Crash of a Consolidated OA-10B Catalina off Fort Walton Beach: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-57837
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing takeoffs and landings on rough sea off Fort Walton Beach. On takeoff, the seaplane hit waves and plunged into the water. As only one watertight door was closed, a huge amount of water flood into the plane that sank quickly about 15 miles offshore. Four crew members were rescued while three others were killed. The aircraft was never recovered.
Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=166047
Probable cause:
It appears that the pilot of command, in transition at the time of the accident, was practicing against regulations.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X off Roscoff: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC630
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Shawbury - Shawbury
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight from RAF Shawbury. After flying over the island of Ouessant, heading to Straits of Dover, both engines failed simultaneously. Unable to restart the engines, the captain was forced to reduce his altitude and attempted to ditch the aircraft off Roscoff. On rough sea, the aircraft landed quite hard and broke in two. Three crew members were able to take refuge in a dinghy while three others were drowned when the aircraft sank and was lost. The crew of a merchant ship arrived on the scene about 5 hours later and evacuated the three survivors that were later landed at Plymouth.
Crew:
F/Lt Franczak, pilot,
F/O Ken S. Delbridge, navigator,
Sgt Bennett, signaler,
Cad Joseph Smith, †
Sgt Smith, †
Sgt Singh. †
Probable cause:
It appears that a crew wanted to switch the fuel selector to the auxiliary tanks because the main one was near empty. In doing so, he inadvertently cut the fuel supply, causing both engines to stop.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-10-DC Skymaster in Washington

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N91068
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Washington-National - Washington-National
MSN:
10342
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7272
Captain / Total hours on type:
375.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1175
Copilot / Total hours on type:
332
Aircraft flight hours:
3598
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight from Washington-National Airport. Enroute, the engine number four caught fire and the crew was unable to extinguish the fire. The captain informed ATC about his situation and obtained the authorization to return to Washington-National Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach to runway 33, the engine number four separated from the wing. Despite the situation, the crew was able to continue the approach and landed safely. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to the severity of the damages that the right wing suffered due to fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure in the No. 4 engine of the exhaust valve of the No. 2 cylinder and the exhaust connection of the No. 1 cylinder which resulted in fire in flight. A contributing factor was the inadequacy of the seal between the firewall and nacelle skin and between individual cowl panels which permitted the fire eventually to reach Zone 3 and to become uncontrollable.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Moreton-in-Marsh: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PG135
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moreton-in-Marsh - Moreton-in-Marsh
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Moreton-in-Marsh, while on a local training sortie, the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in a field located in Long Compton, about five km east of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all five crew members were killed. The accident occurred by night and low visibility due to clouds.
Crew (21st OTU):
F/O D. J. Ferdinando,
F/Lt K. G. J. Gratton,
F/Sgt R. Dunn,
Sgt W. B. Greatrix,
Sgt D. E. Robinson.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK off Darwin

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
A65-115
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Darwin - Darwin
MSN:
16716/33464
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a training flight in Darwin and flying along the coast, the right engine caught fire. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft about 500 yards off the Mindil Beach. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
F/Lt A. A. Lange,
W/O R. McGrath,
LAC B. R. Hanson,
LAC R. S. Bowley,
LAC J. J. Harvey.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Turtle Creek: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-TCJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moncton - Moncton
MSN:
1473
YOM:
1938
Flight number:
TCA032
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight from Moncton Airport. After completing a circuit, he was returning to the airfield when the right engine failed. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that lost height, hit trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Turtle Creek, southwest of Moncton Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in RAF Swinderby: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PA966
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Swinderby - Swinderby
MSN:
7366
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie on behalf of the 1660 CU. After takeoff, while in initial climb, the instructor shut down the engine number one, according to the training program (simulation of an engine failure). Simultaneously, the aircraft swung then stalled and crashed. While the instructor was injured, the second pilot was killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL near Ashland: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
NC88826
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Memphis - Memphis
MSN:
19776
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
AA026
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6770
Captain / Total hours on type:
4270.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5835
Copilot / Total hours on type:
5051
Aircraft flight hours:
3462
Circumstances:
The crew left Memphis at 2110LT for a three hours local training flight. About one hour later, contact was lost and the crew did not report anymore. The next early morning, the wreckage was found in a wooded, rolling terrain located five miles WSW of Ashland, and both crew members were killed. The attitude at impact indicates that, prior to the accident, the aircraft had been in an almost vertical dive and the complete demolition of the structure resulting from impact indicates very high speed. It is apparent, therefore, that the aircraft was not under normal control at the time of impact. During the course of this flight, the pilots were expected to practice recovery from unusual maneuvers similar to those contained in CAA flight checks. While it appears that the unusual attitude of the aircraft at the moment of impact may have resulted from a voluntary maneuver by one of the pilots, recovery from which was not completed, the possibility of loss of control from some other factor not apparent in the investigation cannot be eliminated. The fact that the ballast in the passengers' compartment was unsecured created the possibility of a serious shifting of balance during unusual attitudes. While the maximum possible movement of this ballast would probably not alter the center of gravity beyond approved limits, a sudden shift during an unusual maneuver may have produced a forward movement of the aircraft center of gravity location of almost 12 Inches. Such a change in center of gravity would have had an appreciable effect on "trim", and the resulting change in control forces would obviously have complicated an attempt by the pilot to recover from an unanticipated severe change in attitude. Some laxity must be charged to the company, therefore, for its failure to assure that the condition of the aircraft and its contents was suitable for the flight activity contemplated. As a result of the investigation of this accident, it appears that the aircraft, for reasons not determined, entered an unusual attitude from which recovery was not completed. Recovery in this instance may have been complicated by unsecured ballast or defective instruments, or both.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of control of the aircraft during an unusual attitude. Neither the reason for the initial loss of control nor the reason for the pilot's failure to recover has been determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Lawshall: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
PP232
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While completing a training sortie at low height, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion in a field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (304th Squadron):
F/Lt Dabrowski,
F/Lt Matylis,
F/Sgt Michalak.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a pilot error.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian I in Broglie: 8 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGMF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lydda - London
MSN:
1186
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission between Lydda and London. While overflying France, west of Evreux, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility when the aircraft crashed in a field and disintegrated on impact. A crew member survived while eight other occupants were killed. It is believed the loss of control may have been caused by a navigational error or occurred when the pilot attempted to establish a visual control with the ground.