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Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Garnett

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-1139
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
79
YOM:
1941
Location:
Garnett
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During a training exercise, the crew experienced unknown technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Garnett and was damaged beyond repair. No casualties.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical failure.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-209A near Kansas City

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1942 at 1149 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC18951
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City - Kansas City
MSN:
2015
YOM:
1937
Location:
Kansas City
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4488
Captain / Total hours on type:
2888.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
700
Circumstances:
A mid-air collision involving aircraft of United States registry, a Douglas DC3, NC18951, and a US Army aircraft, type C-53, registered 41-20116, occurred at an altitude of between 3,500 and 3,900 feet about 4 1/4 miles northeast of the Kansas City Range Station and 1 3/4 miles north of the on course of the northeast leg of the Kansas City Radio Range. At the time of the accident, NC18951 was operating on a check flight in the vicinity of the Kansas City Municipal Airport as a part of the routine instrument flight instruction of Transcontinental & Western Air. The C-53 was on a non-stop cross-country flight from Indianapolis to Wichita via Kansas City, in the service of the US Army Air Forces. The DC-3 received major damage from the collision in the air and was demolished by the resultant crash landing in a group of small trees in the vicinity of Linden, Kansas. The C-53 received major damage as a result of the collision but succeeded in landing at the Kansas City Municipal Airport without further damage. The DC-3 captain sustained minor injuries. None of the 5 other persons involved was injured.
Probable cause:
Error of judgment of the Kansas City Air Traffic Control operator in clearing the TWA DC-3 to climb into the overcast, within the limits of a civil airway, when he had knowledge of the expected arrival, in the immediate vicinity, of the Army C-53.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita in Wichita: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wichita - Wichita
Location:
Wichita-Beechcraft Field
Kansas
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:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local test flight on this first prototype of the new Beechcraft 25 (later called AT-10 Wichita) by the US Army. The twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon takeoff, killing the pilot Major George Moody who will give his name to the Moody AAF near Valdosta, Georgia.

Crash of a Martin B-10B near Hill City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-62
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
593
YOM:
1934
Location:
Hill City
Kansas
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 airplane suffered an engine failure in flight and crashed 26 km northeast of Hill City, bursting into flames. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed 9A Orion in Kansas City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1933 at 2125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC12277
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kansas City – Wichita
MSN:
192
YOM:
1933
Location:
Kansas City
Kansas
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 Kansas City Airport, while climbing, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the Missouri River. The pilot Earl J. Noe was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Metal G-2W Flamingo in Goodland

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Metal G-2W Flamingo
Operator:
Registration:
NC9489
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Goodland – Salina
MSN:
13
YOM:
1929
Location:
Goodland
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Goodland Airport, while climbing to a height of about 2,000 feet, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reasons. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All five occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Metal G-2W Flamingo in Goodland

Date & Time: May 22, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Metal G-2W Flamingo
Operator:
Registration:
NC9488
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salina – Goodland
MSN:
12
YOM:
1929
Location:
Goodland
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was approaching Goodland when he encountered poor weather conditions with a sandstorm. The airplane landed hard, overturned and came to rest upside down. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Neodesha: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
J. H. O’Brien
Registration:
NC7686
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tulsa – Winnipeg
MSN:
4-AT-044
YOM:
1928
Location:
Neodesha
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Tulsa to Winnipeg, while cruising south of Topeka, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The pilot reduced his altitude and elected to land in an open field when the aircraft stalled and crashed 11 km south of Neodesha. Both pilots and five passengers were killed. All occupants were members of the Winnipeg Toilers basketball team.
Crew:
Avlie H. Hakes, pilot,
H. E. Eggens, copilot.

Crash of a Lockheed 1 Vega in Lansing: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 1 Vega
Operator:
Navin Air Transport
Registration:
NC35E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Kansas City
MSN:
37
YOM:
1929
Location:
Lansing
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Chicago to Kansas City, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. While attempting an emergency landing, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fokker F10A in Bazaar: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1931 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC999E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City – Wichita – Amarillo – Albuquerque – Winslow – Los Angeles
MSN:
1063
YOM:
1929
Flight number:
TWA599
Location:
Bazaar
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Kansas City Airport at 0915LT bound for Wichita. At 1022LT, the copilot reported his position south of Emporia. At this time, weather conditions were poor with snow falls, drizzle, icing conditions, clouds and mist. The three engine airplane started to lose altitude then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight occupants were killed, among them the US football player and trainer Knute Rockne.
Crew:
Robert Fry, captain,
Jesse Mathias, copilot.
Passengers:
Knute Kenneth Rockne,
H. J. Christiansen,
J. H. Hooper,
W. B. Miller,
F. Goldthwaite,
C. A. Lobrech.
Probable cause:
The right wing severed in flight, maybe following an excessive ice accumulation. The aircraft was probably in a spiral dive when it broke up. An excessive speed almost certainly was a contributory cause of the accident, probably not through control mishandling but through flutter. By late June 1931, 20 of the 36 grounded F-10As were back in service, and five others would follow. There was no rejoicing.
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