Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-26-FA Flying Boxcar in Choisy-le-Roi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
51-2621
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dover – Lajes – Paris – Frankfurt
MSN:
10610
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a ferry flight from Dover, Delaware, to Frankfurt-Main Airbase with intermediate stops in Lajes, Azores Islands, and Paris-Orly. On final approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in Choisy-le-Roi, less than four km from the runway threshold. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control may have been caused by the loss of the rear clam shell door which detached on final approach and struck the horizontal stabilizer, causing the failure of the empennage and the subsequent crash of the airplane.

Crash of a Kaiser-Frazer C-119F-KM Flying Boxcar near Pope AFB: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
51-8163
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pope - Pope
MSN:
166
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Pope Army Airfield with 11 other similar aircraft to take part to a paratroopers dropping exercice. In flight, an engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that left the formation and dove into the ground. During the dive, the aircraft hit ten paratroopers who just bailed out from other aircraft and eventually crashed in a field located few miles from the airport. All five occupants (four crew members and one doctor from Fort Bragg) were killed as well as ten paratroopers.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119B Flying Boxcar off Laiya

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
48-0348
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10330
YOM:
1948
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an engine failure, the crew ditched the aircraft about five km off Laiya. There were no casualties but the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-22-FA Flying Boxcar near Gharyan

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
51-2542
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Udine – Tripoli
MSN:
10500
YOM:
1950
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Udine to Wheelus AFB in Tripoli (today Mitiga). For unknown reason, the airplane continued to the south and following a fuel exhaustion, all 24 occupants decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a desert area located about 48 km south of Gharyan. All 24 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Aircraft abandoned following a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Fairchild R4Q-2 Flying Boxcar in Whiting Field NAS: 44 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1953 at 2315 LT
Operator:
Registration:
131663
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Corpus Christi – Whiting – Norfolk
MSN:
10830
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Corpus Christi to Norfolk with a fuel stop at Whiting Field NAS, carrying 44 members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Shortly after a night takeoff from Whiting Field NAS, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and eventually crashed in a wooded area located 0,75 mile past the runway end. A crew member and a passenger were rescued while 44 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The copilot was the pilot-in-command at the time of the accident. It is believed he suffered a spatial disorientation immediately after liftoff. Despite a visibility of about 9 miles, experts considered the flight conditions as non satisfying. It was determined that the climb gradient was too low while the flaps and the undercarriages were raised at impact. Thus it is believed that the pilots forgot to deploy the flaps prior to takeoff, which contributed to the loss of lift after rotation and the subsequent crash.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-15-FA Flying Boxcar off Ashiya AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
49-0161
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
10398
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Ashiya AFB, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, about 24 km northeast of its departure point. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar in Weinheim: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1953 at 1655 LT
Operator:
Registration:
51-8241
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Frankfurt - Frankfurt
MSN:
10789
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The C-119 was part of a combined exercise with 17 other similar machines that left Frankfurt-Main Airbase in the afternoon. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, another C-119 registered 51-8235 was hit by a Republic F-84 Thunderjet registered 51-628. His pilot was also taking part to a combined exercise with 11 other Thunderjet. Following the impact, these two aircraft went into a dive and hit the C-119 registered 51-8241. All three aircraft crashed in a field located in Weinheim. All six crew members on board the C-119 registered 51-8235 were killed while on board the 51-8241, two crew members were killed and four others were rescued. The pilot of the fighter was able to bail out and landed safely.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar in Weinheim: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1953 at 1655 LT
Operator:
Registration:
51-8235
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Frankfurt - Frankfurt
MSN:
10783
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The C-119 was part of a combined exercise with 17 other similar machines that left Frankfurt-Main Airbase in the afternoon. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the aircraft was hit by a Republic F-84 Thunderjet registered 51-628. His pilot was also taking part to a combined exercise with 11 other Thunderjet. Following the impact, both aircraft went into a dive and hit a second C-119 (registered 51-8241) flying in the same formation and also carrying a crew of six. All three aircraft crashed in a field located in Weinheim. All six crew members on board the C-119 registered 51-8235 were killed while on the second one, two were killed and four were rescued. The pilot of the fighter was able to bail out and landed safely.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-15-FA Flying Boxcar near Daejeon

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
49-0160
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10397
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying over the region of Daejeon on a cargo flight from Japan to Seoul, the left engine exploded and detached from its mount. In such conditions, the occupants bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed 10 km southeast of Daejeon. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Explosion of the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-13-FA Flying Boxcar in Jackson

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
49-0126
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jackson - Jackson
MSN:
10363
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff, while climbing, an engine failed. The aircraft lost speed, stalled and crashed in a field located 0,3 miles past the runway end. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.