Crash of a Douglas DC-7C in San Francisco

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N740PA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Francisco - San Francisco
MSN:
44882
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training at San Francisco Airport, part of a transition program. The approach was completed with a high rate of descent and when the pilot-in-command elected to complete the flare, the four engine aircraft descended until it impacted the runway surface. The undercarriage was sheared off on impact and the airplane skidded for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All three crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune at Richmond AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A89-308
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Richmond - Richmond
MSN:
426-5087
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training mission out from Richmond AFB, NSW. En route, a fire erupted in the right engine nacelle and the crew obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. The fire quickly spread to the engine and the right wing which detached shortly later. Out of control, the airplane crashed in a prairie and was totally destroyed upon impact. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
S/Ldr Geoffrey Ronald Cullen, pilot,
P/O George Ivan Holmes, copilot,
F/Lt Robert Alfred De-Russett-Kydd, navigator,
F/Sgt John Michael Rock, navigator,
S/Ldr Joseph Kevin McDonald, signaler,
F/O Frederick John Wood, signaler,
P/O Terence Patrick O'Sullivan, signaler,
W/O Vincent Joseph McCarthy, signaler.
Probable cause:
A fire in the port engine nacelle, caused by the disintegration of the power recovery turbine wheel (PRT) for the engine. The disintegration of the PRT caused the severing of fuel lines inside the wheel well, which then ignited the fuel spewing out of the lines. The ensuing fire burned fiercely and before the aircraft could enter into an emergency landing pattern the fire burned through to the wing subsequently causing the wing to fail in-flight a short time later.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08-01 LodeStar off Scottburgh

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-ASV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2036
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight when control was lost for unknown reason. The twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea few km off Scottburgh. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Vitebsk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vitebsk - Vitebsk
MSN:
8 9 002 02
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, both right engines number three and four failed. Simultaneously, the rudder went to a full left position when the crew attempted to rotate. The aircraft lifted off and then banked right, causing the right wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed and eventually came to rest in flames, upside down, some 160 meters farther. Six crew members were killed while the gunner was slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of both right engines number three and four due to a short-circuit in a terminal strip. For unknown reason, the crew failed to feather the propeller on both right engines.

Crash of a Martin P5M-2 Marlin off Norfolk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
135529
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Norfolk - Norfolk
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, the crew reported that the right engine failed and elected to return to Norfolk-Chambers Field NAS. On approach, the left engine failed as well and the airplane stalled and crashed into the Willoughby Bay. Four crew members were killed while six others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Ulyanovsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1958 at 2005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-41843
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ulyanovsk - Ulyanovsk
MSN:
1460 005 12
YOM:
30
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
2057
Circumstances:
The crew (six pilots and one instructor) was completing a local night training mission at Ulyanovsk-Baratayevka Airport. While approaching the airfield in icing conditions, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames 400 meters from the airfield. Four occupants were killed while three others were injured. The airplane was partially destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of poor piloting techniques on part of the pilot-in-command and the instructor while performing a transition flight from instruments to visual mode in icing conditions. 10 to 15 millimeters of ice were found on the wings after the accident, which contributed to the stall at low height. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Lack of a clear order in the direction and control of the flight,
- Lack of a training methodology,
- Atmosphere of complacency on part of the instructor, which reduced his self-discipline,
- Insufficient knowledge of the aerodynamic qualities of the aircraft in icing conditions and appropriate action to take in such conditions,
- Insufficient distance between the airplane and the ground to expect recovery.

Crash of a Boeing B-52E-85-BO Stratofortress at Altus AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1958 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0633
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Altus - Altus
MSN:
17316
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local night training mission at Altus AFB. After several circuits, the crew started a new GCA approach when the pilot-in-command requested climb to altitude for another jet penetration. Problems with stabilizer trim during overshoot caused the aircraft to lose height and to crash about 4 miles north of the airfield. A crew member bailed out and was rescued while eight other occupants were killed.
Crew (816th Air Division):
Maj Byard F. Baker, pilot,
Cpt Melvin Eckstein, †
Maj Willis E. Brady, †
1st Lt Carl D. Mackall, †
1st Lt Doyle Alexander Salley, †
S/Sgt. Thomas Lowry, †
S/Sgt Clarence R. Leger, †
T/Sgt Norman L. Kohlmeyer, †
S/Sgt Harold J. Funnell. †

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Loring AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1958 at 0727 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3598
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17347
YOM:
17
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off at 0445 on an "Operation Headstart" refueling mission. Headstart was the 42nd Bomb Wing's operation that "proved" the concept of airborne nuclear alert with B-52 aircraft for SAC. Before take-off, the crew was notified of a no-notice Standardization Board evaluation, so in addition to the crew of 4, there was an Instructor Pilot, Instructor Navigator, and Instructor Boom Operator aboard. Upon returning to the Loring AFB area, the aircraft was cleared to make a GCA approach from the south for a touch and go landing. The aircraft touched down about 2500 feet down the runway, applied power and became airborne at about the 7000 foot mark. Because of the aircraft's weight, air temperature and the forces involved in a touch and go landing, the Pilot got the tanker airborne in a condition where there was a 35 knot gap between adequate lift for take-off and adequate airflow over the ailerons for roll authority. The aircraft rolled to the right, striking the Number 4 engine which failed due to fuel control unit damage and jamming the right aileron in a 5 degree up position. The aircraft entered a nose high, right wing low attitude and cartwheeled into the woods about 1000 feet from the runway. It broke into several major sections and burned. The Instructor Navigator and Instructor Boom Operator were able to egress the burning wreckage but the Instructor Navigator died several weeks later as a result of his burns.
Crew (42th Air Refueling Squadron):
Cpt John Eifollla, pilot, †
1st Lt Donald Gladding, copilot, †
Maj John Brown, navigator, †
Cpt Bernard Morgan, instructor pilot, †
Cpt Herman Dosenbach, instructor navigator, †
T/Sgt Ronald Champion, boom operator,
T/Sgt Charles Holsclaw, instructor boom operator.
Source: http://www.mewreckchasers.com/KC1351958.html
Probable cause:
The investigation cited issues with the KC-135A Flight Manual that did not address the "window" in which the aircraft could become airborne in a touch and go without roll control, the Pilot's inability to take proper action to deal with the loss of Number 4 engine thrust, and the Instructor Pilot not occupying a front seat, with access to controls, during a touch and go landing as required by SAC regulations.

Crash of a Caudron C.440 Goéland in Pontoise

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAPQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pontoise - Pontoise
MSN:
8918/1114
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Pontoise-Cormeilles-en-Vexin when he encountered an unexpected situation. The pilot attempt an emergency landing in a field and while all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 at RAF Manby

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SX934
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manby - Manby
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training mission at RAF Manby. On touchdown, an undercarriage collapsed and the four engine aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage failure on landing.