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Crash of a Travel Air E-4000 in Ottawa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1932 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Travel Air 4000
Operator:
Harry N. Hill
Registration:
NC9874
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1060
YOM:
1927
Location:
Ottawa
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Ottawa, while climbing to a height of about 200 feet, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Stinson R-2 in Jackson Park: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model R
Operator:
Registration:
NC12178
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
MSN:
8500
YOM:
1931
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Circumstances:
The pilot Edward A. Stinson was completing a demo flight to potential buyers. While flying over Lake Michigan, the engine failed. The pilot decided to reach the shore and was attempting an emergency landing on the golf course of Jackson Park when the aircraft hit a flag pole. A part of the right wing was torn off and the aircraft crashed on the ground. All five occupants were injured and the pilot died few hours later from his injuries. Very experienced, he totalized more than 14,000 flying hours.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Stinson SM-2A Junior in Rockford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1932 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-2/SM-7/SM-8
Operator:
Registration:
NC443H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Rockford – Chicago
MSN:
1088
YOM:
1929
Location:
Rockford
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rockford Airport, the pilot lost his orientation due to poor visibility caused by foggy conditions. He decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft. Doing so, he struck the stabilizer and was later found dead. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in Calvin Park, a district of Rockford. There were no casualties on the ground.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Kewanee: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC433E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kansas City – Chicago
MSN:
49
YOM:
1929
Location:
Kewanee
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Kansas City to Chicago, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. The crew decided to divert to Kewanee for an emergency landing. On approach, the airplane impacted the roof of a barn and crashed. Two passengers were killed and four other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed 2 Vega in Chicago: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1931 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 2 Vega
Operator:
Chicago-Detroit Airways
Registration:
NC606
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Detroit – Chicago
MSN:
56
YOM:
1929
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Chicago Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. He lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in Lake Calumet. The pilot Albert Malvick was killed.

Crash of a Pitcairn PA-7M Mailwing in Centralia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1931 at 0220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
NC94W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saint Louis – Evansville
MSN:
146
YOM:
1930
Location:
Centralia
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While on a night mail flight from Saint Louis to Evansville, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. He attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field located in Centralia. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed DL-1B Vega in Chicago: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC8497
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Detroit
MSN:
154
YOM:
1930
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
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:
After takeoff from Chicago Airport, while climbing to a height of 700 feet, the engine failed. The crew elected to return and initiated a turn to the right when the airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Lockheed 5 Vega in Chicago

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Schlee-Brock Aircraft Corporation - SBAC
Registration:
NC7441
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago - Chicago
MSN:
21
YOM:
1929
Location:
Chicago
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:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local test flight at Chicago Airport. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants were injured.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1B Detroiter in Rockford: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-1 Detroiter
Operator:
Registration:
NC4679
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rockford – Milwaukee
MSN:
M226
YOM:
1927
Location:
Rockford-Greater Rockford
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rockford-Greater Rockford Airport, while in initial climb, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, hit telephone wires and crashed in the Rock River. Three occupants were rescued and three others were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of De Havilland DH.4M at Chanute AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1926
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
AC-30859
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chanute AFB - Chanute AFB
Location:
Chanute AFB (Rantoul)
Illinois
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:
The crew departed Chanute AFB on a local training mission when the aircraft collided with a USAAC Consolidated PT-1 Trusty. Registered 26-343, the Consolidated was also completing a local training mission with two pilots on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, killing all four crew members.
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