul.
Crew:
1st Lt Charles S. Aldrich,
1st Lt Robert K. Bancker, †
Cpt Joseph R. Hewitt, †
T/Sgt William A. Metcalfe, †
Cpl Billy J. Robinson.
Probable cause:
It is believed that a technical issue occurred on both propeller blades that may have detached in flight.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-51-DL Invader in Seoul: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-34331
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
27610
YOM:
1944
Location:
Seoul
Seoul (서울)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft was shot down by antiaircraft fire and crashed in Wausan, in the west suburb of Seoul. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by antiaircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-55-DL Invader in Seoul: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35941
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
29220
YOM:
1944
Location:
Seoul
Seoul (서울)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Seoul while returning from a night mission. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-40-BN Superfortress in Seoul

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1950 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61676
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
11153
YOM:
1944
Location:
Seoul
Seoul (서울)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Kadena AFB, Okinawa, on a bombing mission at the border between China and North Korea, to destroy bridges over the Yalu River. En route, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot (Maj G. I. Kharkovskii) of a Soviet Air Force MiG-15. The crew was able to leave the area but was forced to divert to Seoul-Kimpo Airport for an emergency landing. On touchdown, the heavy bomber went out of control, veered off runway and collided with several parked aircraft. All 12 crew members were evacuated, three of them were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Attacked by the pilot of a Soviet Air Force fighter.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45B Expeditor in Seoul

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
43-35597
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6076
YOM:
1943
Location:
Seoul
Seoul (서울)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Seoul-Kimpo Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and came to rest damaged beyond repair. The pilot was unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-1-DC Skymaster off Ashiya AFB: 23 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1950 at 0425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72457
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ashiya – Seoul
MSN:
10562
YOM:
1945
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 30 at Ashiya AFB, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea some 1,500 meters off shore. Eighteen passengers and five crew members were killed while 28 other occupants were rescued. The exact cause of the occurrence remains unknown. The airplane was on its way to Seoul-Kimpo, carrying 43 soldiers to the Korean War theater.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster near Atsugi: 41 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1947 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72553
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seoul – Tachikawa
MSN:
10658
YOM:
1945
Location:
Atsugi NAS
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
41
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Seoul-Kimpo to Tachikawa AFB with several US officers and five civilians on board. While approaching the Tokyo area by night and from the southwest, the crew completed a turn at an altitude of 1,500 meters in marginal weather conditions when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located west of the city of Atsugi, about 30 km southwest of Tachikawa AFB. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and burned completely. All 41 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was 10 km with cumulus and altostratus between 1,000 and 2,500 meters.
Probable cause:
Apparently following an inappropriate flight planing, or maybe due to a lack of concentration or situational awareness, the crew did not check their instruments properly and failed to recognize that they were following a wrong heading to land at Tachikawa AFB. It is possible that strong winds (up to 40 knots at the time of the accident) may contribute to the deviation of the approach path.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WG3B Super Electra in Fukuoka: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
J-BCOZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fukuoka – Seoul
Location:
Fukuoka
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff from Fukuoka Airport, the twin engine airplane collided with the perimeter fence and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot, the mechanic and four passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured.
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