Zone
Virginia

Crash of a Boeing Y1B-17 Flying Fortress off Hatteras: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
36-153
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Langley - Langley
MSN:
1977
YOM:
1936
Location:
Hatteras
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Langley AFB at 0730LT on a maritime patrol flight off the east US coast. After passing Cape Hatteras, the contact was lost and the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the ocean. No trace of the airplane nor the crew was ever found.
Crew.
Lt Col Edward Flanick, pilot,
2nd Lt James H. Miller, copilot,
2nd Lt Robert Lenwood Garrison, navigator,
Sgt Ellsworth William Aitken, flight engineer,
Pfc Robert R. McIntyre, assistant engineer,
Sgt Steven James Chohrach, radio operator,
Sgt Arthur L. Becker, assistant radio operator,
Cpl Draper Hoyt, bombardier.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder at Langley AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1414
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Langley - Langley
MSN:
1414
YOM:
1940
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Langley AFB, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a swampy area. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire, and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Ridley, pilot,
Lt Sutton, pilot.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a 'runaway propeller' after liftoff.

Crash of a Martin B-10M off Langley AFB

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-91
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
622
YOM:
1934
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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 for unknown reasons into the Back River off Langley AFB. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress at Langley AFB

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
40-2058
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2059
YOM:
1940
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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 upon landing at Langley AFB and was destroyed by fire. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo at Langley AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-488
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2488
YOM:
1937
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Langley AFB, while climbing to a height of 150 feet, one of the engine failed. The crew attempted to return when control was lost. The airplane crashed, bursting into flames. All nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas C-29 Dolphin off Rockaway Point: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Douglas Dolphin
Operator:
Registration:
33-293
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Mitchell - Langley
MSN:
1184
YOM:
1933
Location:
Rockaway Point
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Mitchell Field to Langley AFB, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to ditch the airplane off Rockaway Point. A crew member drowned and two others were rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Keystone LB-6A at Langley AFB

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-6
Operator:
Registration:
32-169
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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 on takeoff for unknown reasons. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Keystone LB-7 at Langley AFB

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-7
Operator:
Registration:
28-389
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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 shortly after takeoff from Langley AFB. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Keystone K-47 Pathfinder at Langley AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Keystone K-47 Pathfinder
Operator:
Noel Guy Davis
Registration:
NX179
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Langley AFB - Langley AFB
MSN:
1
YOM:
1927
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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:
Both American aviators Noel Guy Davis and Stanton Hall Wooster were preparing the aircraft for a transatlantic flight from New York to Paris, taking part to the Orteig Prize. Named 'American Legion', the aircraft was the first prototype of the Keystone K-47 Pathfinder and built especially for this crew and mission. From the airbase of Langley, Virginia, the crew was performing a local training flight around the base. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 50 feet, the crew noted the presence of trees and made a sharp turn to the left. At an insufficient speed, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a swampy area and was destroyed. Both occupants were killed.
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