Lockheed 18 LodeStar

The aircraft, owned by the Mexican businessman and sports executive Jorge Pasquel, was performing a flight from a private ranch in the region of Tampico to Mexico City. While cruising by night, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of the Cerro El Sabino located near Ciudad Valles. The wreckage was found a day later and all six occupants have been killed. There were on board two pilots, two technicians, Mr. Jorge Pasquel and his personal barber.

After a normal run-up the copilot taxied the aircraft to the end of the 5,010-foot runway. The aircraft was then lined up with the runway slightly to the right of the centerline, the tail wheel was locked, and power was applied. As the aircraft progressed down the runway the tail came up and the copilot applied forward pressure to the control column. Shortly thereafter the airplane began to swerve to the left and when this was corrected it went too far to the right. A series of over-corrections followed which resulted in several swerves in both directions. As these maneuvers began the crew noted a five-inch drop in the manifold pressure of the left engine. At a speed of approximately 80 knots the aircraft again began turning to the left. The captain immediately took over the controls when he noticed a second drop of 25 inches in manifold pressure of the same engine. Both throttles were closed at once and he tried unsuccessfully to stop the turn. The turn developed into a skid and the main landing gear of the aircraft collapsed, rupturing the right wing fuel tank. The airplane cam to rest on the sodded area, off the runway, heading 180 degrees from its original takeoff position. Fire immediately occurred near the right engine nacelle. Under the supervision of the stewardess all passengers left the aircraft in a rapid, orderly manner through the main cabin door. The pilots left through the cockpit windows. The captain and copilot entered the cabin and made a recheck after all passengers were reported out and away from the aircraft. Local weather conditions at the time were: Ceiling 30,000 feet scattered, 600 feet scattered, visibility 12 miles, temperature 70, dewpoint 67, wind south 7. Atmospheric conditions were not conducive to carburetor ice.

The twin engine aircraft was completing a flight from Groton-New London Airport (CT) to White Plaines with a crew of two on board and one passenger, a daughter of the company's Executive Vice-President. At 1341LT, the flight reported to Westchester Tower that it was over the outer marker, inbound, at 2,500 feet. Approximately two minutes later it crashed between the outer and inner markers of the Westchester 115. The aircraft began clipping trees about 800 feet before it struck the ground on a 680-foot knoll located on the ILS approach path. Both crew members were killed. The passenger, who sustained only minor injuries, stayed with the aircraft until approximately 1630LT, then walked out and located help. She stated that she had flown quite a bit in this same airplane with the same crew and that the subject flight was the roughest she had ever encountered; that during the approach the weather was so “soupy” she could not see the numbers on the aircraft and that she heard the pilot say to the copilot, “Keep your eyes peeled.” Weather conditions, as reported by Westchester County Airport operations personnel, were: ceiling 300 feet and visibility 1 mile. The aircraft was owned and operated by Sangamo Electric Company, Springlfield, Illinois.

At approximately 1845, N9201H departed LaGuardia Airport, New York, on a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight to Logan Airport, Boston, Massachusetts. The crew consisted of Captain John K. MacKenzie and Copilot Whitney H. Welch. The passengers were Robert W. Mudge, Raymond J. Halloran, both airline pilots, and Mathew C. Abbott, an electrical engineer. Climbing to an altitude of 3,500 feet m. s. l. (mean sea level), the flight proceeded toward Boston. Approximately 12 miles southeast of Hertford, Connecticut, the right engine became very rough and backfired frequently. The captain was unable to correct this condition and later feathered the right propeller when in the vicinity of Willimantic, Connecticut. A wide right turn was made from a northeasterly to a northwesterly heading toward Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Communication was established with Bradley Field and the flight was cleared for a straight-in approach to runway 33. The aircraft descended to 2,500 feet m. s. l. during the turn and thereafter continued descending on a northwest heading until it struck trees and crashed. Nearby residents quickly reached the scene, gave assistance and notified authorities. The Bradley Field 1930 weather was: Scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, visibility 15 miles plus, temperature 40 degrees, dewpoint 32, wind northwest 6 m. p. h. La Guardia weather at the time of departure was: Ceiling unlimited, visibility 15 miles plus. Conditions en route were clear with excellent visibility. The twin engine airplane was the property of Mr. John Fox.

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Seven passengers were seriously injured while 16 other occupants were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Copiapó-Chamonate Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ground about engine problems and elected to return when the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion near the airport, killing all seven occupants.

Shortly after takeoff from Kingston-Palisadoes Airport, while climbing to a height of 100-200 feet, the twin engine aircraft banked left, lost height and crashed into the sea. A passenger was rescued while 13 other occupants, were killed. The pilot, Owen Roberts, was the owner of the company. Later, the international Airport of George Town in the Cayman Islands was renamed on his honor.

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Stockholm, carrying a load of newspapers on behalf of the Swedish newspaper 'Dagens Nyheter'. On final, while performing a last turn to reach the approach path, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed few km from the runway threshold. Both crew members were killed.

On final approach, the twin engine aircraft hit a bank and crashed short of runway threshold. Both crew members were killed. They were completing a newspaper delivery flight.

The aircraft left Abidjan on its return flight to Nice with a night stop scheduled at Tamanrasset. However, the flight was behind schedule and in view of the fact that Tamanrasset was not provided with night markings, the pilot decided to spend the night at Gao and leave the following morning at about 0900LT. He mentioned also that he was tired. Later that evening word was received from the company which caused the pilot to change his plans and decide to leave at 0300LT. On arrival at the meteorological office for preparation of the pre-flight plan, the pilot, during a conversation with the air traffic controller, complained that he was very tired and mentioned that the Gao-Nice flight would have to be made with only short stops on the way and that he had to fly in an aircraft not equipped with an automatic pilot and in which he was also required to perform the duties of navigator. He seemed to dread the take-off at night very much and went so far as to ask the controller to prohibit him from taking off. The controller could not comply with such a request, as the flight planned was normal from the regulation point of view. The aircraft took off from Gao at night at 0307LT with eighteen passengers and three crew. The take-off was normal and the aircraft rose to an altitude of about 10 meters. The navigation lights were then seen to fade gradually and to disappear in a depression beyond the runway, and shortly afterwards, flashes from a fire were seen and the alarm given. The aircraft collided with the ground after take-off completely destroying the aircraft. The wreckage was found about two km east of the airfield. Fourteen passengers and three crew were killed and four passengers injured.