Boeing B-29 Superfortress | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Agana-Harmon Field AFB, following a night flight started last evening from Andersen AFB, the pilot was instructed to go around due to poor visibility caused by heavy rain falls. The aircraft hit tree tops, the engine number one was damaged as well as left wingtip and flaps. The aircraft then stalled and crashed in a huge explosion short of runway. Ten crew members were killed and one was seriously injured.
Crew:
1st Lt Dave R. Anderson,
Cpl Nicholas G. Brando,
M/Sgt Ray M. Cline,
Sgt Clifton E. Coker,
1st Lt Charles E. Cooper,
S/Sgt Arthur S. Johnson Jr.,
2nd Lt Willard W. Larech,
2nd Lt George R. Longsdorf,
Pfc Victor N. Wright,
1st Lt Robert R. Ziegele.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-50-BW Superfortress into the Pacific Ocean: 12 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-24842

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

North Field - North Field

MSN:

4504

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Forty-five minutes after its departure from North Field AFB (Tinian Island), while cruising, the engine number four caught fire. The aircraft dove into the sea and exploded as it struck the water surface. Only few debris were found on site and all 12 crew members were killed.
Crew (39th Squadron):
Sgt Robert J. Beller, radio operator,
Cpl Harold M. Brown, air gunner,
1st Lt Bernard A. Casaurang, pilot,
Cpl Ralph R. Cima, radar officer,
Cpl Flavio M. Duca, air gunner,
Cpl Charles N. Gentry,
2nd Lt Edward A. Josephson, pilot,
F/O Louis T. Kestner Jr., navigator,
Cpl Joseph J. Kuebler, air gunner,
Cpl Richard V. Leland,
T/Sgt Fred B. Robbins, flight engineer,
2nd Lt Richard J. Scarisbrick, bombardier.

Probable cause:

Engine # 4 caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-15-BW Superfortress off Greenville

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-6383

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

3517

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a ferry flight from the US to India when flying off the Liberian coast, the pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft due to a fuel exhaustion. The four engine aircraft came to rest off Greenville coast and was lost. All crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-15-BW Superfortress near Karachi

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-6369

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

3503

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a ferry flight from the US to Karachi when he encountered dust storm over Pakistan and was forced to abandon the aircraft that crashed 20 miles southeast of Karachi. The aircraft was destroyed as all occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-1-BW Superfortress in Cairo-Payne AFB

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-6249

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

3383

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash landed in Cairo-Payne AFB for unknown reason. No casualties.

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:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Seattle - Seattle

MSN:

2482

YOM:

1941

Location:

Seattle

Washington

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.