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Crash of a Lockheed 10B Electra in Saint Louis: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1936 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
NC16022
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New Orleans – Saint Louis – Chicago
MSN:
1057
YOM:
1936
Flight number:
SCA004
Location:
Saint Louis-Lambert
Missouri
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
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Saint Louis-Lambert Airport at night and in poor weather conditions. While in initial climb, the crew made a turn to the left at an insufficient altitude, causing the left wing tip to struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in an open field located 5 km north of Lambert Airport, bursting into flames. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Several theories are suggested as to the cause of this accident. However, there is insufficient evidence to substantiate any of them. It is felt that the airplane was thoroughly controllable and that the turn back in the direction of the airport was a voluntary maneuver. Apparently, the pilot, after lifting the airplane into the air, became concerned either with some unexpected irregularity such as the functioning of some part of the airplane and made a turn toward the airport without realizing his nearness to the ground. However, it is not believed that any condition arose or a severity which would have prevented the pilot from acquiring more altitude before attempting to make a turn. It is the opinion of the Bureau of Air commerce that the probable cause of this accident was making a turn at an extremely low altitude, for reasons unknown, in which the wing of the airplane unintentionally contacted the ground.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in Atlanta: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1935 at 0330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC13785
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Albuquerque – Kansas City – New York
MSN:
1295
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
TW006
Location:
Atlanta
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising 10 km west from Macon, Missouri, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was unable to contact the base in Kansas City. In low visibility due to fog, the crew was unable to fix his position and attempted to make an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft impacted ground and crashed. Both pilots and three passengers were killed, among them Bronson M. Cutting, Senator of New Mexico.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable direct cause of this accident was an unintentional collision with the ground while the airplane was being maneuvered at a very low altitude in fog and darkness. The probable contributory causes of this accident were:
- A forecast by the United States Weather Bureau which did not predict the hazardous weather that developed during the latter part of the forecast period.
- Improper clearance of the airplane from Albuquerque by the company's ground personnel because of their knowledge that the plane's two-way radio was not functioning on the Western night frequency.
- Improper control by the company's ground personnel at Albuquerque for not calling the airplane back or ordering it to stop at an intermediate point when it was found that two-way radio communication could not be established.
- Error on the part of the pilot for proceeding in the flight after discovering that he was unable to effectively communicate with the ground.
- Failure of the company's ground personnel at Kansas City to expeditiously redispatch the airplane to a field where better weather existed when it became apparent that the ceiling at Kansas City was dropping to and below the authorized minimum for landing and while the airplane still had sufficient fuel to meet the Department of Commerce requirement of 45-minute fuel reserve after effecting a landing.

Crash of a Lockheed 5B Vega in Columbia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1934 at 0520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC106W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City – Chicago
MSN:
123
YOM:
1930
Location:
Columbia
Missouri
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 was performing a night mail flight from Kansas City to Chicago. While approaching Columbia, he encountered icing conditions and decided to make an emergency landing. The airplane went out of control and crashed in a open field near a road. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was unexpected icing conditions which made proper handling of the aircraft impossible.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000 in Amazonia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1934 at 2342 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC10809
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Omaha – Kansas City
MSN:
5031
YOM:
1931
Location:
Amazonia
Missouri
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:
While flying at night in marginal weather conditions, the pilot did not realize he was too low. The airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Amazonia, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot committed an error in judgment in turning too close to the ground in a fog-bound area. Weather reporting facilities of the Company were inadequate to meet the conditions that confronted the pilot in this flight.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000B in Oregon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1934 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC11118
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City – Omaha
MSN:
5004
YOM:
1931
Location:
Oregon
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kansas City at 1835LT on a schedule service to Omaha, carrying four passengers and one pilot. En route, the pilot was instructed to divert to St Joseph due to the deterioration of the weather conditions en route. The airplane landed in St Joseph at 1905LT and remained there until 2200LT. It took off shortly after 2200LT on the final leg to Omaha. But few minutes after takeoff, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility while cruising at night and heavy rain falls. He reduced his altitude, probably to establish a visual contact with the ground. The plane missed a house by only 50 feet then impacted trees and crashed against an embankment. The wreckage was found about 10 miles northwest of St Joseph. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Don Bontrager.
Passengers:
Mrs. Maude Schiffmacher,
Frank Mahan,
W. W. Truelson,
Dallas Leitch.

Crash of a Lockheed Vega DL-1 in Saint James

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC497H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
135
YOM:
1930
Location:
Saint James
Missouri
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:
Crashed following an inflight brake up, maybe caused by a structural failure. Occupant fate unknown. The aircraft was a DL-1, a duralumin version of the Vega 5C.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Saint Louis

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC993Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saint Louis – Indianapolis
MSN:
16
YOM:
1931
Location:
Saint Louis
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from St Louis Airport, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet, a propeller blade detached then the engine separated. The pilot bailed out and abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in a field. The pilot was uninjured.
Probable cause:
Propeller failure and engine separation during initial climb.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000B in Saint Louis: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1932 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC11122
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saint Louis - Saint Louis
MSN:
5016
YOM:
1931
Location:
Saint Louis-Lambert
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew (an instructor and four student pilots) was performing night training exercises at Saint Louis-Lambert Airport. On approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low. The aircraft collided with a windmill and crashed in a field. Three pilots were killed and two others were seriously injured.
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