Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Camarillo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1981 at 0116 LT
Registration:
N14AC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bakersfield - Oxnard
MSN:
421B-0123
YOM:
1971
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2300
Captain / Total hours on type:
320.00
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Oxnard Airport, the twin engine airplane descended below the MDA then collided with a plowed field located six miles east of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- The pilot misused or failed to use flaps,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility down to zero.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA26AT Merlin IIA in Palo Alto: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1979 at 2316 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N65103
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bakersfield - Palo Alto
MSN:
T26-140E
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3331
Captain / Total hours on type:
197.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Palo Alto Airport by night, during the last segment, the twin engine airplane collided with a flock of seagulls, causing the left engine to fail. The airplane lost height and struck the runway surface. It bounced then went out of control, veered off runway and eventually crashed inverted in the airport parking, damaging seven other aircrafts. The pilot was seriously injured and both passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
Hard landing following a bird strike on short final. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Foreign material affecting normal operations,
- Improper recovery from bounced landing,
- Spontaneous-improper actions on part of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-1-LO LodeStar in Mt Bear: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1944 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-32197
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Hondo – Fresno
MSN:
2287
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Hondo AAF, the crew started the descent to Fresno by night when at the altitude of 4,300 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Bear located some 18 miles southeast of Bakersfield. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew and passengers:
Clarence W. DeGroff,
1st Lt Hobert D. Simpson Jr.,
2nd Lt James F. Applewhite,
2nd Lt Jimmie E. Hoch,
2nd Lt Louis J. Hoekstra,
F/O Otto F. Illias,
F/O Michel D. Pavich,
Sgt Ira R. Ratliff,
Pfc Walter H. Denk.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Mt Strawberry: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1944 at 2017 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-16143
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
San Rafael – Bakersfield – Los Angeles
MSN:
20609
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Los Angeles-Mines Field, the aircraft hit a mountain slope located 2 miles northeast of Mt Strawberry, some 10 miles north of Altadena. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew received erroneous data relating to the wind component and direction prior to departure from Bakersfield-Meadows Field. This resulted in a deviation from the prescribed flight path and the crew started the descent while steel above the mountainous terrain north of Altadena. In low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain northeast of Mt Strawberry and was destroyed. Thus, the accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated TB-24J Liberator near Flagstaff: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1944 at 0330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-50890
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bakersfield - Kirtland AFB
MSN:
2775
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
762
Captain / Total hours on type:
512.00
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Bakersfield to the Kirtland Field AFB in New Mexico. While cruising by night at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the crew maintained a last contact radio with ATC at 0302LT. Less than thirty minutes later, the bomber aircraft hit the west slope of Mt Humphreys located some 10 miles north of Flagstaff and disintegrated. The wreckage was reached by the SAR teams in the next early morning and all eight occupants perished.
Photos available on:
http://www.lostflights.com/Other-1/91544-USAAF-Consolidated-B-24J/5673630_LqhLS2
Probable cause:
According to the investigation, the visibility was poor due to the presence of clouds down to 6,000 feet and at the time of the accident, the aircraft was off course by 15 miles following a navigation error on part of the crew.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Bakersfield

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC9666
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Francisco – Los Angeles
MSN:
5-AT-025
YOM:
1929
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from San Francisco to Los Angeles, the aircraft suffered an in-flight fire. The crew diverted to Bakersfield Airport. After touchdown, the airplane rolled for few dozen yards before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All nine occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Boeing 40B-4 in Fresno

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1932 at 0157 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC10348
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bakersfield – Fresno
MSN:
1429
YOM:
1930
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Fresno at night at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the airplane caught fire. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field when the aircraft crashed and burnt. The pilot evacuated safely and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000B near Lebec: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1932 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC10813
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bakersfield – Los Angeles
MSN:
5034
YOM:
1931
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
4400
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Bakersfield on a flight to Los Angeles, carrying seven passengers and one pilot. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to heavy snow falls. The pilot decided to return to Bakersfield when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a mountainous area located between Lebec and Fort Tejon, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found a week later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Joseph Victor Sandblom, pilot
Passengers:
Frank Dewar,
Spencer W. Swan,
J. H. Polhemus,
W. H. Smith,
Nita McGrath,
Margaret A. Fickeisen,
Marie Sweeny Combs.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in a snowstorm.

Crash of a Boeing 40B-4A near Gorman: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC5340
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Bakersfield – Fresno – San Jose – San Francisco – Medford – Vancouver – Seattle
MSN:
1036
YOM:
1928
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Bakersfield to Fresno (route CAM 8), the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls and fog. While cruising at low altitude in limited visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Tehachapi Mountain Range. The wreckage was found six miles east of Gorman and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Flavius A. Donaldson, pilot,
George A. Rogers, mechanic.
Passenger:
Jean Markow.

Crash of a Ryan M-1 in Bakersfield

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While performing a mail flight, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. Due to low visibility caused by snow falls, the pilot lost his orientation and decided to abandon the aircraft. After he bailed out, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. The pilot was uninjured.