Ford 4

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

D. A. Seitz

Registration:

NC2492

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4-AT-006

YOM:

1927

Location:

San Marcos

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing at San Marcos Airport, one of the main gear failed. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest. All seven occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of an undercarriage upon landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Tampico: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

M-SCAL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Tampico-General Francisco Javier Mina

Schedule:

Mexico City – Tuxpan – Tampico – Brownsville

Location:

Tamaulipas

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, one of the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all five occupants, among them pilot Dennis W. Taylor.

Probable cause:

Engine failure shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Newark: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1929 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NC7683

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Newark - Newark

MSN:

4-AT-041

YOM:

1928

Location:

Newark

New Jersey

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2500

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 500 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The captain was injured while all 14 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was performing a local sightseeing flight over the area of Newark. Up to date, worst accident within the US.

Probable cause:

Two engines stopped simultaneously shortly after takeoff. Insufficient speed caused the aircraft to stall. Other factors identified in the investigation were the failure of the pilot to pay attention to the wind component, his incorrect assessment as to the distance from the airport and his lack of familiarity with the surrounding area.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Toledo

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NC1076

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Toledo – Detroit

MSN:

4-AT-009

YOM:

1927

Location:

Toledo

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Toledo Airport, while climbing, a fire erupted in the cabin. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crashed in an open field and came to rest, bursting into flames. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

A fire erupted in the cabin, probably after sack of air mail caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Floresville

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1928

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NC3443

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4-AT-014

YOM:

1928

Location:

Floresville

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taking off from Floresville, the three engine airplane stalled and crashed near the runway. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Ford 4 near Spur: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1928 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Sunbeam Air Transport Company

Operator:

Registration:

NC7862

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

San Antonio – Denver

MSN:

4-AT-047

YOM:

1928

Location:

Spur

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Homer D. Ballard, owner of the Sunbeam Air Transport Company, took delivery of this aircraft in San Antonio and was flying back to his base in Denver with one pilot, a garage's employee, his chef and his chauffeur. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and lost control of the aircraft that crashed 10 km north of Spur, Texas. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Matthew Watson, pilot.
Passengers:
Homer D. Ballard,
Willis Washburn,
Mr. Quinten,
James O'Banion.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Moran Prairie: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1928 at 1045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

NC7687

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Colfax – Spokane

MSN:

4-AT-045

YOM:

1928

Location:

Spokane-Felts Field

Washington

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Colfax at 0800LT bound for Spokane. The flight was uneventful until the captain started the approach to Spokane-Felts Field in foggy conditions. The visibility was low and the pilot attempted to land by diving through what appeared to be a 'hole' in the dense fog bank that covered the city. The aircraft hit the ground in the vicinity of the junction of the Palouse highway and Regal street and was destroyed on impact. Rescuers could evacuate a passenger and the mechanic who were seriously injured, while all four other occupants were killed. Few hours later, the mechanic died from his injuries.
Crew:
William H. Williams, pilot,
D. R. Mitchell, mechanic,
Louis Norwell de Burger, mechanic.
Passengers:
J. I. Dunlop,
Arthur G. Enarson,
Rex Heath.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Detroit

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1928

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

NC880

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4-AT-008

YOM:

1927

Location:

Detroit

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Detroit Airport, the three engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. All three occupants were injured.

Crash of a Ford 4 off Port Townsend: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1928 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-CATX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Vancouver – Victoria – Seattle

MSN:

4-AT-026

YOM:

1928

Location:

Port Townsend

Washington

Country:

Region: