Zone
Arkansas

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules on Mt Sugarloaf: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
62-1845
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Little Rock - Fort Smith
MSN:
3808
YOM:
1963
Location:
Mt Sugarloaf
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Little Rock to Fort Smith, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility. The four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Sugarloaf located northwest of Hot Springs and was destroyed upon impact. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard W. Lane, pilot instructor,
Cpt David G. Noltensmeyer, pilot,
Lt Douglas P. Menssen, copilot,
Cpt John M. Davis, navigator,
Lt Robert L. Nelson, navigator,
S/Sgt William R. Dawson, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Bernard J. Thaler, load adjuster.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Kansas City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1970 at 0108 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Registration:
N5659D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Little Rock – Kansas City
MSN:
BA-392
YOM:
1958
Location:
Kansas City
Missouri
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
2014
Captain / Total hours on type:
1133.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kansas City Airport, while completing a night mail flight, the pilot encountered engine problems. Control was lost and the airplane crashed few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial approach caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Powerplant problems caused by vacuum pumps failure,
- The pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice on windshield,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Weather conditions slightly worse than forecast,
- The pilot was aware of the icing conditions,
- The left vacuum pump failed at an undetermined time, limiting the de-icing capabilities.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Kansas City

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1969 at 0204 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Orion Airways
Registration:
N44634
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kansas City – Little Rock
MSN:
A-41
YOM:
1946
Location:
Kansas City
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1188
Captain / Total hours on type:
991.00
Circumstances:
After a night takeoff from Kansas City Airport, while on a mail flight, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height when it stalled and crashed near the runway end. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb caused by an inadequate preflight preparation on part of the flying crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Improperly loaded aircraft-weight and CofG,
- Frost on wings,
- Aircraft overt gross takeoff weight.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25J-25-NC Mitchell near Jasper: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1948 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
44-30078
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Wright-Patterson - Little Rock
MSN:
108-33353
Location:
Jasper
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet by night on a flight from Wright-Patterson AFB to Little Rock, the twin engine aircraft hit the east slope of Mt Round Top located three miles south of Jasper, in the Ozark Mountains. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the wreckage was spotted around midnight, four hours after the crash. All five occupants, four USAF officers and one Navy Officer, were killed.
Crew:
Lt Phillip Novick, pilot,
Lt Charles W. Thomas, copilot,
M/Sgt George L. Haties, crew chief.
Passengers:
Lt Felton F. Roberson,
GM2 Francis J. Russell.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-277A in Memphis: 24 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1944 at 2336 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC21767
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Dallas – Little Rock – Memphis – New York
MSN:
2166
YOM:
1939
Flight number:
AA002
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
13050
Captain / Total hours on type:
7374.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1911
Copilot / Total hours on type:
812
Aircraft flight hours:
12446
Circumstances:
American Airlines Trip 2, on a regular transcontinental schedule from Los Angeles to New York City, while en route from Little Rock to Memphis, crashed in the Mississippi River 18 miles southwest of Memphis Airport about 2336LT. The 21 passengers and three crew members were fatally injured and the airplane was totally destroyed. The flight was observed to be at a normal altitude approximately 30 miles west of the scene of the crash. At a point 2 1/2 miles west of the scene, the plane was observed flying very low. How long it had been flying low between these two points could not be ascertained as there were no known witnesses to this portion of the flight. It approached and struck the river in an angle of descent of about 20 degree with the right wing slightly low. Impact with the water, submersion and the extremely difficult salvage operation caused an unusual degree of damage to the plane. Only 75% of the wreckage is estimated to have been recovered. These conditions materially limited the efforts of the Boards investigators.
Probable cause:
Although a considerable period of time was devoted to the investigation in order to gather all possible evidence, the Board is unable to determine the probable cause of this accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Little Rock: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1942 at 2315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-7441
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Little Rock – Barksdale
MSN:
7441
YOM:
1941
Location:
Little Rock
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after its night take off from Little Rock, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 7 miles northwest of Little Rock. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Kenneth E. Reddy, pilot,
2nd Lt Charles S. Brachbill, copilot,
2nd Lt Phillip Williams, navigator,
Sgt Thomas T. Roberts, flight engineer,
Cpl Dominic T. Moduno, radio operator,
Pvt Thomas A. Naylon, assistant radio operator.
Probable cause:
Investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Witnesses' statements were vague and conflicting.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-120 in Goodwin: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1936 at 1932 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC14274
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Newark – Memphis – Little Rock – Dallas – Los Angeles
MSN:
1307
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
AA001
Location:
Goodwin
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Captain / Total flying hours:
9400
Circumstances:
While cruising at low altitude and at a speed of 290 km/h in darkness, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded and swampy area located some 4 miles from Goodwin. The aircraft was destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed. While there was no post crash fire, a flash bulb from a photographers camera did ignite gasoline that had spilled. This was the first fatal commercial aircraft accident in the state of Arkansas.
Crew:
Gerald V. Marshall, pilot,
Glenn Freeland, copilot,
Perla Casparini, stewardess.
Passengers:
Charles Altschul,
Mrs. Samuel Horowitz,
Seba Horowitz,
Mrs. B. Horowitz,
W. R. Dyess,
R. H. McNair Jr.,
Frank C. Hart,
J. C. Cahn,
J. S. Gremillion,
W. S. Hardwicke,
A. D. Chernus,
H. W. plato,
Sam Schwartz +1.
Probable cause:
Although the US Bureau of Air Commerce considered the height at which the DC-2 had been flying as a contributing factor, the agency was unable to determine the underlying cause of the accident. Despite the lack of evidence of interference with the pilots, the Bureau subsequently issued a directive that prohibited entry by passengers into the cockpit of US commercial aircraft at any time during a flight. The cause of the crash was never proven, due in part to the fire and the extensive looting of the site by local residents. Another report indicates that only the copilot was in the cockpit at the time and there was thought of a passenger disturbance.

Crash of a Lockheed 9D Orion in Memphis

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC12285
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Little Rock – Memphis
MSN:
197
YOM:
1933
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
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 pilot, sole on board, was completing a cargo flight from Little Rock to Memphis. Upon landing, the aircraft crashed and came to rest. The pilot was injured.

Crash of a Travel Air 6000B in Marianna: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Travel Air 6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC369M
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Little Rock – Memphis
MSN:
2020
YOM:
1929
Location:
Marianna
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While cruising at night on a flight from Little Rock to Memphis, the pilot got lost. He reduced his altitude when the airplane collided with an oak tree and crashed. Both occupants were killed.
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