El Paso

Shortly after takeoff at about 800 feet agl, the left engine oil temperature became high and reportedly there was a loss of oil pressure. The pilot reported that he then feathered the left engine and declared an emergency. On final approach, he did not get a safe gear indication. The pilot started that he attempted to go around. But at about that time, he was committed to land. While maneuvering, the aircraft crashed in the desert. There was 2,700 lbs of cargo on board. The elevation was about 3,950 feet and the temperature was reported at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. All three occupants were uninjured.

The crew was completing a single engine positioning flight from El Paso to Lubbock. En route, the remaining engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a desert area located in the region of Seminole. Both occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

En route from Las Vegas to El Paso, while in cruising altitude, both engines lost power. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames near Wikieup and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.

The twin engine airplane did not liftoff, struck trees at the end of the runway and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was slightly injured.

Four minutes after takeoff from Van Nuys Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in Granada Hills, north of Van Nuys. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

After landing at Roy, the twin engine airplane did not decelerate as expected, continued its course then went through fences and came to rest in flames. Both occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

While flying in limited visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Wilson located in the San Gabriel Mountain range, about 7 miles northeast of Pasadena. All seven crew members were killed.

An engine failed in flight, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a desert area located about 8 miles northwest of El Paso and came to rest. There were no casualties.

En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and a reduced visibility due to fog. The aircraft went off track and hit a mountain located near El Bonito, about 75 miles southwest of Del Rio. All nine occupants were killed.

At approximately 2235, June 11, 1948, the flight departed from Burbank, California, for Fort Worth, Texas, via El Paso, Texas. Prior to takeoff a VFR2 flight plan was filed, the weather being clear. Only cargo was carried the only persons aboard being the crew, which consisted of John Dobson, pilot, and John Leslie, copilot. After departure from Burbank, the flight proceeded en route to El Paso at the specified flight plan altitude of 9,000 feet. Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff, over the vicinity of Palmdale, California, control of the aircraft was given to the copilot, and the pilot went to sleep. No trouble was experienced until 0048, at which time the copilot observed flames, deep orange in color and extending about two feet rearward, coming from under the cowl flaps around the entire circumference of the left engine. The pilot was awakened by a shout, and he immediately assumed control of the aircraft. In an attempt to control the fire the crew discharged the emergency fire bottle, cut the fuel flow to the engine, and feathered the propeller, however, the fire continued to burn intensely and the propeller did not feather. A descent for an emergency landing was started, during which the color of the flame changed to brilliant white. It appeared to the crew that the nacelle skin and the leading edge of the wing were burning. Three emergency radio transmissions from NC-79042 were intercepted by an Air Force airplane which relayed the message to Tucson Radio at 0056. To correct excessive air speed the crew reduced power to the right engine and raised the nose of the aircraft. Then the cockpit filled with smoke to the extent that the crew were unable to see the instruments. The aircraft vibrated violently, then fell into an uncontrolled spin or spiral. At approximately 4,000 feet smoke cleared from the cockpit and control of the aircraft was regained. During the descent the burning engine had fallen from the wing, and after regaining control, the crew could observe no sign of fire. Since the aircraft seemed to fly satisfactorily, a right turn towards Tucson, approximately 47 miles to the southeast, was made. In the turns however, altitude could not be maintained, and the aircraft became increasingly right-wing heavy. Accordingly it was decided to land at Eloy, Arizona, 45 miles northwest of Tucson which was observed straight ahead. Ground witnesses in Eloy saw the aircraft at a low altitude with fire in the left wing. A crash landing was made in a wheat stubble field one-fourth mile northeast of Eloy and the crew escaped through the cockpit hatch from the burning aircraft.