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WA

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-55-BO Flying Fortress near Ellensburg: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-29500
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4614
Location:
Ellensburg
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 16 miles east of Ellensburg, while performing a training sortie. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-45-BO Flying Fortress near Ephrata AFB: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-5313
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3852
Location:
Ephrata
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances five miles north of Ephrata AFB. All 11 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura into the Puget Sound: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
29733
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
4886
Location:
Puget Sound
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in training mission jointly with a Lockheed P-38 Lightning. In unknown circumstances, both aircraft collided and crashed into the Puget Sound, about two miles off Richmond Beach. All seven crew members on both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Whidbey Island NAS: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
04475
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Whidbey Island - Whidbey Island
Location:
Whidbey Island NAS (Ault Field)
Washington
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:
Water-looped on landing and sunk off Whidbey Island NAS. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing XB-29 Super Fortress in Seattle: 34 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1943 at 1226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-003
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Seattle - Seattle
MSN:
2482
YOM:
1941
Location:
Seattle
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight on this second prototype. Ten minutes after departure from Seattle-Boeing Field, the crew informed ATC that engine number one caught fire and attempted to return. At an altitude of 2,400 feet, pilot feathered the propeller and notified ATC that the fire was spreading quickly. One minute later, as it was about to land, the bomber struck a power line and crashed on an industrial butchery. Extensive emergency resources were dispatched to the scene where rescuers did not find any survivors among the debris scattered over a wide area. The building was destroyed as well and 34 dead bodies were found: all 11 occupants on board the airplane and 23 people on ground. Thirty others people were injured as well.
Crew:
Eddie Allen, Chief test pilot by Boeing,
Bob Dansfield, captain.
Probable cause:
A fire on engine number one was likely due to the rupture of a supply fuel line. When fuel contacted the engine nacelle and several other components whose temperature was high, a fire erupted that quickly spread across the wing. On final approach, a violent explosion occurred on the left wing when fire contacted the valves of the wing defrost system which was mainly composed of magnesium. In addition, air flowing under the leading edge slats boosted flames significantly, which was considered as a contributory factor. Following this tragedy, Boeing technicians were forced to modify the engine fuel system as well as some others points.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Whidbey Island NAS: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
04438
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Whidbey Island - Whidbey Island
Location:
Whidbey Island NAS (Ault Field)
Washington
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:
Water-looped while landing off Whidbey Island NAS and sunk. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Lake Washington: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7272
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Lake Washington
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed while performing an instrument landing exercise on Lake Washington. Seven crew members were injured while the captain was killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress in Walla Walla: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-24631
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Walla Walla - Walla Walla
MSN:
3316
Location:
Walla Walla
Washington
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:
Shortly after take off from Walla Walla AFB, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed 5 miles southeast of the airport. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-40A Electra Junior in Everett: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior
Operator:
Registration:
38-542
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1259
YOM:
1941
Location:
Everett
Washington
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:
En route, for unknown reason, the twin engine aircraft stalled, dove into the ground and crashed near Everett-Paine Field Airport. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas A-20C-BO Havoc in Tokeland

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
41-19619
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2915
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tokeland
Washington
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:
Due to poor weather conditions, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in Tokeland and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Phillip H. Culler.
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