Zone
Texas

Crash of a Vultee V-1AD in Ferris

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Vultee V-1
Operator:
Registration:
NC14249
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dallas – Houston
MSN:
12A
YOM:
1935
Location:
Ferris
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Dallas to Houston, smoke spread into the cockpit, forcing the crew to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an open field located in Ferris, some 30 km south of Dallas, bursting into flames. All six occupants were rescued, among them both crew members Ed Hefley and Eugene Schacher were seriously injured by fire.
Probable cause:
It is possible that a gas leak in the engine compartment caused an in-flight fire.

Crash of a Lockheed Vega 5C in Fort Worth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1935 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC980Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dallas – Waco
MSN:
191
YOM:
1932
Location:
Fort Worth
Texas
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:
On November 9, 1935, at approximately 0445LT within the city limits of East Fort Worth, Texas, a commercially owned airplane, while being flown without passengers, crashed with resultant death of the pilot and the complete destruction of the aircraft. The airplane, a Lockheed Vega, model 5C, was owned and operated by Braniff Airway Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and bore Department of Commerce licence n° NC980Y. At the time of the accident it was being ferried from Dallas to Waco, Texas, via Fort Worth, and no passengers were permitted to be carried. The pilot, William C. Maus of Waco, Texas, held a Department of Commerce transport pilot's licence and a scheduled air transport rating. The take-off was accomplished at 0410LT, the airplane carrying a 5-hour gasoline supply. The ceiling at Dallas was 1,000 feet with 8 miles visibility. Fort Worth at the time had a ceiling of 500 feet with 7 miles visibility. It had not been the intention of the pilot to land at Fort Worth but to fly beyond it to a lighted airway leading into Waco, Texas, his destination. By the time Fort Worth was reached the ceiling had dropped to about 75 feet and the visibility was zero. This change in weather was broadcast to the pilot from Fort Worth with instructions that he return to Dallas. Whether or not the pilot received this broadcast is not known inasmuch as his airplane was not equipped with two-way radio. However, he had plenty of fuel and could have easily returned to Dallas, where the weather had remained constant, or have flown on to Houston, where the ceiling was practically unlimited. Reports from various people who heard the airplane overhead and saw the accident indicate that the pilot was attempting to get under the 75-foot ceiling, presumably to locate the airport. He was heard flying around for some time and made two complete circles at a low altitude in the immediate vicinity of the accident. Immediately preceding the crash the airplane appeared diving out of the mist. The engine was heard to accelerate as through the pilot had just caught sight of the ground and was making an effort to pull the airplane out of the dive before striking. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was poor judgment on the part of the pilote for attempting to land at Fort Worth under existing weather conditions.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in Gilmer: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1935 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
NC14599
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dallas – Shreveport – Jackson – Birmingham – Atlanta
MSN:
9103
YOM:
1935
Flight number:
DL004
Location:
Gilmer
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising south of Gilmer, a propeller blade detached from the left engine. The crew reduced his altitude to attempt an emergency landing. On approach at night, the left engine torn off. The airplane went out of control and crashed in a desert area. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigation disclosed that the left outboard engine had been tern from the plane as the result of an unbalanced condition caused by the breaking of a propeller blade. The engine was found at a spot about one mile southwest of the wreckage and a portion of the propeller blade was found about 300 yards west of the engine. From the appearance of the wreckage and facts available, it is believed that the pilot, while attempting to complete an emergency landing, lost control of the plane due to the absence of the weight of the left outboard engine and the resulting disturbed airflow over the wing.

Crash of a Fokker F10A in Salt Flat: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1932 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC9716
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
El Paso – Dallas
MSN:
1009
YOM:
1928
Location:
Salt Flat
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising some 80 miles east of El Paso on a cargo flight to Dallas, the crew encountered foggy conditions. In low visibility, the aircraft hit a mountain slope located near Salt Flat and was destroyed by impact forces. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Keystone LB-4A on Guadalupe Peak

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-4
Operator:
Registration:
32-119
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dallas – El Paso
Location:
Guadalupe Peak
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Dallas to El Paso, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. All four crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed near the Guadalupe Peak. All four occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed 5B Vega in Marshall: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC537M
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dallas – New Orleans
MSN:
106
YOM:
1930
Location:
Marshall
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Dallas to New Orleans, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions when the aircraft crashed in Marshall, TX. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Arthur C. Brown, pilot,
Everett Williams, mechanic.
Passenger:
Robert Wilton.
Subscribe to Dallas