Crash of a Douglas C-54E-1-DO Skymaster in Wilmington: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
44-9026
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wilmington - Wilmington
MSN:
27252
YOM:
1945
Location:
Wilmington-New Castle County
Delaware
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Wilmington-New Castle Airfield at 0322LT for a local training and transition flight. After several approaches and maneuvers in the region, the crew was completing a new approach when the aircraft flew over the runway and crashed in flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
T/Sgt Howard J. Driver,
Cpt Edgar L. Kinsey,
Cpt Daniel E. McCafferty,
Cpt Thomas R. Monroe.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the cause of the accident.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer into the Atlantic Ocean: 17 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
59642
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Miami - Miami
MSN:
59642
YOM:
1943
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Miami on a training flight and failed to return from operation. It is believed that it crashed somewhere into the Atlantic Ocean. No trace was ever found. All 17 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Sedalia AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77557
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sedalia - Sedalia
MSN:
32953
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sedalia AFB
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Sedalia AFB runway 13, while climbing to a height of 500 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Thomas D. Smith,
1st Lt Edward B. Ziegler.
Probable cause:
The crew did not prepare the flight properly and failed to check the aircraft prior to departure, leaving the elevator gust locks in place. In such condition, the aircraft was unable to climb properly.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in RAF Holmsley South

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW176
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
MW176
YOM:
1945
Location:
Holmsley South AFB
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to RAF Holmsley South, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field 1,5 mile short of runway. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Two engines failed on approach due to fuel mismanagement.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster I near Burdale: 6 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
PD287
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wickenby - Wickenby
Location:
Burdale
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Wickenby in the evening of July 13 on a night training exercise with 11 other similar aircraft. While cruising at an assigned altitude of 2,000 feet, the aircraft flew into a thunderstorm when it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located near the village of Burdale, some 10 miles northwest of RAF Driffield. The rear gunner Sgt J. Critchley survived while six other occupants were killed.
Crew (626th Squadron):
F/Sgt S. P. Bell, pilot,
F/Sgt L. W. Garfield, navigator,
F/Sgt H. J. Plastow, wireless operator,
Sgt P. J. Allsebrook, air bomber,
Sgt S. Welsh, flight engineer,
Sgt R. C. T. Goldthorpe, air gunner,
Sgt J. Critchley, air gunner.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-50-MO Superfortress at Kirtland AFB: 13 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-86329
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kirtland - Kirtland
Location:
Kirtland AFB
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kirtland AFB, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. There were 14 crew members on board. 13 were killed and the only survivor was the pilot John Parker Shaw.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-35-DT Invader near Darlington: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35553
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Florence - Florence
MSN:
7456
YOM:
1943
Location:
Darlington
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1400
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 3,100 feet, the Invader collided with an Eastern Airlines DC-3 registered NC25647 and performing flight EA045 from Washington DC to Columbia with 20 passengers and a crew of four on board. Following the collision, the Invader went out of control and crashed in a field located near Darlington, some 12 miles northwest of Florence. Both crew members were killed. On his side, the crew of the DC-3 was able to make an emergency landing and one passenger was killed.
Probable cause:
On the basis of the evidence available at this time the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of each pilot to see the other aircraft in time to avoid collision. Contributing factors were the DC3 pilot's deviation from the airway in the proximity of an active USAAF base and his lack of vigilance, and the Army-pilot's continuing a maneuver which restricted his vision in an area not set aside for such maneuvers.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Waterkloof AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6847
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Waterkloof - Waterkloof
MSN:
14670/26115
YOM:
1944
Location:
Waterkloof AFB
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Waterkloof AFB while performing a training sortie. A crew member was killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator in Abbotsford: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
KG880
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Abbotsford - Abbotsford
MSN:
976
Location:
Abbotsford
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training mission and was authorized to line up on runway 18. For unknown reason, the captain lined up on runway 12 and started the takeoff roll despite the fact he did not receive any permission. Another RCAF Consolidated B-24J Liberator (registered KG880 and carrying a crew of four) was taxiing on runway 12 to reach its parking place. The Liberator KH107 collided with KG880 while taking off. Both aircraft exploded and were totally destroyed. On board KG880, a crew member survived while three others were killed. On board KH107, six crewmen were killed while five others were seriously injured.
Crew killed in KH107 were:
P/O T. Batley, pilot,
P/O A. K. Allen, copilot,
F/O G. W. Morris, navigator,
Sgt A. C. Suggate, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O P. F. Gunter, bomb aimer,
Sgt R. H. Avery, wireless operator and air gunner.
Crew killed in KG880 were:
F/Lt J. A. Sinclair, pilot,
Sgt J. E. Thomas, copilot,
Sgt J. W. Murphy, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, crew of KH107 lined up on the wrong runway and started the takeoff procedure without authorization.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator in Abbotsford: 6 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
KH107
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Abbotsford - Abbotsford
MSN:
1263
Location:
Abbotsford
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training mission and was authorized to line up on runway 18. For unknown reason, the captain lined up on runway 12 and started the takeoff roll despite the fact he did not receive any permission. Another RCAF Consolidated B-24J Liberator (registered KG880 and carrying a crew of four) was taxiing on runway 12 to reach its parking place. The Liberator KH107 collided with KG880 while taking off. Both aircraft exploded and were totally destroyed. On board KG880, a crew member survived while three others were killed. On board KH107, six crewmen were killed while five others were seriously injured.
Crew killed in KH107 were:
P/O T. Batley, pilot,
P/O A. K. Allen, copilot,
F/O G. W. Morris, navigator,
Sgt A. C. Suggate, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O P. F. Gunter, bomb aimer,
Sgt R. H. Avery, wireless operator and air gunner.
Crew killed in KG880 were:
F/Lt J. A. Sinclair, pilot,
Sgt J. E. Thomas, copilot,
Sgt J. W. Murphy, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, crew of KH107 lined up on the wrong runway and started the takeoff procedure without authorization.
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