Training

On final approach to Fairchild AFB, the six engine aircraft crashed short of runway and came to rest in flames against a snow bank. All crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

The aircraft was engaged in an exercice in the Mediterranean Sea, carrying six crew members and one passenger (a photographer) on behalf of the 203rd Squadron. While simulating an aerial attack of a submarine, the pilot-in-command completed a last turn to reach the target when the right wing broke off. Out of control, the airplane crashed into the sea. Five crew members were rescued while a sixth and the passenger were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Mather AFB, while in initial climb, the crew informed ground about an engine failure and elected to return for an emergency landing. The pilot-in-command completed a 180 turn to reach the approach path when, on final approach, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a crowded guard house at Mather Air Force base and exploded, turning the building into a "flaming matchbox." While all three crew members were injured, six people in the building were killed while 61 others were injured. All of them were guard house prisoners. They returned from lunch to the one-room building just in time to be caught in a fiery trap.
Crew:
2nd Lt Peter A. Keck, pilot,
Lt Robert C. Grout, copilot,
T/Sgt Robert Harrah.

The crew was performing a local training mission at RAF Burtonwood. On touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a USAF C-47 registered 42-100912 that was holding for takeoff with a crew of ten on board. Both aircraft were destroyed and among the 12 occupants on board the Neptune, one was killed while 11 others were injured. On board the C-47, six crew members were killed while four others were injured. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to poor weather conditions.

While conducting a training mission, the crew encountered mechanical problems and elected to make an emergency landing in a desert area located 12 miles northeast of Hachita, New Mexico. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On final approach to RAF Lindholme, while completing a local training sortie, the aircraft hit the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a field located few hundred yards short of runway. There were no casualties.

The crew was performing a training mission from Minneapolis to Griffiss AFB when an engine failed in flight. All eight occupants decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located one mile southeast of Flushing, Michigan. Seven crew members were evacuated while the eight occupant died as his parachute failed to open.

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Neubiberg Airbase. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.

Following an uneventful training mission, the crew was returning to his base in Barksdale and completed the approach by night. On final, the heavy bomber hit the roof of a house and crashed onto it about 1,2 mile short of runway 15. Four crew members were killed while nine others were injured. The couple who was sleeping in the house at the time of the accident was evacuated safely.

United Air Lines operates a Flight Training Center at Denver, Colorado, to train applicants for first officer positions with the company. The crew of United Trainer 16 consisted of Senior First Officer Jordan D. Kocher, who had been designated by United Air Lines as captain and instructor, and Trainee First Officers Laurence G. Wilson and Wayne C. Moen. The flight departed Stapleton Airfield at 0655LT. The 0628 weather conditions, upon which the crew had been briefed, were ceiling measured 15,000 feet, visibility 25 miles, and wind northwest 14 knots Ceiling and visibility were unlimited at the time of the accident, with the wind northwest 16 knots. No radio contacts were made by United Trainer 16 after reporting departure time. It was cleared for a training flight of four hours’ duration within a 25-mile radius of Denver Captain Kocher occupied the left pilot’s seat at takeoff. Upon departure, the aircraft load, in addition to the crew, was 820 gallons of gasoline, full oil tanks, and 650 pounds of sand ballast tied down in the rear baggage pit. The load was properly distributed with relation to the aircraft’s center of gravity, and the 22,910-pound gross weight at takeoff was within allowable limits. Witnesses reported that at between 0720 and 0725 the aircraft was seen to stall, enter a spin, and strike the ground in a diving attitude before recovery was effected.