Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in Camagüey: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Camagüey - Camagüey
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames onto the runway. The pilot (Lt Luis De Vale) was killed while both other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control shortly after rotation due to an engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas B-26 Invader near Parnamirim AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5154
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Parnamirim - Parnamirim
MSN:
28684
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in Taborda, about 5 km south of the Parnamirim AFB, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader near Madrid AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1958 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-2512
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Palanquero – Madrid – Apiay
MSN:
27437
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Palanquero Airport at 0730LT. While approaching Madrid AFB near Bogotá, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-25-DL Invader in the Old Dad Mountains: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1958 at 0943 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-39310
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
George - Winslow - Phoenix - Blythe - George
MSN:
7023
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left George AFB in the early morning on a training flight to Winslow, Phoenix, Blythe and return to George, with four other similar aircraft. While cruising, one of the Invader's crew made an error and left his position, causing his aircraft to struck the top of the Invader registered 41-39310. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a desert and mountainous area located in the Old Dad Mountains, in the Mojave National Preserve. Both crew members were killed. The other plane was able to land without further incident but with one engine inoperative.
Crew:
1st Lt Alexander Aros,
A1c Patrick W. Hughes.

Crash of a Douglas A-26 Invader in East Dayton: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1957 at 1659 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wright Patterson - Wright Patterson
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight and departed Wright-Patterson AFB in the day. On approach, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames into several houses located in 1843 Tuttle Avenue, East Dayton. At least four houses were destroyed. Both pilots as well as two people on the ground were killed.
Crew:
Maj James Melancon, pilot,
Cpt Wilho R. Heikkinen, copilot.
Both civilians killed were Mildred VanZant and Walter Geisler.
Probable cause:
An investigation determined that a loose engine cowling moved forward into the propeller.

Crash of a Douglas B-26B Invader in Sorn: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1956 at 2225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
8811-B
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Keflavik - Prestwick
MSN:
29029
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from the US to France to deliver the aircraft to the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) via Keflavik and Prestwick. During a night approach, the crew encountered low visibility due to poor weather conditions. While flying at an altitude of 800 feet, the aircraft hit the ground, became briefly airborne and crashed in a huge explosion some 20 km east of Prestwick Airport, near the village of Sorn. The wreckage was found five hours later and both crew members have been killed.
Crew:
Edgar Joseph Flanagan, pilot,
Wayne Archer Taylor, navigator.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in Colombia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from a military camp based at Colombia, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field, killing both pilots.
Crew:
Lt B. R. Sardinãs,
Lt C. G. Acosta.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the accident was caused by an engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-45-DT Invader at Mitchel AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35737
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Mitchel - Mitchel
MSN:
29016
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While completing a local training flight at Mitchel AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in East Meadow, near the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-26B in Union City: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1955 at 2117 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N67148
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bridgeport – White Plains – LaGuardia – Tulsa
MSN:
29229
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Bridgeport, Connecticut, for California at 1245LT carrying two crew members. Two stops were then made at White Plains,N. Y. and at LaGuardia Field where 2 passengers boarded the aircraft. At 1346 the flight left La Guardia for Tulsa, Oklahoma, under Visual Flight Rules and no flight plan was filed. At Tulsa the aircraft was refueled with 906 gallons of gasoline which filled to capacity both main tanks, the nose tank and the rear fuselage tank. After the pilots were briefed by the Tulsa U.S. Weather Bureau Office, an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan was filed with the Air Route Traffic Centre. At 2114LT Oklahoma City Airway Communications Station received a call from the flight on 126.7 mcs requesting cancellation of the IFR flight plan and asking for a landing clearance at Oklahoma City. The flight was given the special 2100LT weather as 10,000 feet overcast, sky partially obscured, fog. visibility 1-1/2 miles, and was advised to contact RAPCON (Radar Approach Control) on 119.3 mcs for a clearance to land as IFR conditions prevailed. The crew advised that it desired clearance for Will Rogers Field. This was the last radio contact with the aircraft. It crashed at 2117LT 2 3/8 miles northwest of Union City, Oklahoma, and 23 miles west of Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma City. Two explosions were heard in the air prior to the crash and portions of the empennage and fuselage were found along the last 3 miles of the flight path. All four occupants were killed, among them George Skakel Sr., founder of Great Lakes Carbon Corporation and his wife Ann.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was the loss of the aircraft's empennage as a result of an in-flight fuel explosion in the aft section of the fuselage. Investigation recent A-26 accident indicates possible fire and explosion hazard in rear fuselage area. For all A-26-B and A-26-C aircraft having rear fuselage tank installed in same compartment with electrical components liable to sparking the following restriction is mandatory until further notice. Rear fuselage fuel tank shall be drained, purged, and marked to prohibit use. Placard cockpit fuel controls and filler cap for information pilot and servicing personnel.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-50-DT Invader in Georgetown: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35793
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Griffiss - Turner
MSN:
29072
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Griffiss AFB (Rome) to Turner AGB located in Albany. Enroute, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Georgetown, killing all three crew members.