Zone
Idaho

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-60-CO Liberator near Boise: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-100019
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Boise - Boise
MSN:
3168
Location:
Boise
Idaho
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing exercise and left Boise-Gowen Field Airbase in the day. En route, one of the right engine caught fire. Shortly later, the right wing failed and the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 8 miles northwest of the airbase. All eleven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Boise: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1942 at 0220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2561
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Boise - Boise
MSN:
2372
YOM:
1941
Location:
Boise
Idaho
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Boise on a cross country training exercise and following a 7-hour flight, he was returning to base. The pilot mistakenly started an approach to the wrong runway and was instructed to initiate a go around to attempt another approach to the correct runway. Within seconds, the airplane impacted the slope of a hill and crashed four miles southwest of the airport. Four crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Those killed were:
1st Lt Charles F. Hosford, pilot,
2nd Lt Duane T. Crosthwaite, copilot,
Pvt Harold L. Gilliam, gunner,
Pvt Arthur L. Schipper, gunner.
Probable cause:
The pilot initiated an approach to the wrong runway and failed to see the hilly terrain due to the lack of visibility while approaching at night. Crew fatigue may be considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress near Pendleton: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1942 at 2355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2559
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Boise - Pendleton
MSN:
2370
YOM:
1941
Location:
Pendleton
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Boise-Gowen Field on a liaison flight to Pendleton, Oregon. While cruising at night in marginal weather conditions, the airplane deviated from the prescribed route and impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Blue Mountain Range, some 20 miles southeast of the destination airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 10 crew members were killed. It appears that the airplane caroming from the peak to another more than a mile away and the wreckage then strewn over a small valley.
Crew:
2nd Lt Lawler C. Neighbors, pilot,
2nd Lt John L. Bailey, copilot,
2nd Lt Glen R. Metsker Jr., copilot,
Sgt Weldon G. Wilson, flight engineer,
Cpl James T. Mitchler, radio operator,
Sgt Frank D. Gillis, gunner,
Sgt Charles C. Parsons, gunner,
Sgt Raymond J. Paveglio, gunner,
Cpl George R. Hall, gunner,
Cpl Frank H. Spooner Jr., gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a radio range navigation error in poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder near Boise: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1520
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1520
YOM:
1940
Location:
Boise
Idaho
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 15 km southeast of Boise, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
2nd Lt Elmer M. Munn Jr., pilot,
Pvt Robert F. Adams,
Pfc Andre A. Chisholm,
S/Sgt Carl Funkhouser,
S/Sgt Carmen R. Gismondi,
Pvt Lloyd Knight,
Pvt Stanley Sansenbach,
Pvt Leland Saunders,
2nd Lt Darrell S. Wing.

Crash of a Stearman C-3MB in Cove: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Stearman C-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC1682
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Boise – Pasco
MSN:
102
YOM:
1928
Location:
Cove
Oregon
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 Harold Buckner was performing a mail flight from Boise to Pasco. While cruising by night, he encountered low visibility due to foggy conditions when the aircraft impacted a hill near Cove. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Stearman C-3MB in Holbrook: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Stearman C-3
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wichita - Boise
Location:
Holbrook
Idaho
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 Frederic Hoyt (test pilot by the manufacturer Stearman) was completing a test flight from Wichita to Boise. While overflying Idaho, he encountered poor weather conditions with a snowstorm. After he lost his orientation, he decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field while the pilot landed in a snow covered field some 6 miles from the wreckage. He was found few hours later, frozen to death.
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