Crash of a Ford 4 in Ometepec

Date & Time: May 12, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Negociación Aérea Mexicana (NAMSA)
Registration:
XA-DOL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4-AT-005
YOM:
28
Location:
Ometepec
Guerrero
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the three engine aircraft was caught by strong crosswinds, went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest, broken in two. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Caught by strong crosswinds on takeoff.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Mt Richter: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1947 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
48328
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Angeles – Medford – Elizabeth City
MSN:
1690
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Richter
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Port Angeles in the morning on a flight to Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with a first intermediate stop scheduled in Medford, Oregon. The purpose of the flight was to convoy the seaplane for maintenance in Elizabeth City. After four hours into the flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While flying at a height of some 5,000 feet, the left wing hit a peak and was sheared off. The aircraft crashed and burst into flames on the slope of Mt Richter, at the altitude of 4,200 feet. Both passengers were rescued while four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Ralph E. Osterberg, pilot,
Lt John W. MacIntosh Jr., copilot,
Mate Roy Mason, mechanic,
AC1 Ruffin E. Crosby, radio operator.
Passengers:
Mr. Creasy,
Mr. Savage.
Source:
http://www.check-six.com/Coast_Guard/PBY_Mountain_Crash.htm

Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Headingley: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
CF-TCQ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1502
YOM:
1939
Flight number:
TCA039
Location:
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a snow covered field located in Headingley, about 10 km west of Winnipeg Airport. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Whitchurch

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGJU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12169
YOM:
1943
Location:
Whitchurch AFB (Bristol)
Gloucestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Puerto Cabezas

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Salvador – Puerto Cabezas
Location:
Puerto Cabezas
Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the three engine aircraft hit the ground and crashed few dozen yards short of runway. The three crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed. The exact date of the occurrence remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Charleston: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Intercontinental Air Transport
Registration:
NC88873
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Newark – Charleston – Miami
MSN:
13640
YOM:
1944
Location:
Charleston-Intl
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On approach to Charleston Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to make a go around. Few minutes later, the captain tried an approach to another runway but did not realized that his altitude was too low. The aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located about 3 miles short of runway. All five occupants were killed. It was reported by a local police officer that an unidentified control tower operator had given the pilot permission to land shortly before the plane crashed. The plane was en route from Newark to Miami to pick up cargo, and was carrying an extra pilot and two stewardesses as "dead-heads."
Crew:
Amos Austin, pilot,
James McNeal, pilot,
Elmer Kortman, copilot,
Olga Badman, stewardess,
Doris Wynn, stewardess.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation in Wilmington

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1946 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
NC86512
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New York – Wilmington
MSN:
2039
YOM:
1946
Location:
Wilmington-New Castle County
Delaware
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9600
Captain / Total hours on type:
3450.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
50
Aircraft flight hours:
1195
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a positioning flight to Wilmington-New Castle Airport to pick up passengers. On approach, the crew was informed by ATC that weather conditions were poor and that it should be better to divert to Philadelphia. The pilot attempted to land on runway 14 but after touchdown, he realized his mistake and elected to go around. It was too late, the aircraft overran, went through the perimeter fence, crossed a road where it hit two cars and continued for about 650 feet before coming to rest in flames. While all eight crew members escaped unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
At the time the aircraft arrived in the vicinity of New Castle, a line squall was approaching the airport. Although advised by the tower to proceed to an alternate airport, the captain elected to land at New Castle Airport. Although advised by the tower of a wind shift of approximately 145 degrees, and the availability of a suitable runway into the wind, the captain elected to continue a wind approach to Runway 14. During the final approach the precipitation increased from light drizzle to heavy showers. At the time of the landing the tailwind component along Runway 14 was at least 16 mph. The aircraft failed to make contact with the ground until having passed over 2,100 feet of the runway. The aircraft failed to decelerate completely within the remaining 3,100 feet of the runway. When it became apparent that the aircraft would not stop on the runway, the pilot applied power in an unsuccessful attempt to become airborne. The aircraft continued beyond the end of the runway, through the trees bordering the airport, across DuPont Parkway, and came to rest in an open field. After coming to rest the aircraft was almost totally destroyed by fire. The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the poor judgment of the pilot in continuing in his attempt to land on a wet runway with a tailwind component in excess of 16 mph after having passed 2,100 feet of the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK in Moscow: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L854
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow-Bykovo - Moscow-Vnukovo
MSN:
12253
YOM:
1944
Location:
Moscow
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a positioning flight from Bykovo to Vnukovo. Fifteen minutes into the flight, the left engine failed and the crew was unable to feather the propeller. Due to high drag, the captain decided to divert to Sukovo Airport but the undercarriage could not be locked. While trying to make a go around, the right engine overheated, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area located near the airport. Two crew members were slightly injured while three others were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Siebel Si-204D in Krasnoyarsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Siebel Si-204
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N372
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Krasnoyarsk - Molokov Island
Location:
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was grounded on September 25, 1945, due to technical problems on the right engine, and was ferried for repair to the Osoaviakhim Airfield in Krasnoyarsk where it was used for some unauthorized training flights between 17 and 20 of October. On October 20, on a ferry flight from the Osoaviakhim Airfield to an airfield on the Molokov island located in the Yenisei River for repair (as the repair capacities at the Osoaviakhim Airfield were limited), the right engine caught fire some 3-4 minutes into the flight. Smoke spread in the cabin and the intoxicated pilot decided to return to the Osoaviakhim Airfield but did not manage to do it. The aircraft lost height on final approach, hit a fence and crash landed. The pilot was killed while the flight mechanic as well as the sole (unauthorized) passenger were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of the combination of several factors in flight operations and with the crew. In their report, the experts stated that the pilot conducted several training flights during the three days preceding the accident despite the fact that the right engine was not running properly. Due to lack of discipline, the pilot decided to transfer the plane to the island of Molokov with a flight mechanic and a passenger despite the fact that he was not authorized. Some confusion settled with the pilot when the right engine failed, which led him to perform inappropriate actions. The company decided to use this type of aircraft without having the adequate technical description, which had a negative impact on its maintenance and operation. Finally, the pilot did not receive sufficient training on this type of aircraft on which he was not familiarized with its performances, especially in the case of an engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24H-10 Liberator in Brown Edge

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-52625
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Warton – Cheddington
MSN:
1020
YOM:
1943
Location:
Brown Edge
Staffordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from RAF Warton to RAF Cheddington following modification for night leaflet dropping operations. After take off from Warton, the crew could not raise the undercarriage. While attempting to resolve this problem, the aircraft started to bank to the left and lost height. The pilot stated that he assumed both problems to be associated and when he recovered the aircraft to level flight, he headed back to Warton. Shortly before landing, the flight engineer reported he had resolved the undercarriage trouble and the gear was raised so the crew set course bound for RAF Cheddington. After the undercarriage had been raised, the pilot noticed that the aircraft was still drifting to the left. Some time later, the aircraft was seen circling over the Biddulph area at low level and shortly afterwards lost height and struck a tree causing the number 3 engine to burst into flames. The aircraft crashed into a field not far away where it slewed though a 180 turn. Three crew members were injured while three others were unhurt.
Crew (406th BG):
2nd Lt Tommie F. Leftwich, pilot,
2nd Lt John A. Majdick, copilot,
2nd Lt Woodrow Klauber, navigator,
Sgt Ralph H. Sandmeyer, radio operator,
Sgt David P. Christie, flight engineer.
Passenger:
Cpl Grace M. Sharkey.
Source & photos:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrict42-52625.htm
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