Crash of a Boeing TB-17G-85-DL Flying Fortress near Raton: 10 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
44-83567
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lowry - Lowry
MSN:
33208
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. In low visibility, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located four miles west of Raton. The aircraft was destroyed and all ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
Walter C. Williams,
Melvin R. Truman,
James L. Reidinger,
Martin L. Murray,
Floyd C. Melton Jr.,
Frank M. Kackstetter,
James R. Irby,
Carl A. Hill,
Arthur L. Gaudreault,
Melvin C. Brock.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A Packet near McCleary: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48-0582
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
McChord - McChord
MSN:
10217
YOM:
1948
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base in McChord following a training sortie above the Pacific Ocean. En route, the pilot informed ATC that he was encountering engine problems when he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a wooded area located on a hill some 5 miles northwest of McCleary. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in RAF Mildenhall

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SX990
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (35th Squadron) was performing a local training sortie in RAF Mildenhall. While approaching by night, the four engine aircraft was too low and crashed in a field located 5 miles from runway 11 threshold. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Lakes Entrance: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AW660
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a training sortie, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Bass Strait, few km off Lakes Entrance. The wreckage was found two days later. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in Beacon Hill: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
TG499
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3
YOM:
1948
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet during a training sortie, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in Beacon Hill, Wiltshire. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight due to the failure of the under-slung belly pannier that was torn off and hit tail.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in Staythorpe: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RF407
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training mission called 'Operation Bulldog' consisting of an aerial attack of a target located outside the city of Staythorpe. While approaching the target on the north of the city at low height, the aircraft collided with a second RAF Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 registered RE374 and carrying also a crew of seven. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all 14 crew members.
Crew (61st Squadron):
Stanley Wilson +6.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but could have been caused by minor errors in timing, a convergence of tracks on approach to the target or inadequate lookout by each crew.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in Staythorpe: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RE374
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training mission called 'Operation Bulldog' consisting of an aerial attack of a target located outside the city of Staythorpe. While approaching the target on the north of the city at low height, the aircraft collided with a second RAF Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 registered RF407 and carrying also a crew of seven. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all 14 crew members.
Crew (57th Squadron):
F/Lt John Shorthouse, pilot,
Henry Richardson, pilot,
Charles Denis Kirby, flight engineer,
Albert Henry James Mitchell, navigator,
Philip Edward Pattullo, gunner,
John Edwin Conway Simpson, signaler,
Edwards Charles Talbot, gunner.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but could have been caused by minor errors in timing, a convergence of tracks on approach to the target or inadequate lookout by each crew.

Crash of a Convair B-36B-15-CF Peacemaker in Carswell AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-92079
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Carswell - Carswell
MSN:
76
YOM:
1946
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 36 at Carswell AFB, while in initial climb, the aircraft suffered a technical failure, lost height and crashed into Lake Worth. Eight crew members were rescued while five others were killed. The aircraft sank and was lost. The crew was performing a local training sortie for the 9th BS.
Probable cause:
The propellers of two engines switched to reverse thrust shortly after liftoff, probably due to a failure of the thrust reverser system.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK Dakota C.4 in RAF Netheravon

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
KJ865
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Netheravon - Netheravon
MSN:
14359/25804
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training sortie, towing a glider. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the throttles slipped back for undetermined reason. The aircraft stalled, crashed on the runway and came to rest. While both pilots were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in RAF Hawarden

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH716
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hawarden - Hawarden
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 sortie. On approach, an engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed landed in a field short of runway threshold, hit a concrete block, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt. While all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was written off.