Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Operator:

Registration:

51-2635

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Donaldson - Donaldson

MSN:

10624

YOM:

1951

Location:

Donaldson AFB-Donaldson Center Airport (Greenville)

South Carolina

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach, the aircraft was too low and hit the ground short of runway threshold. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-25-FA Flying Boxcar near Billings: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1952 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

51-2590

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Edmonton – Denver

MSN:

10579

YOM:

1951

Location:

Billings

Montana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet on a flight from Edmonton to Denver, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine. A propeller blade detached and hit the fuselage. Shortly later, the engine suffered severe vibrations and later detached from its mount. In such conditions, the crew decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located 12 miles east of Billings, hit a ditch and came to rest in flames. Eight occupants were killed while eight others were injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of a propeller blade in flight and the left engine later detached due to severe vibrations.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-23-FA Flying Boxcar in Alaska: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

51-2570

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Schedule:

Kodiak – Elmendorf

MSN:

10528

YOM:

1950

Location:

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Kodiak to Elmendorf AFB, taking part to the 'Warmwind' exercice. En route, the airplane disappeared in unclear circumstances. As it failed to arrive in Elmendorf, extensive SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended a month later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 20 occupants was found.

Probable cause:

In the absence of evidence, the cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the aircraft was off course at the time of the accident, apparently following issues with radio frequencies between two stations. Following this second accident in Alaska in one week and the third involving a C-119 in the same period, the US government reclaimed funds to modernize the ATC infrastructure in Alaska and to equip the area with VHF beacons.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-22-FA Flying Boxcar near Seongnam AFB: 44 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1952 at 1445 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

51-2551

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ashiya - Seongnam

MSN:

10509

YOM:

1950

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Seongnam AFB in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area located in a mountainous area, about 30 km east of Seoul. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 44 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions consisted of an horizontal visibility of 11 km with a cloud base at 3,000 feet.
Crew:
Cwo Alfred H. Auger,
Pfc Robert J. Beachy,
A1c Leroy J. Beer,
Sgt Francis C. Berger,
Pfc Gilberto A. Berrios,
Cpl Antonio Calaustro,
Cpl William E. Clark,
Pfc C. Concepcion-Esquilio,
Cpl Patrick E. Connolly,
Pfc Delbert Coulam,
Cpl Donald D. Drinnen,
Sfc Albert W. Dzinwkowski,
Cpl James A. Flory,
Pfc Lloyd O. Fogt,
A2c Marvin L. Gainey,
Cpl Frank. Gfroerer,
Cpl Thomas E. Giglio,
Cpl John W. Hanlon,
M/Sgt Arthur J. Holland,
Sgt Robert W. Irwin,
Pfc Robert H. Koehler,
Pfc Leon Letts Jr.,
S/Sgt Ray W. Mansholt,
Pfc Bronson J. Mastne,
Sgt Richard L. Menninger,
Pfc Erling P. Miller,
2nd Lt John C. Mortensen,
Cpt William C. Moskosky Sr.,
Pfc Billy G. Mouney,
Sgt Donald R. Northrup,
Pfc Byron H. Pittman,
Pfc Lovell E. Prater,
Pvt Juan Rivera-Gonzales,
Pfc Juan Rivera-Gonzales,
Pfc Raul Rosalez,
Cpt Robert L. Schenck,
SGt Arthur J. Scowcraft,
Pfc Eugene R. Serra,
Sgt Ray A. Shepherd,
Pfc Freelan Shrewsbury,
S/Sgt Thaddeus L. Smith Jr.,
Sgt John C. Stauch Sr.,
Sgt Harry N. Tsuruoka,
Cpl John H. Williams.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. No deficiencies on instruments or engines were reported and the reason why the airplane was flying at an insufficient altitude remains unclear.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-22-FA Flying Boxcar on Mt McKinley: 19 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1952 at 0300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

51-2560

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Elmendorf – Big Delta

MSN:

10518

YOM:

1950

Location:

Mt McKinley

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying by night at an altitude of 11,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt McKinley located in the Denali State Park. First rescuers arrived on the scene few hours later and all 19 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft was not following the assigned route at the time of the accident, probably due to a navigational error on part of the flying crew caused by a faulty interpretation of two different radio stations. It is also reported that the aircraft was not equipped with an ADF system nor a high frequency receiver, which was considered as a contributory factor. Also, ground navigation aids were considered as poor.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-16-FA Flying Boxcar in Iwakuni AFB

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

49-0175

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

10412

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119B-110-FA Flying Boxcar in Niigata

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

49-0103

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

10340

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Niigata Airport, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed 3,2 km short of runway threshold. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on final approach.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-13-FA Flying Boxcar in Ashiya: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

49-0138

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: