Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near Carson City: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-96690
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Reno - Reno
MSN:
30352
YOM:
1944
Location:
Carson City
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Reno AAF at 0650LT for a local training mission. While cruising east of Carson City, a fire erupted in the left engine. Shortly later, the left wing on fire detached and hit the tail. The aircraft went out of control, disintegrated and eventually crashed in a mountainous area located some 31 miles east of Carson City. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William A. Beven,
Pvt William R. Carl,
Pvt Fred R. Davis,
F/O Donovan J. Hogan,
1st Lt Walter E. Schmidt.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 456 Warwick I near Dinsdale: 6 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 456 Warwick I
Operator:
Registration:
BV233
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Thornaby - Thornaby
Location:
Dinsdale
Durham
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a radio navigation exercise out from RAF Thornaby. While approaching Dinsdale at an altitude of 500 feet, the aircraft was 'attacked' by the pilots of two RAF Hurricanes that were conducting an unauthorized practice interception of the bomber. To evade the 'attack', the pilot of the Warwick attempted a steep climb when he lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (279th Squadron):
F/L Harvey Luck, pilot,
F/L Ronald Cooper, navigator.
F/O Desmond Holland, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O Frederick Ritchie, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/O Robert Woolfield, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt James Wiles, air gunner.
Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=161987
Probable cause:
Loss of control.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Mount Druitt: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
A34-65
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Richmond - Richmond
MSN:
2054
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mount Druitt
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a training flight out from RAAF Richmond, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in Mount Druitt, in the suburb of Sydney. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O George Ashurst,
P/O Kenneth Arthur Henry Biggs,
W/O Ian Castles Powell,
Cpl Bruce Allan Brownjohn,
LAC Henry Alan Taylor.
Probable cause:
It appears that the loss of control was caused by engine problems.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Mt Roaches: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
NF908
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Waddington - Waddington
Location:
Leek
Staffordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Waddington at 1430LT for a fighter affiliation exercise with an alternative of a one hour cross country navigation exercise, should the weather have been deemed suitable. About 90 minutes into the flight with the sun almost set (sun-set was 16:03) the aircraft descended through low cloud and snow showers and flew into the eastern side of the Roaches a few miles from the Staffordshire town of Leek and was completely destroyed by fire. The wreckage was found six days later and all 7 crew members were killed.
Crew (467th Squadron):
F/O Walter Vernon Wilfred Allamby, pilot,
Sgt Norman Lees, flight engineer,
F/Lt Jack Ivan Pritchard, navigator,
F/Lt Geoffrey James Dunbar, blomb aimer,
F/Sgt Richard Emonson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Thomas Edward Harold Wright, air gunner,
F/Sgt Cleveland Charles Watson, air gunner.
Source & photos:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrictnf908.htm

Crash of a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress near Buxton: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
43-38944
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Burtonwood - Burtonwood
YOM:
1943
Location:
Buxton
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a night training exercise. While flying at low height, the aircraft hit obstacles and crashed on the slope of Birchenough Hill, between Congleton and Buxton. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Donald James De Cleene, pilot,
2nd Lt Maynard Stravinski, copilot,
F/O Thomas Manos, navigator,
T/Sgt Howard F. Ayers, radio operator,
T/Sgt Frank E. Garry, flight engineer.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Lawrenceville: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18393
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lawrenceville - Lawrenceville
MSN:
4431
YOM:
1942
Location:
Lawrenceville-George AAF
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After completing a formation training mission with two other similar aircraft in the region of Lawrenceville-George AAF, the crew was returning to his base. On final approach by night, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin 187 Baltimore IIIA in RAF Taftîsh Gianaclîs

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Martin 187 Baltimore
Operator:
Registration:
FA262
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Taftîsh Gianaclîs - Taftîsh Gianaclîs
Location:
Taftîsh Gianaclîs AFB
Beheira
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After take off from RAF Taftîsh Gianaclîs, while climbing to a height of 1,800 feet, the aircraft collided with birds that hit the left wing. The captain decided to return and completed a safe landing without further problem. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Bird strike during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Zalma: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16047
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Malden - Malden
MSN:
20513
YOM:
1944
Location:
Zalma
Missouri
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 was completing a three hours glider tow training mission when the twin engine aircraft hit a ridge located two miles northeast of Zalma. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Edale

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
N9853
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Newton – Millom
Location:
Edale
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission from RAF Newton to RAF Millom. While cruising in cloudy conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Edale Moor located in the Kinder Scout National Nature Reserve, northwest of Edale. All five occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew (16th FTS):
F/Lt A. Chelstowski, pilot,
F/Sgt S. Pasinski, wireless operator.
Passengers:
F/Lt A. Mecinski,
F/Lt Witold Suida,
F/O Jan Kilmczak.
Source & photos:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrictn9853.htm

Crash of an Avro 652 I in Craigronald Hill: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
EG693
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Newton Stewart
Dumfries and Galloway
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft had taken off from Millom in southwest Cumbria for a navigation and bombing exercise, while flying south over the mountains of southern Scotland the aircraft struck the snow covered northern slope of Craigronald. The crash was reported fairly quickly and a Mountain Rescue Team was sent out form Wigtown, when they arrived they found 1 crew member alive but he died before reaching hospital.
Crew (2nd AFU):
F/Sgt Colwyn Parker Angus, pilot,
Sgt Maurice Schneider, navigator,
Sgt John Walter Melhuish, bomb aimer,
Sgt Kenneth Richard Ridehalgh, wireless operator.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/scotlandeg693.htm
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