Zone
Illinois

Crash of a Lockheed 1 Vega in Lansing: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 1 Vega
Operator:
Navin Air Transport
Registration:
NC35E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Kansas City
MSN:
37
YOM:
1929
Location:
Lansing
Kansas
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:
En route from Chicago to Kansas City, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. While attempting an emergency landing, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 2 Vega in Chicago: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1931 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 2 Vega
Operator:
Chicago-Detroit Airways
Registration:
NC606
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Detroit – Chicago
MSN:
56
YOM:
1929
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
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:
While approaching Chicago Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. He lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in Lake Calumet. The pilot Albert Malvick was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed DL-1B Vega in Chicago: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC8497
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Detroit
MSN:
154
YOM:
1930
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Chicago Airport, while climbing to a height of 700 feet, the engine failed. The crew elected to return and initiated a turn to the right when the airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Lockheed 2 Vega in Toledo: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 2 Vega
Operator:
Rubner Flying Service
Registration:
NC857E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Toledo
MSN:
64
YOM:
1929
Location:
Toledo
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Toledo Airport, the single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 1,500 metres short of runway. The passenger Thomas F. White was seriously injured and both pilots Michael M. Rubner, President of the Company, and C. F. Kokus were killed.

Crash of a Ford 5 near Elyria

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
NC421H
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Cleveland
MSN:
5-AT-081
YOM:
1929
Location:
Elyria-Lorain County
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on approach to Cleveland Airport when it suffered an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field located five miles north of Elyria when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. Five passengers were unhurt while five others occupants were injured, both crew seriously.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing near Mishawaka

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
NC878M
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kalamazoo – Chicago
MSN:
55
YOM:
1929
Location:
Mishawaka
Indiana
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:
While approaching South Bend, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. As he lost his orientation and was unable to fix his position, he decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. He landed about four miles southeast of Mishawaka, half a mile from where the plane crashed and was destroyed. Two sacks of mail were undamaged. The pilot Albert Hunt "Al" DeWitt was uninjured.

Crash of a Boeing 95 in Brownson: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC184E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Francisco – Chicago
MSN:
1047
YOM:
1929
Location:
Sidney
Nebraska
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:
En route to Chicago while on a mail flight from San Francisco, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The pilot Charles Kenwood attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located in Brownson. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Boeing 80 in Loomis

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 80
Operator:
Registration:
NC7136
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chicago – San Francisco
MSN:
1031
YOM:
1929
Location:
Loomis
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Chicago to San Francisco, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the aircraft impacted tress and crashed on hilly terrain near Loomis. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were injured.

Crash of a Waco GXE in Indianapolis: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1929 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Waco 10 (GXE)
Operator:
Registration:
NC786E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Indianapolis – Cincinnati
MSN:
2028
YOM:
1929
Location:
Indianapolis
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Chicago-Maywood Field at 2100LT on a mail flight to Cincinnati with an intermediate stop in Indianapolis, carrying two pilots. On a night approach to Indianapolis-Mars Hill Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane impacted ground and crashed near the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both crew members were killed, among them pilot Charles Vermilyea.

Crash of a Boeing 95 in Elm Creek

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1929 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC192E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – San Francisco
MSN:
1055
YOM:
1929
Location:
Elm Creek
Nebraska
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:
En route from Chicago to San Francisco, while cruising by night, the pilot encountered engine problems. While attempting an emergency landing, the aircraft crashed in a field near Elm Creek, bursting into flames. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Engine problems caused by the failure of a fuel line.
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