Zone
California

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Brenda: 17 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16151
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tucson – Los Angeles
MSN:
20617
YOM:
1944
Location:
Brenda
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
While flying over Arizona, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and low clouds. The twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Black Mesa located some ten miles southwest of Brenda, Arizona. The wreckage was found 12 feet from the summit and all 17 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Ben Gibson, pilot,
Lt George Winzler, copilot,
Sgt Jack Maier, flight engineer,
Pvt Frank Byrne, radio operator.
Passengers:
Pfc George Jones,
Pfc Dudley Hutton,
Pfc George Francis,
Pfc Bruce Carden,
Pfc Haig Sansian,
Pvt Leroy Thomas,
Sgt Williams Yates,
Sgt Clyde Wikadel,
Yeoman James Woodley,
Donald Brakebill,
Edgell Powell,
E. O. Milliron,
F/O A. C. Middleton.
Source & photos:
http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com/c47blackmesa.html

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Mt Strawberry: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1944 at 2017 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16143
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Rafael – Bakersfield – Los Angeles
MSN:
20609
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Strawberry
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Los Angeles-Mines Field, the aircraft hit a mountain slope located 2 miles northeast of Mt Strawberry, some 10 miles north of Altadena. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew received erroneous data relating to the wind component and direction prior to departure from Bakersfield-Meadows Field. This resulted in a deviation from the prescribed flight path and the crew started the descent while steel above the mountainous terrain north of Altadena. In low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain northeast of Mt Strawberry and was destroyed. Thus, the accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed 12A Electra Junior in Ensenada

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Ensenada
MSN:
1239
YOM:
1938
Location:
Ensenada
Baja California
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole aboard, was completing a ferry flight from Los Angeles. The twin engine crashed on landing for unknown reason. While the pilot was unhurt, the aircraft christened 'Presidente Venustiano Carranza' was written off.

Crash of a Lockheed A-29A Hudson in Canoga Park:1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-37029
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Burban
MSN:
414-6518
YOM:
1942
Location:
Los Angeles
California
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:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in an acceptance flight prior to be delivered to the Royal Air Force with registration FH228. After leaving Burbank Airport, it went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in Canoga Park. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
Frank S. Dace, pilot.

Crash of a North American B-25C Mitchell in Los Angeles

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
41-12434
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
82-5069
YOM:
1941
Location:
Los Angeles
California
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:
The airplane crashed upon landing at Los Angeles Municipal Airport and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Morris J. Lee.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a mechanical failure on landing.

Crash of a Douglas R3D-1 in El Segundo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-5
Operator:
Registration:
1901
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Los Angeles
MSN:
606
YOM:
1940
Location:
El Segundo
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Two pilots and two engineers from the Douglas Aircraft Company were completing a test flight on this model that should be delivered to the United States Navy. After takeoff, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft crashed in El Segundo, near the airport. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 1 Vega in Santa Maria: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 1 Vega
Operator:
Joe Lewis Air Service
Registration:
NC7427
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Santa Maria – Los Angeles
MSN:
15
YOM:
1928
Location:
Santa Maria
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Santa Maria Airport, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, the single engine airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-197 off San Francisco: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1937 at 2050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC16073
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Oakland
MSN:
1913
YOM:
1936
Flight number:
UA023
Location:
San Francisco
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On final approach to San Francisco Airport, the aircraft lost 400 feet in few seconds then nosed down and eventually crashed into the bay of San Francisco, some two miles short of runway. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
A. R. Thompson, pilot,
Joe De Cesaro, copilot,
Ruth Kimmel, stewardess.
Passengers:
John A. Orennan Sr.,
Gertrude Orennan,
Mark Fontana,
J. Franklin Gilmore,
Frank Margaroni,
Raker Meyers,
H. D. Friedlander,
Myron Loite.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was accidental jamming of the elevator controls as the result of a microphone being inadvertently dropped and lodging in such a position that the crew was unable to prevent rapid descent of the airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of a Bellanca CH-400 Skyrocket in Fillmore

Date & Time: May 7, 1935 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bellanca CH-400 Skyrocket
Operator:
Petrol Oil Corporation of Los Angeles
Registration:
NC547V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Los Angeles
MSN:
605
YOM:
1935
Location:
Fillmore
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Los Angeles in cloudy conditions (ceiling at 600 feet). The pilot was certain that visibility was better outside the city when few minutes later, he encountered foggy conditions. With a ceiling at 2,330 feet, he decided to get around the clouds and went into a canyon when the airplane impacted a hill side. All four occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was poor judgment on the part of the pilot for attempting this flight under weather conditions which existed at the time and for continuing flight up a canyon until engulfed in fog which could have been avoided and for attempting a turn in a canyon so narrow that there was not a reasonable expectancy of being able to complete the turn.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Newhall

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1934 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC999Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Winslow – Los Angeles
MSN:
4
YOM:
1931
Location:
Newhall
California
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:
While on a night cargo flight from Winslow to Los Angeles, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, the pilot was found safe a day later.
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