Zone
Virginia

Crash of a Martin NBS-1 in Moundsville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Martin NBS-1 (MB-2)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moundsville - Langley
Location:
Moundsville
West 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:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the crew encountered technical problems. The aircraft stalled and crashed on a parking lot near the airport. Upon impact, the aircraft caught fire and 16 cars were destroyed by fire. Five people on the ground were killed, among them three children. Twenty people were injured as well as both crew members. It appears that many people were contemplating the departure of the aircraft when the accident occurred.
Crew:
Lt C. R. McIvy, pilot,
T. H. Dunton, mechanic.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B at Langley AFB

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
AS-63145
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
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 in the Southwest Branch Back River after takeoff from Langley AFB due to an engine failure. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss Eagle in Morgantown: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss Eagle
Operator:
Registration:
AS-64243
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Langley – Bolling
Location:
Morgantown
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The ambulance airplane of the 1st Provisional Air Brigade, crashed during a severe thunderstorm attempting to land at Morgantown, Maryland, while returning to Bolling Field, District of Columbia, from Langley Field, Virginia. The pilot, 1st Lt. Stanley M. Ames, and six passengers were killed. Four of the six were Air Service officers and an enlisted man. Two United States congressmen had chosen not to make the flight because of airsickness on the flight from Washington to Langley.
Probable cause:
The Army's Inspector General conducted an investigation of the crash and theorized that the aircraft stalled when it encountered an updraft at low altitude while trying to clear trees near the unfamiliar field and fell vertically, nose first, into the ground.
Subscribe to Langley AFB (Hampton)