Zone
Texas

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-28-DK in Memphis: 20 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1947 at 1810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76366
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
El Paso – Memphis
MSN:
15950/32698
YOM:
1945
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
On final approach to Memphis in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft banked right, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 4 miles short of runway threshold. All 20 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the crash could not be determined with certainty. There was no explosion or fire on board prior to final impact.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in El Paso: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC48610
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
210
Location:
El Paso
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot and injuring all three passengers.

Crash of Lockheed 12A Electra Junior in McKelligon Canyon

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior
Operator:
Registration:
NC17374
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1218
Location:
El Paso
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in McKelligon Canyon, in the suburb of El Paso. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V in El Paso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
AM547
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Burbank - El Paso
MSN:
414-2629
YOM:
1941
Location:
El Paso
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a delivery flight from California to England via Canada. Due to poor weather conditions in east US, the crew diverted to El Paso. On approach, the twin engine airplane collided with a radio range tower located one mile east of the airport and crashed. Both crew members, US citizens, were killed.
Crew:
Marino Guglielmetti,
Robert McKee.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. It is possible that the crew was blinded while approaching the airport facing the sun.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in El Paso

Date & Time: May 15, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
XA-BHG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9
YOM:
1934
Location:
El Paso
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed DL-1B Vega in El Paso

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 1 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC483M
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
136
YOM:
1930
Location:
El Paso
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:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances and was destroyed. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Walsenburg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC176W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
El paso – Pueblo
MSN:
129
YOM:
1930
Location:
Walsenburg
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising some 30 miles south of Pueblo, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed against a hill located near Walsenburg. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Rattlesnake Butte: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1935 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC891E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pueblo – El Paso
MSN:
73
YOM:
1929
Location:
Rattlesnake Butte
Colorado
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 approaching Rattlesnake Butte at a height of 150 feet, the pilot decided to overfly the school of the village to drop a letter for the children. While completing a sharp turn to the right, the aircraft lost altitude, causing the right wing to hit the ground. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Nothing was found to indicate that either plane or engine were not functioning normally. A letter found in the wreckage, evidently written by the pilot, requested the school children of Rattlesnake Butte to write him and let him know how close to the door of the school he had dropped the letter. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an accidental collision with the ground while doing low flying in violation of the Air Commerce Regulations.

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.
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