Crash of a Ford 4 in Billings: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1942 at 0811 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Atlantic Airmotive
Registration:
NC6892
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4-AT-028
YOM:
31
Location:
Billings-Logan
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off from Billings Airport, killing both crew members who were on a delivery flight to the US Army Engineer Corps.
Probable cause:
Excessive accumulation of ice on airframe, wings and elevators caused the aircraft to stall after rotation.

Crash of a Ford 4 in West Orange: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Atlantic Airmotive
Registration:
NC5493
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4-AT-022
YOM:
1
Location:
West Orange
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Newark, while on a cargo flight, the three engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in West Orange, some 7 miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and the pilot Richard A. Behrens, sole aboard, was killed.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Metz

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC5093
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4-AT-020
YOM:
10
Location:
Metz-Lorraine
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Owned by H. W. Robinson, the three engine aircraft was on its way to be delivered to Star Airlines. En route, the left engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. On final, the aircraft hit a tree and crashed. While the pilot was seriously injured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Wichita Falls

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
B. F. Gregory
Registration:
NC6894
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4-AT-030
YOM:
1928
Location:
Wichita Falls
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Wichita Falls Airport, while climbing, the three engine airplane crashed in a field located five km east of the aerodrome. There were no casualties and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Yoakum

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Hangar 6
Registration:
NC5809
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4-AT-025
YOM:
1928
Location:
Yoakum
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Carcross

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
White Pass Airways
Registration:
NC5092
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4-AT-019
YOM:
1928
Location:
Carcross
Yukon
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the three engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a hangar. While the pilot was unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The cause of the loss of control remains unknown.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Powellsville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
H. W. Musleh
Registration:
NC7865
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4-AT-050
YOM:
1928
Location:
Powellsville
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot, sole aboard.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Belleville

Date & Time: May 29, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Oral K. Southwick
Registration:
NC8404
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4-AT-066
YOM:
1929
Location:
Belleville
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Belleville, Illinois. All occupants evacuated safely and while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Flint: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1935 at 1835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Knowles Flying Services
Registration:
NC7864
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Flint – Detroit
MSN:
4-AT-049
YOM:
1928
Location:
Flint-Bishop
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of some 75 feet, the right engine failed. The crew decided to return to Flint when during the last turn, the central engine failed as well. The aircraft stalled and crashed near the airport. Two passenger and the pilot Theodore E. Knowles were killed while all other occupants were injured. Theodore E. Knowles was the founder and owner of this local operator.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was carelessness and negligence on the part of the pilot for not replenishing his fuel supply before it got dangerously low and poor judgement on his part for attempting to return to the airport when there was open terrain ahead of him.
Final Report:
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