Crash of a Lockheed 9 Orion in Burbank: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1934 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BEJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
173
YOM:
1934
Location:
Burbank
California
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:
The pilot, sole on board, was performing a positioning flight to Burbank Airport to pick up passengers. On final approach, he encountered foggy conditions and failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane collided with an obstacle and crashed near a fie station, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 9D Orion in El Paso

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC229Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
El Paso – Tucson
MSN:
200
YOM:
1933
Location:
El Paso-Intl
Texas
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:
After takeoff from El Paso Airport, while climbing to a height of about 800 feet, the engine caught fire. The pilot bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed in a field. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire during climbout.

Crash of a Lockheed 9A Orion in Kansas City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1933 at 2125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC12277
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kansas City – Wichita
MSN:
192
YOM:
1933
Location:
Kansas City
Kansas
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Kansas City Airport, while climbing, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the Missouri River. The pilot Earl J. Noe was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 9 Orion in Tulsa

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC960Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
168
YOM:
1931
Location:
Tulsa
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the aircraft landed hard. Upon impact, the undercarriage and the engine were torn off. The airplane slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest with the left wing partially torn off. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed Orion 9 in Hayward: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1933 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC12226
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Burbank – Oakland
MSN:
184
YOM:
1931
Location:
Hayward
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
On final approach to Oakland Airport, at night and in heavy rain falls, the pilot failed to realize he was flying too low. The landing gear hit the roof of a house and the aircraft crashed in the district of Hayward, less than 5 km from the runway threshold. Few houses were destroyed and among the debris, rescue teams did not find any survivors. All three occupants were killed as well as 11 people on the ground including children. It seems that the pilot was unable to establish a visual contact with the ground due to sudden change in weather conditions.
Probable cause:
Reportedly, NC12226 had descended below a safe height during its approach being conducted in darkness and during a rain, and the crash occurred after its extended undercarriage had struck a rooftop. The underlying cause of the accident was considered to have been an ‘unusual and unforeseen’ meteorological condition that developed in intensity and affected the immediate area of the crash. It was not known if the pilot had received a special weather report broadcast only about 15 minutes earlier, which warned of rain and a low ceiling.

Crash of a Lockheed 9A Orion Special in Victoria Falls: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC12229
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cinematography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
187
YOM:
1931
Location:
Victoria Falls
Matabeleland North
Country:
Zimbabwe
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an aerial cinematography flight on behalf of the MGM Studios. The pilot Arthur Dickson was piloting and both passengers were the MGM's President Arthur Loew and his lawyer. For unknown reasons, the pilot mistakenly landed at Victoria Falls Airport instead of Livingstone. While trying to take off from a soft sandy field, the airplane overturned and crashed into trees. Both passengers were injured and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 9D Orion in Camden: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1931 at 1820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC12221
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Newark – Camden – Washington DC
MSN:
178
YOM:
1931
Location:
Camden
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Camden Airport, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed on a golf course, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. First accident involving a Lockheed 9 Orion.
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