Training

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Davis Monthan – Mobile – Davis Monthan

MSN:

10775

YOM:

1945

Location:

Guadalupe Peak

Texas

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

850

Captain / Total hours on type:

456.00

Aircraft flight hours:

383

Circumstances:

While cruising by night and low visibility, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located south of the Guadalupe Peak, southeast of Pine Springs, west Texas. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 12 crew members were killed. They were conducting a night training sortie from Davis Monthan to Mobile and return.
Crew (233rd Unit):
F/O Eugene R. Chale,
1st Lt James Harrison Couch,
2nd Lt James M. Green,
Sgt Aristo Landers,
M/Sgt Orval R. Lawless,
Cpl Ralph I. Martin,
1st Lt Joseph J. Mennen Jr.,
Pfc Clark J. Moore,
Sgt Fayette H. Stanfield,
F/O James A. Thomas,
2nd Lt Wesley A. Waldron,
F/O Ernest E. Wilson.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the aircraft was cruising at an insufficient altitude estimated between 5,000 and 5,400 feet by night. According to investigators, such flight should not be conducted by night as the crew was not familiarized with the topography of this region. No technical failure was pointed out on the aircraft. Also, the preflight briefing on behalf of the crew was incomplete.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK into the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FZ583

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

12138

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a night training exercise when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Pacific Ocean, somewhere off the British Columbia's coast. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (6th OTU):
P/O John Charles Eric Bayston,
Sgt Daniel Victor Sorfleet,
Sgt Charles Arthur John Wilton.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I in Bembridge

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Supermarine Walrus

Operator:

Registration:

L2335

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Bembridge - Bembridge

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was performing a circular training flight at Bembridge Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the seaplane stalled and crashed in flames. The pilot was quickly evacuated to a local hospital while the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Crew:
F/O A. Walker, daughter of Johnny Walker of the famous Whiskey family.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Gold Run: 3 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-107339

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Reno – Long Beach

MSN:

27026

YOM:

1944

Location:

Gold Run

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Reno on a high level training flight bound for Long Beach, California. Enroute, weather conditions worsened and the captain decided to return to Reno. Few minutes later, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in the American River Canyon located in Gold Run. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. There are conflicting versions about the reason of occurrence as one revealed that the loss of control was caused by an explosion in the right wing and the separation of both wings shortly later, and the second version mentioned a fire in the cockpit.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Ohakea AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

NZ2045

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)

Schedule:

Ohakea - Ohakea

MSN:

414-6443

Location:

Ohakea AFB (Bulls)

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, the aircraft stalled, hit the ground, went out of control and eventually crashed on a construction vehicle. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were slightly injured while the vehicle's driver was killed.

Probable cause:

It appears that the crew did not prepare the flight properly and did not proceed to any deice prior to takeoff while the aircraft (wings, tail and stabilizers) were contaminated by ice. This cause the aircraft to stall just after liftoff.

Crash of a Martin PBM-3S Mariner in Corpus Christi: 7 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Martin PBM Mariner

Operator:

Registration:

01728

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi

MSN:

01728

Location:

Corpus Christi

Texas

Country:

Region:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach, the seaplane was too low and hit a beacon and crashed. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J Liberator on Welch Peak: 11 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

KK241

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Abbotsford - Abbotsford

MSN:

1607

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Abbotsford Airport at 0906LT on a local training mission. Thirty-four minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 in marginal weather conditions, the crew proceeded to a fix point when the aircraft hit the slope of Welch Peak located east of Chilliwack. The wreckage was spotted on June 16 but first rescuers arrived on the scene four days later, on June 20. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 11 crew members were killed.
Crew (5th OTU):
Sgt Stanley Aldridge,
Sgt Albert Eric Broadbent,
Sgt John Randall Dale,
Sgt William Peter Watt Drummond,
Sgt Isaac Gibbons,
Sgt James Leonard Gordon Hammond,
F/O Arthur William David Hill,
Sgt David Robertson Langlands,
P/O Gilbert Ewart Ellis Long,
Sgt Graham Murray,
Sgt William Thomas Swatton.
Source:
http://www.bansteadhistory.com/Memorial/2_H_KK241 Liberator Crew.html

Probable cause:

Three possible causes which appeared as most probable to the Investigating Officer were as follows:
(1) failure of pilot to climb at a rate which would assure adequate clearance over the mountains.
(2) inability of pilot to climb over the mountains due to some mechanical failure in aircraft which cannot be determined at this time.
(3) that the briefing instructions which required the crew to set course at 4000 feet, and climb on track through cloud and over the mountains, did not allow a sufficient safety margin.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Fayetteville-Pope AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-100998

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fayetteville-Pope - Fayetteville-Pope

MSN:

19461

YOM:

1944

Location:

Pope AFB (Fayetteville)

North Carolina

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was involved in a training mission at Fayetteville-Pope AFB, consisting of takeoffs and landings. Shortly after takeoff, during initial climb, the aircraft hit tree tops located at the end of the runway, crashed in flames and was destroyed by fire. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert L. Hughes,
2nd Lt William E. Pero,
Cpl Jack A. Trussell,
Sgt Richard E. Whann.

Probable cause:

It is believed that an engine failed shortly after rotation.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster X in Higher Shelf Stones: 6 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

KB993

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: