Zone
Illinois

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Naperville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Blue Bird Air Service
Registration:
NC959Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago - Chicago
MSN:
170
YOM:
1931
Location:
Naperville
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was taking part to an aerial photography of the streamline train 'Zephyr'. While flying at a height of 100 feet, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Oscar Harold, pilot.
Passengers:
Wilma Schuster,
Howard Adams,
Ralph Biddy.

Crash of a Lockheed 10B Electra in Saint Louis: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1936 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
NC16022
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New Orleans – Saint Louis – Chicago
MSN:
1057
YOM:
1936
Flight number:
SCA004
Location:
Saint Louis-Lambert
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Saint Louis-Lambert Airport at night and in poor weather conditions. While in initial climb, the crew made a turn to the left at an insufficient altitude, causing the left wing tip to struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in an open field located 5 km north of Lambert Airport, bursting into flames. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Several theories are suggested as to the cause of this accident. However, there is insufficient evidence to substantiate any of them. It is felt that the airplane was thoroughly controllable and that the turn back in the direction of the airport was a voluntary maneuver. Apparently, the pilot, after lifting the airplane into the air, became concerned either with some unexpected irregularity such as the functioning of some part of the airplane and made a turn toward the airport without realizing his nearness to the ground. However, it is not believed that any condition arose or a severity which would have prevented the pilot from acquiring more altitude before attempting to make a turn. It is the opinion of the Bureau of Air commerce that the probable cause of this accident was making a turn at an extremely low altitude, for reasons unknown, in which the wing of the airplane unintentionally contacted the ground.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in Chicago

Date & Time: May 26, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
NC14141
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Detroit
MSN:
9100
YOM:
1934
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Chicago Airport, one of the engine caught fire. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a field near the airport, bursting into flames. All three occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Vultee V-1A in Little Elm: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Vultee V-1
Operator:
Registration:
NC13767
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Fort Worth
MSN:
5
YOM:
1934
Location:
Little Elm
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Chicago, the pilot initiated the descent to Fort Worth. He encountered poor visibility due to snow falls, so he decided to reduce his altitude when the airplane impacted trees and crashed in Little Elm. The pilot Ted Kincannon was killed and all five passengers were injured.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000B in Nilwood: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1935 at 2226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC10894
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Springfield – Saint Louis – Memphis – Jackson – New Orleans
MSN:
5050
YOM:
1931
Location:
Nilwood
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Springfield Airport at 2200LT on a mail flight to New Orleans, carrying one passenger and one pilot. Twenty-six minutes into the flight, while approaching a wooded area, the pilot realized he was too low and initiated a right turn to avoid the trees when the tip of the right wing impacted the ground. The aircraft went out of control and crashed some 6 km northwest of Nilwood. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an unintentional collision with the ground while flying at too law altitude at night.

Crash of a Boeing 247 in Western Springs

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1934 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13328
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Chicago – Omaha
MSN:
1709
YOM:
1933
Location:
Western Springs
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Fifteen minutes after takeoff from Chicago, the copilot informed ATC about problems with the right engine and elected to return. Shortly later, the left engine lost power as well and the crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field. On final, the aircraft impacted trees and came to rest in a vertical position against trees, near houses. The stewardess and the passenger (an employee of the operator) were slightly injured while both pilots were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was ice forming in the carburetors of both engines which resulted in loss of power.

Crash of a Lockheed 5B Vega in Columbia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1934 at 0520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC106W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City – Chicago
MSN:
123
YOM:
1930
Location:
Columbia
Missouri
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 was performing a night mail flight from Kansas City to Chicago. While approaching Columbia, he encountered icing conditions and decided to make an emergency landing. The airplane went out of control and crashed in a open field near a road. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was unexpected icing conditions which made proper handling of the aircraft impossible.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Milwaukee

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1934 at 2356 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
NC14243
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minneapolis – Chicago – Milwaukee – Chicago – Minneapolis
MSN:
1002
YOM:
1934
Location:
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to a height of some 20 feet, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and impacted the runway surface. Simultaneously, the left engine restarted and the aircraft climbed to a height of 75 feet. At this moment, the right engine failed and the aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. Quickly on the scene, rescuers were able to evacuate all eight occupants injured while the aircraft was destroyed. Brand new, it was delivered to Northwest Airlines few weeks ago.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable causes of this accident were:
- Failure of the Supervisory Personnel to definitely determine the actual fuel consumption of a new airplane before placing it in scheduled operation,
- Failure of the fuel gauge on the left tank to function accurately,
- Pilot error for failing to attempt to use the right fuel tank after the instrument board warning light had indicated that the task which he was using was about empty. This was his first flight on this type of aircraft as well. At the time of the accident, the crew calculated that the fuel consumption was about 163 liters per hour while the real consumption was about 240 liters per hour.

Crash of a Fairchild Pilgrim 100A in Petersburg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild Pilgrim 100A
Operator:
Registration:
NC710Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saint Louis – Chicago
MSN:
6606
YOM:
1931
Location:
Petersburg
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route from St Louis to Chicago, while cruising at night, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls and icing. He informed his operations that the visibility was about a 1/8 of mile and elected to divert to Springfield Airport for an emergency landing. Shortly later, while flying at a height of about 500 feet, the engine seems to quit then the airplane lost altitude and crashed in a snow covered field. All four occupants were killed, among them the pilot Walter Hallgreen, one of the most experienced pilot in the company.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on wings surface and fuselage.
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