Zone
Ohio

Crash of a Douglas DST-A-207A in Cleveland: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1938 at 2217 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC18108
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Newark – Cleveland – Chicago
MSN:
1956
YOM:
1937
Flight number:
UA009
Location:
Cleveland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on approach to Cleveland Airport when the right engine fired. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the crew attempted to make an emergency landing when control was lost. The aircraft crashed in a wooded area located 14 km from the airport and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
James L. Brandon, pilot,
Austin S. Merrifield, copilot,
Fildred A., stewardess.
Passengers:
John Rodd Hoffett,
Elling M. Veblen,
Ralph Parker Morrell,
John K. Brostuen,
Richard Charles Lewis,
Charles T. Lickel,
L. Arthur Doty.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Investigating Board that the probable cause of this accident was a fire in the right engine accessory section which resulted from the failure of a cylinder barrel and was fed from the right engine oil supply.
Final Report:

Crash of a Keystone B-6A in Cleveland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-6
Operator:
Registration:
32-177
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cleveland - Cleveland
Location:
Cleveland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Cleveland on a local training sortie. It crashed for unknown reasons while taking off. A crew member was killed and four others were injured.

Crash of a Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing in Conneaut

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1933 at 0527 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
NC482E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cleveland – Buffalo
MSN:
24
YOM:
1929
Location:
Conneaut
Ohio
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 on a night cargo flight from Cleveland to Buffalo, flying into snow falls, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed in an open field located near the shore of Erie Lake. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Cross Fork

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1933 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC985Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New York – Cleveland
MSN:
10
YOM:
1931
Location:
Cross Fork
Pennsylvania
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 on a night mail flight from New York to Cleveland, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. He got lost and eventually decided to bail out because the airplane ran out of fuel. He abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located near Cross Fork. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a New Standard D-27 near Somerset

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1932 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
New Standard D-27
Operator:
Registration:
NC9124
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Washington DC – Cleveland
MSN:
118
YOM:
1929
Location:
Somerset
Pennsylvania
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:
The pilot departed Washington DC on a mail flight to Cleveland. While cruising over the Allegheny Mountain Range, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reasons. The pilot bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed in a hilly and wooded terrain located near Somerset. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was uninjured.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Boeing 95 near Snow Shoe

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1932 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC417E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bellefonte – Cleveland
MSN:
1056
YOM:
1929
Location:
Snow Shoe
Pennsylvania
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 Bellefonte to Cleveland, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. While flying too low, the airplane impacted trees and crashed on the slope of a mountain located near Snow Shoe. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot was injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 95 in Bedford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1932 at 0230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC191E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
New York – Cleveland
MSN:
1054
YOM:
1929
Location:
Bedford
Ohio
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 on a night mail flight from New York to Cleveland, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with rain and snow. He reduced his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft crashed in a farm area near Bedford. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

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

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild Pilgrim 100A
Operator:
Registration:
NC708Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cleveland – Akron
MSN:
6604
YOM:
1931
Location:
Brighton
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Cleveland in poor weather conditions. Few minutes after takeoff, he got lost and attempted to return to Cleveland. He reduced his altitude and elected to make an emergency landing when a wing struck a knoll and the plane crashed. Two passengers were seriously injured while three other occupants were killed. Few hours later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.

Crash of a Curtiss Carrier Pigeon II in Allport

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss Carrier Pigeon
Operator:
Registration:
NC369N
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cleveland – New York
MSN:
G-3
Location:
Allport
Pennsylvania
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:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Cleveland on a mail flight to New York. While cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet, the airplane suffered a wing failure. It entered an uncontrolled descent when, at 4,000 feet, the pilot was able to bail out. The airplane crash and was destroyed and the pilot was uninjured.
Probable cause:
Wing failure in flight.

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.
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