Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-36 Marquise at Edwards AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1992 at 1226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N742FN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
China Lake - Edwards AFB
MSN:
670
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a liaison flight from China Lake on behalf of the US Navy, carrying seven US Navy personnels and two pilots. On final approach in good weather conditions, the aircraft struck the ground in a relative flat attitude about 800 metres short of runway 22, slid for about 200 metres and came to rest. All seven passengers were seriously injured and both crew members (Lt David W. Garnett and Aean Lorenzo Rodriguez) were killed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 720-027 at Edwards AFB

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N833NA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
MSN:
18066
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was used by the NASA to test fuel fire retardant and crashed upon landing without any passengers or crew on board. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Crash of a Douglas B-26 Invader near Edwards AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1981 at 0928 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9417H
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
MSN:
27932
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
3522
Captain / Total hours on type:
139.00
Circumstances:
In flight, the twin engine airplane suffered a wing failure and crashed near Edwards AFB. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure in flight. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Wings: spars,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Left wing separated during maneuvering flight,
- Fatigue found at wing station 141 on lower forward spar cap.
Final Report:

Crash of an Aero Spacelines 377MGT Mini Guppy at Edwards AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1970 at 0719 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N111AS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Edwards - Edwards
MSN:
0001
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
6827
Captain / Total hours on type:
34.00
Circumstances:
The Aero Spacelines 377MGT was a converted Boeing Stratoliner. Prototype N111AS first flew on March 13, 1970. In the following period flight testing was carried out, a.o. at Edwards AFB. The accident occurred during the sixth takeoff of Flight Number 12 following the scheduled shutdown of the engine number one at about 109 knots IAS. The takeoff was being made on runway 22 and the wind was from approximately 200 degrees at about 10 knots. Rotation occurred at about 114 knots and several seconds after rotation, according to one witness, the aircraft turned and rolled to the left, settling as it did so. The left wingtip subsequently contacted the ground, causing a severe yaw. The forward fuselage struck the ground, causing the flight deck to be destroyed. The test flight was under FAR Part 25 certification program.
Source: http://www.allaboutguppys.com
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, examination of the Rudder System revealed the the Rudder Bell Crank Arm Assembly, Boeing P/N 15-23765 and the Rudder Boost Control Link Assembly, Boeing P/N 6-38900 were broken. The broken assemblies were removed and forwarded to the NTSB Metallurgist for fracture analysis. The fractures were typical of bending overload breaks.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-80-BO Superfortress near Edwards AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48-070
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Edwards - Edwards
MSN:
15879
YOM:
1948
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Edwards AFB that day with a crew of six and two engineers of Ryan Aeronautical. After a flight of four hours and a half during which several equipment were tested, the crew started his way back to Edwards AFB. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet in clouds, the airplane crashed in the Shadow mountains located about 25 miles southeast of Edwards AFB. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Alexander Bailey Jr., pilot,
Maj Gordon L. Payne Jr., copilot,
M/Sgt Robert E. Methusa,
M/Sgt Lilburn N. Cate,
T/Sgt James H. Willingham,
T/Sgt Carl A. Milhoan.
Passengers:
Charles A. White,
Wallace J. Christian.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-5-FO Liberator near Boron: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-50780
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
2665
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Edwards AFB for a training exercise. In unknown circumstances, the four engine aircraft crashed in a desert area located 20 miles east of Boron. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder on Keller Peak: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1475
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Edwards - Edwards
MSN:
1475
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Edwards AFB (Muroc Field) on a training exercise with a crew of nine on board. En route, it impacted the slope of Keller Peak located 25 km northeast of San Bernardino. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Pfc William R. Chinn,
Pfc Vernon H. Engelbrecht,
Pvt Robert Maurice Enyeart,
T/Sgt Waldo C. Jenson,
2nd Lt Frank A. Kobal, pilot,
2nd Lt Joseph Benedict Maloney,
Pvt George G. May,
Sgt Roger F. Organ,
Pvt Jack C. Shirley.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight info terrain.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder at Edwards AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1494
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Edwards - Edwards
MSN:
1494
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Edwards AFB (Muroc Dry Lake), the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It stalled and crashed past the runway end, bursting into flames. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt John H. Work, pilot,
Lt Theodore M. Richards, copilot,
Pfc Frank Serao, bomber,
Pfc Alfred G. Legenhausen, engineer,
Pfc Gerald J. Lucien, radio operator,
Pvt Thomas J. Kennedy, air gunner.
Probable cause:
An excessive accumulation of ice on frame and all aircraft surfaces, increased drag and reduced lift, causing the airplane to stall shortly after liftoff.

Crash of a Martin B-26-MA Marauder at Biggs AAF: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1443
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Biggs - Edwards
MSN:
1443
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Biggs AAF, the port engine failed. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane crashed near the airbase, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and three others were injured. The aircraft was on its way to Muroc Dry Lake near Edwards AFB, California.
Crew (22nd BG):
Maj Mark K. Lewis, Jr., pilot, †
Maj David P. Lauback, navigator, †
S/Sgt Michael A. Miullo, crew chief, †
Cpl Francis J. Rizzio, radio operator †, +3.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo near Morton: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
37-523
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
McChord - Edwards
MSN:
2523
YOM:
1937
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was on its way from McChord AFB, Washington, to Edwards AFB, California, to take part to a training exercise at the Muroc Dry Lake. While cruising some 30 miles south of his departure point, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility due to clouds. Too low, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Deschutes (4,322 feet high) located in the Snoqualmie National Forrest. The wreckage was found by two woodsmen on February 3, less than 30 feet below the summit. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert M. Krummes, pilot,
2nd Lt Charles Thomas Nielsen, copilot,
T/S Hearn A. Davis, flight engineer,
2nd Lt John F. Geis, navigator,
Sgt Paul L. Maas, bombardier,
Sgt Leo H. Nietling, radio operator.
Passenger:
1st Lt Lewis E. MacKay.
Source: http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9923
Probable cause:
The official cause of the accident was attributed to a pilot error.