Zone
Texas

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II near Fort Hancock: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1972 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II
Operator:
Registration:
N5959M
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Phoenix
MSN:
421B-0202
YOM:
1971
Location:
Fort Hancock
Texas
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
4710
Captain / Total hours on type:
15.00
Circumstances:
While cruising over a mountainous area, the twin engine airplane adopted a slight descent until it struck the slope of a mountain located near Fort Hancock. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found. The wreckage was localized on December 9, 1972, in an isolated area. Both occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. It was established that the airplane flew into rising terrain while in a slight descent for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Corpus Christi

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1972 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
N3485
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Matamoros
MSN:
1013
Location:
Corpus Christi
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Corpus Christi Airport, the pilot decided to abandon the procedure and started an emergency braking procedure. In unclear circumstances, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot exercised poor judgment and lost control of the airplane in unfavorable wind conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Overload failure,
- Right cross wind 068 to 112°,
- 070° right crosswind gusting up to 24 knots.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Nuevo Laredo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TTD-6020
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Corpus Christi – Mexico City
Location:
Nuevo Laredo
Tamaulipas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While overflying Tamaulipas en route from Corpus Christi to Mexico City, the crew reported technical problems to ATC and was cleared to divert to Nuevo Laredo for an emergency landing. Few minutes later, the aircraft struck a mountain located about 20 km from Nuevo Laredo. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed WV-2 Super Constellation at Patuxent River NAS: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
141324
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Patuxent
MSN:
4448
YOM:
1956
Location:
Patuxent River NAS
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On approach to Patuxent River NAS, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. In low visibility, the aircraft was too low and struck the ground before coming to rest in flames few hundred yards short of runway threshold. Five occupants were killed while 14 others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Martin P5M-1 Marlin near Corpus Christi: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Martin P5M-2 Marlin
Operator:
Registration:
130291
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Corpus Christi – Alameda
Location:
Corpus Christi
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its takeoff from Corpus Christi, the seaplane suffered an engine explosion. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames about 18,5 miles from Corpus Christi. A crew member was seriously injured while eight other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine explosion during initial climb.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner near Caricitas: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
59106
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Brownsville - Corpus Christi
MSN:
59106
YOM:
1944
Location:
Caricitas
Tamaulipas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew left Brownsville Airport on a navigation training mission over the Gulf of Mexico. Few minutes after his departure, the crew informed ground about his position southeast of Brownsville, enroute to Corpus Christi. As the radio contact was lost and the airplane failed to arrive in Corpus Christi, SAR operations were conducted. The wreckage was found on the slope of a 3,000 feet high mountain near Caricitas, State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all ten crew members were killed. For unknown reason, the aircraft was not following the assigned track for Corpus Christi.
Crew:
Lt Donald G. Teifer +9.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer off Corpus Christi NAS: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Corpus Christi – Alameda
Location:
Corpus Christi
Texas
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Corpus Christi NAS, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. All ten occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt William Ervin Dozier,
Lt Bertram Magna Roeder,
Lt Delangton Ernest Ruttledge,
Lt Rodney Gwynn Williams,
Richard Wilfred Augrain,
Robert Benedict Nye,
Richard Charles Chase,
John Leonard Daffenberg,
Donald Jarrell Givens,
Robert Herman Steinbaugh.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Corpus Christi: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1945 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
69113
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
Location:
Corpus Christi
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training mission and shortly after takeoff from the bay off Corpus Christi NAS, while climbing to a height of 400 feet, the aircraft collided with another Mariner registered 01710 and carrying a crew of 15. This second aircraft was approaching Corpus Christi NAS to land when the collision occurred. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, some 2,5 miles offshore. On the first Mariner, there were no survivor among the 12 occupants. On board the second Mariner, five crew members were rescued while all ten other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The collision was attributed to a lack of discipline and coordination on part of both crew who failed to follow the procedures in place around the Corpus Christi NAS. At the time of the accident, there was no navigation aids and no ATC at the airbase and both crew were trained aware to put full attention to potential traffic. At the time of the collision, both crew were not focused on workload and environmental operations. Although it was dark at the time of the accident, visibility was greater than nine miles and weather conditions were considered as good.

Crash of a Martin PBM-3S Mariner off Corpus Christi: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1945 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
01710
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
Location:
Corpus Christi
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training mission and while on approach to Corpus Christi NAS at a height of 400 feet, the aircraft collided with another Mariner registered 69113 and carrying a crew of 12. This second aircraft just took off from the bay when the collision occurred. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, some 2,5 miles offshore. On board the first Mariner, five crew members were rescued while all ten other occupants were killed. On the second Mariner, there were no survivor among the 12 occupants.
Probable cause:
The collision was attributed to a lack of discipline and coordination on part of both crew who failed to follow the procedures in place around the Corpus Christi NAS. At the time of the accident, there was no navigation aids and no ATC at the airbase and both crew were trained aware to put full attention to potential traffic. At the time of the collision, both crew were not focused on workload and environmental operations. Although it was dark at the time of the accident, visibility was greater than nine miles and weather conditions were considered as good.

Crash of a Martin PBM-3S Mariner in Corpus Christi: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
01728
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
MSN:
01728
Location:
Corpus Christi
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On approach, the seaplane was too low and hit a beacon and crashed. All seven crew members were killed.
Subscribe to Corpus Christi