Douglas A-26 Invader | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Few minutes after takeoff from Vélizy-Villacoublay, an engine caught fire. The captain elected to return but was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field located near the aerodrome of Chelles-le-Pin. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest in flames. All 15 occupants, most of them women and children flying back to Algeria, were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-50-DL Invader in Matsudo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-34231

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

27500

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Matsudo, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Archibald R. Day,
S/Sgt Samuel H. Monella,
Sgt Charles A. Groover.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-35-DT Invader near Darlington: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1945 at 1436 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-35553

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Florence - Florence

MSN:

7456

YOM:

1943

Location:

Darlington

South Carolina

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1400

Captain / Total hours on type:

300.00

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 3,100 feet, the Invader collided with an Eastern Airlines DC-3 registered NC25647 and performing flight EA045 from Washington DC to Columbia with 20 passengers and a crew of four on board. Following the collision, the Invader went out of control and crashed in a field located near Darlington, some 12 miles northwest of Florence. Both crew members were killed. On his side, the crew of the DC-3 was able to make an emergency landing and one passenger was killed.

Probable cause:

On the basis of the evidence available at this time the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of each pilot to see the other aircraft in time to avoid collision. Contributing factors were the DC3 pilot's deviation from the airway in the proximity of an active USAAF base and his lack of vigilance, and the Army-pilot's continuing a maneuver which restricted his vision in an area not set aside for such maneuvers.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-5-DT Invader in Portland: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1944 at 1640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

43-22253

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Barksdale - Portland

MSN:

18400

Location:

Portland

Maine

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 completing a flight from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. While descending to Portland, the visibility was reduced due to fog and the crew was unable to localize the airfield and the runway. On approach, the aircraft crashed in a huge ball of fire in the Redbank Trailer Park. Both pilots and 18 people on the ground (mothers and their children) were killed. Less than one month later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.