Training

Survivors:

Site:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Schedule:

Exeter - Exeter

MSN:

4148

Location:

Country:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local training sortie at Exeter Airport. After landing, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop, overran, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt in a field. Both pilots were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who completed the landing at an excessive speed in full flap configuration and in strong cross winds conditions.

Crash of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress near Randolph AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1956 at 1512 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Randolph - Randolph

Location:

Randolph AFB (Seguin)

Texas

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Randolph AFB. While flying at low height at a speed of 140 mph, the aircraft struck a 160-foot high telecommunications tower and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found in Selma, north of the airbase. A crew member was killed while five others escaped uninjured.
Crew:
1st Lt L. R. Hildebrand +5.

Crash of a Vickers 668 Varsity T.1 at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Varsity

Operator:

Registration:

WF388

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Boeing B-50 Superfortress

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

MSN:

547

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

During the last segment, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low. The aircraft hit the ground few yards short of runway. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was irreparable.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-80-BO Superfortress in Wilmington Pike: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

48-072

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wright-Patterson - Wright-Patterson

MSN:

15881

YOM:

1948

Location:

Dayton

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

While conducting a training mission out from Wright-Patterson AFB, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Wilmington Pike, southeast of Dayton. All 11 occupants were killed.

Ground accident of an Avro 652A Anson XII at RAF Spitalgate

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

PH662

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker

Schedule:

Spitalgate - Spitalgate

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Suffered an undercarriage failure while taxiing at RAF Spitalgate. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage failure during taxiing.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker in West Palm Beach: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1956 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

West Palm Beach - West Palm Beach

Location:

West Palm Beach

Florida

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed West Palm Beach at 1345LT for a local training mission. After completing several maneuvers, the crew was returning to his base when, on final approach, at a speed of 142 knots, the four engine aircraft struck a 42-foot high light pole. It continued for 660 feet, lost its both wings, broken in two and eventually crashed in a field. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Andrew B. Smernis, pilot,
Cpt Earl Wellington Meredith, Jr., copilot,
2nd Lt Thomas Dee McLeod, copilot,
T/Sgt William Edward McDeid, flight engineer,
M/Sgt John Harold James, panel engineer.

Probable cause:

The investigation would conclude the fault lay not with the crew. It was an in-flight fire; not in an engine, but in the area of the left wing's leading edge.

Crash of a Boeing B-52B-30-BO Stratofortress in Tracy: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

53-0384

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Castle - Castle

MSN:

16863

YOM:

1953

Location:

Tracy

California

Country:

Region:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training mission out from Castle AFB when a fire broke out apparently on the leading edge of the right wing. It appears that four crew members were able to bail out and were found alive while four others were killed when the aircraft crashed in Tracy.
Crew:
Maj Edward L. Stefanski, pilot, †
Maj Michael Shay, copilot,
Maj Albert K. Brown, pilot, †
Col Patrick D. Fleming, instructor pilot, †
Cpt James Fredrickson, navigator, †
Maj Harold F. Korger, radar observer,
Maj Billie M. Beardsley, radio operator,
M/Sgt Williard Milo Lucy, tail gunner.

Probable cause:

It is believed that a fire broke out following an explosion that occurred in an electrical power panel located on the alternator deck blowing off the cover. This caused the cover to jam the regulator valve of the left hand forward alternator disabling the over speed protection and resulting in an over speed failure.

Crash of a Fairchild R4Q-2 Flying Boxcar off Miami: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

131703

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Miami - Miami

MSN:

10888

YOM:

1952

Location:

Miami

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local training sortie from Miami-Opa Locka Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft suffered engine problems. The crew contacted ATC and elected to ditch the aircraft off Miami. Two crew members were rescued while others drowned.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster B.3 GR at RAF Newquay

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

RE211

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: