Boeing 247

Operator:

Registration:

NC13323

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cheyenne - Cheyenne

MSN:

1704

YOM:

1935

Location:

Cheyenne

Wyoming

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local test flight out from Cheyenne Airport following modifications on few cockpit instruments. After take off, while climbing in light rain, the captain initiated a relative sharp turn to the right when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, reached a nose-down angle of 70° and crashed on the top of a hill. All four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

An examination of the wreckage did not indicate any failure or malfunctioning of any part of the airplane or engines. It is reasonable to believe that the windshield was iced sufficiently to obscure forward vision but this would not have hindered the pilot materially as he had a full complement of navigation instruments and presumable had unobstructed vision out either side. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was poor judgment on the part of the pilot for executing an abrupt maneuver with insufficient altitude for safety and failure of the pilot to maintain proper control of the aircraft during this maneuver.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Cheyenne: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1935 at 0219 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

NC13317

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Oakland – Salt Lake City – Denver – Cheyenne

MSN:

1698

YOM:

1935

Flight number:

UA004

Location:

Cheyenne

Wyoming

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Denver, the crew initiated the approach to Cheyenne Airport. The visibility was poor due to the night and marginal weather conditions. Too low, the airplane impacted the top of a hill, continued for about 300 metres and crashed, bursting into flames. All 12 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Whether or not the pilot was flying entirely on instruments, the question still arises as to why he was flying so close to the ground at the point of first contact with the ground. It is possible that the copilot in giving their position as Silver Crown could have done so having observed that the airplane was approaching Silver Crown. The pilot, hearing this over the interphones, might have taken this literally and started losing altitude factor or sooner than he should have from actual location. Another possibility is that the pilot misread his altimeter and as a consequence was actually flying at a much lower altitude than he believed. An additional 1,000 feet of altitude at the point of the accident would have placed the airplane in suitable position for a normal power glide to the airport for a landing. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an error on the part of the pilot in judging his altitude or his distance from the airport, or both.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Burbank: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1935 at 2307 LT

Type of aircraft:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Operator:

Registration:

NC13314

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Burbank – Salt Lake City

MSN:

1695

YOM:

1935

Flight number:

WX006

Location:

Burbank

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5000

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Burbank Airport, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet in limited visibility due to fog and night, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, collided with power cables and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All three occupants, two pilots and a stewardess, were killed.

Probable cause:

Several theories have been suggested as the probable cause of this accident. However, to date, no direct evidence has been uncovered which will substantiate any of them. Thus, it is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was failure of the pilot to maintain proper control of the aircraft while climbing through fog. It is believed he suffered a spatial disorientation while climbing in low visibility due to poor weather conditions.

Ground accident of a Boeing 247 in Nuremberg

Date & Time: May 24, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

D-AGAR

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

1945

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The Boeing 247 was parked at Nurenberg Airport when it was hit by an Air France Wibault 283.T12 registered F-AMYD. The German aircraft was damaged beyond repair while the French aircraft was undamaged. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing 247 in Western Springs

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1934 at 1815 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NC13328

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chicago – Omaha

MSN:

1709

YOM:

1933

Location:

Western Springs

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Fifteen minutes after takeoff from Chicago, the copilot informed ATC about problems with the right engine and elected to return. Shortly later, the left engine lost power as well and the crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field. On final, the aircraft impacted trees and came to rest in a vertical position against trees, near houses. The stewardess and the passenger (an employee of the operator) were slightly injured while both pilots were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was ice forming in the carburetors of both engines which resulted in loss of power.

Crash of a Boeing 247D near Selleck

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NC13302

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Spokane – Wenatchee – Seattle

MSN:

1683

YOM:

1933

Location:

Selleck

Washington

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Spokane at 1522LT with two passengers and three crew members on board. It landed at Wenatchee-Fancher Field at 1635LT and four additional passengers boarded. On the leg to Seattle, weather conditions worsened and the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane impacted trees and crashed on the slope of a mountain located 10 km east of Selleck. The aircraft was destroyed and all 9 occupants were injured.
Crew:
Ben Z. Redfield, pilot,
Dwight A. Hansen, copilot,
Marian Bennett, stewardess.
Passengers:
Paul C. Beezley,
Mildred A. Johannesen,
Helen Curran,
Robert C. Clark,
Daisy A. Moony,
Mercedes Boyd.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 247 in Bethel

Date & Time: May 30, 1934 at 0130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

NC13334

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Cleveland – Albany – Newark

MSN:

1716

YOM:

1933

Location:

Bethel

Connecticut

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Cleveland on a scheduled service to Newark with an intermediate stop in Albany, carrying nine passengers and three crew members. While descending to Newark at night, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and poor visibility due to low clouds and ground fog. Unable to locate the airport, the crew decided to fly to the north and to divert to Danbury-Tucker Field Airport. While approaching Danbury, CT, weather conditions were also marginal and the crew was unable to establish a contact with the people on duty at the airport. At that time, the airport was not illuminated. The crew followed several circuits over the area and attempted a blind landing but fuel reserves were low. On final approach, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located in Bethel, some 5 km short of runway. All 12 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
John Wolf, pilot,
Lorenz Letson, copilot.
Agnes Pugh, stewardess.
Passengers:
George H. Gleason,
Mrs. Margaret Anderson,
William Sirota,
W. J. Katz,
H. S. Howland,
H. H. Herwitz,
Mitchell Greene,
George Cochrane,
James Burns.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Salt Lake City: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1934 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NC13357

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Los Angeles – Salt Lake City – Cheyenne – Chicago

MSN:

1739

YOM:

1933

Location:

Salt Lake City

Utah

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7000

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a schedule service from Los Angeles to Chicago with intermediate stops in Salt Lake City and Cheyenne. It departed Salt Lake City Airport at 1400LT bound for Cheyenne with five passengers and three crew members on board. Weather conditions were poor with limited visibility due to snow falls and fog. While flying at an altitude of 8,000 feet at full speed, the airplane impacted the slope of the Parley's Canyon located about 17 km southeast of Salt Lake City Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lloyd Anderson, pilot,
Eric G. Danielson, copilot.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Boeing 247 in Wedron: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1933 at 1005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NC13324

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Chicago – Kansas City

MSN:

1705

YOM:

1933

Location:

Wedron

Illinois

Country:

Region: