Training | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a local training flight at Tehran consisting of material, equipment and soldiers dropping. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances, killing all nine occupants.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Lake Peñuelas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

560

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Quintero - Quintero

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left Quintero Airport for a training mission in the region of Valparaiso. In unclear circumstances, the seaplane crashed into the Lake Peñuelas located about 12 km southeast of Valparaiso. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster in Douala: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1961 at 1933 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Air Cameroon

Registration:

TJ-ABC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Douala - Douala

MSN:

7473

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13412

Captain / Total hours on type:

212.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1142

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Circumstances:

The crew as performing a local night training flight at Douala Airport. After completing several maneuvers at the end of the afternoon with departures alternately from runway 12 and 30, the crew started a new takeoff from runway 12. After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height when the propeller on engine number 2 struck a tree located 1,200 meters past the runway end. The airplane continued at low height and struck a second tree, causing a fuel tank to be ruptured and to catch fire. In the mean time, the propellers on engine number one, two and four detached and the airplane eventually crashed in a huge explosion 200 meters farther. All five crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by flight at too low an altitude during a night training exercise. According to witnesses, the instructor had directed the pilot to circle the runway at an altitude of 150 ft during the first training exercise; it appears that this instruction was maintained for the same exercise by night. Assuming that take-off was made with flaps extended, it so happened that complete retraction of the flaps occurred practically at the time of impact with the first tree. In fact, it can be estimated that the flight lasted 30 - 40 seconds from the time of take-off to impact with the first tree. Retraction of the landing gear takes ' 15 seconds and of the flaps approximately 10 seconds. Rapid retraction of the flaps at low speed causes the aircraft to nose down, It is possible that the loss of altitude occurred just before reaching the curtain of trees. Flaps are normally retracted gradually after reaching an altitude of 200 feet in visual meteorological conditions and 400 ft in instrument meteorological conditions or at night. The normal path of a DC-4 with one engine on reduced-power at take-off, climbing speed 400 - 500 ft/min, made it impossible for the aircraft to clear the tops of the trees which it struck. Assuming the take-off was made without flaps - a manoeuvre not recommended during night flights at Douala - the path followed would have inevitably brought the aircraft into the trees. It should be noted that the Air France DC-4 Manual prohibits counter-rotating the engine propeller in case of hydraulic Iock; this manoeuvre merely forces the oil into the intake pipe and can render the engine inoperative. Even though this prohibited manoeuvre was followed, it does not appear that it was one of the causes of the accident; the incident would most certainly have occurred during the first aerodrome circuit after the return to the parking area. In conclusion, it appears that the accident should be ascribed to lack of seriousness and judgement on the part of the instructor. Pilot fatigue may also be invoked after a two-hour training flight at very low altitude under the constant supervision of the instructor. The pilot was a very serious, methodic and calm flier, but he did not have sufficient authority to disregard the unduly risky manoeuvres urged upon him, as confirmed orally by a flight mechanic who had flown with the crew involved in the accident.

Final Report:

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.2 in Singapore: 13 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1961 at 1436 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings

Operator:

Registration:

WD497

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Singapore - Singapore

MSN:

125

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2338

Captain / Total hours on type:

422.00

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local supply dropping training mission at Singapore-Seletar Airport. While cruising in the vicinity of the airfield at low height, the crew reported the failure of the engine n°2. The pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that banked left, stalled and crashed in a field located few km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 13 occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt A. Lyne, pilot,
F/Lt G. E. Hickman, copilot,
F/Lt P. G. Tarling, navigator,
Sgt J. A. Wells, flight engineer,
Sgt J. J. McConnell, signaller.
Passengers:
Cpl G. Barnard,
Cpl A. C. Howitt,
Cpl H. W. Smith,
Dvr A. D. G. Box,
Dvr A. C. King,
Dvr D. McG. Tennant,
Dvr F. E. Smith,
Dvr D. Wroe.

Probable cause:

Loss of control following an engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules at Ramstein AFB

Date & Time: May 27, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

59-1534

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Ramstein - Ramstein

MSN:

3570

YOM:

1960

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Ramstein AFB. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway to the left and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in Chajan: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1961 at 2020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 694 Lincoln

Operator:

Registration:

B-011

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Villa Reynolds - Villa Reynolds

MSN:

1415

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1170

Circumstances:

The crew departed Villa Reynolds Airbase in the evening for a night training mission. While flying about 40 km northeast of the airfield, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a field. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Grumman S2F-1 Tracker off Syracuse: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

MM144697

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Syracuse - Syracuse

MSN:

658

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While conducting a training flight off Syracuse, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and crashed into the Bay of Augusta. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Bacci,
Mr. Ambroso,
Mr. Farina.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Mustang: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

N200

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Oklahoma City - Oklahoma City

MSN:

20400

YOM:

1944

Location:

Mustang

Oklahoma

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Four pilots left Oklahoma City-Will Rogers for a local training flight. While cruising at low height, between 200 and 500 feet, the airplane went into a dive and crashed in a canyon located in Mustang, about six miles west of Will Rogers Airport. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to maintain flying speed during VMC demonstration manoeuvre and the conduct of the demonstration flight at an excessively low altitude.

Crash of a Boeing B-52B-30-BO Stratofortress on Mt Taylor: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Operator:

Registration:

53-0380

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Biggs - Biggs

MSN:

16859

YOM:

1953

Location:

Mt Taylor

New Mexico

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft christened 'Ciudad Juarez' departed Biggs AAF on a training mission with two F-100A Super Sabre. After five simulated missile passes followed by tail-chase gun "attacks" van Scyoc, the 188th's Safety Officer, hauled his fighter round for a final Sidewinder practice. He was closing with the bomber when his No. 2 AIM-9B suddenly left its rail, homed on to the B-52's left inboard engine pod and exploded, severing the wing. The B52 went out of control and entered a dive. Three crew members were able to bail out before the airplane crashed on Mt Taylor and was destroyed, killing five other crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Donald C. Blodgett, pilot,
Cpt Ray C. Obel, copilot,
Cpt Peter J. Gineris, navigator, †
Cpt Stephen Carter, bombardier, †
Cpt George D. Jackson, ECM,
2nd Lt Glenn Bair, ECM student, †
S/Sgt Ray A. Singleton, gunner,
S/Sgt Manuel L. Mieras, maintenance controller.
More info on:
http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/images/Shootdown.html

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-125-BW Stratofortress in Silver Hill: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1961 at 2115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Operator:

Registration:

59-2576

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dow - Dow

MSN:

464339

YOM:

1959

Flight number:

Judy 24

Location:

Silver Hill

North Carolina

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

233

Circumstances:

The crew departed Dow AFB for a training and refueling mission. At an altitude of 30,000 feet, while preparing to refuel with a USAF KC-125, the pilot-in-command reduce the speed too much, causing the airplane to stall and to enter a dive. Two crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion near Silver Hill. Six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Donald McCullen, pilot, †
Cpt William Woody Farmer, copilot, †
Cpt Robert Marsh Morgenroth, radar navigator, †
Cpt George William Beale, observer, †
S/Sgt James Howard Fults, gunner instructor, †
A1C Robert Nathaniel Gaskey, gunner student, †
Maj Wilbur Fred Minnich, navigator,
1st Lt Glen Charles Farnham, EWO.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Subscribe to Training