Zone
California

Crash of a Ford 5 in Bakersfield

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
NC9666
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco – Los Angeles
MSN:
5-AT-025
YOM:
1929
Location:
Bakersfield
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from San Francisco to Los Angeles, the aircraft suffered an in-flight fire. The crew diverted to Bakersfield Airport. After touchdown, the airplane rolled for few dozen yards before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All nine occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Fokker F10A in Calimesa: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1932 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC652E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Phoenix – Los Angeles
MSN:
1027
YOM:
1929
Location:
Calimesa
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Phoenix to Los Angeles, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The pilot reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the airplane impacted power cables and crashed in an apple orchard. Six occupants were killed and a passenger was seriously injured. He died from his injuries the following day.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000B near Lebec: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1932 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC10813
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bakersfield – Los Angeles
MSN:
5034
YOM:
1931
Location:
Lebec
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
4400
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Bakersfield on a flight to Los Angeles, carrying seven passengers and one pilot. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to heavy snow falls. The pilot decided to return to Bakersfield when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a mountainous area located between Lebec and Fort Tejon, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found a week later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Joseph Victor Sandblom, pilot
Passengers:
Frank Dewar,
Spencer W. Swan,
J. H. Polhemus,
W. H. Smith,
Nita McGrath,
Margaret A. Fickeisen,
Marie Sweeny Combs.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in a snowstorm.

Crash of a Junkers A.50W Junior off Nemuro

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Junkers A.50
Operator:
Hochi Shimbun
Registration:
J-BENB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo - Los Angeles
MSN:
3558
YOM:
1931
Location:
Nemuro
Hokkaidō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot Seiji Yoshihara was attempting a second non stop flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles on this single engine aircraft owned by Hochi Shimbun. While flying off Nemuro, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Nemuro Bay. While the pilot was rescued seven hours later, the aircraft sank and was lost. A first attempt to cross the north Atlantic ocean from Tokyo to Los Angeles failed last 14 of May when the aircraft crashed into the sea some 40 miles off the Kurile Islands.

Crash of a Boeing 95 near Saint George

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC419E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Salt Lake City
MSN:
1063
YOM:
1929
Location:
Saint George
Utah
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 night mail flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and while attempting an emergency landing, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a mountainous area located about 20 km west of St George, Utah, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.

Crash of a Fokker F10A on Mt Shay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC279E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kingman – Glendale
MSN:
1011
YOM:
1928
Location:
Mt Shay
California
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:
The crew departed Kingman on a ferry flight to Glendale after dropping off their passengers. En route to Grand Central Airport, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to heavy snow falls. The aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Shay located about 30 km northeast of San Bernardino. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found six days later by Dudley Steele, flying a Richfield Oil Company aircraft with Mrs. Juanita E. Burns as observer. The wreckage was spotted about eight miles from Lake Arrowhead. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
James E. 'Jimmy' Dole, pilot,
A. W. Bieber, copilot,
John W. Slaton, steward.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Oceanside: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1930 at 1823 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
NC9689
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tijuana – Los Angeles
MSN:
5-AT-046
YOM:
1929
Flight number:
MDX007
Location:
Oceanside
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
En route from Tijuana to Los Angeles, weather conditions deteriorated. The visibility was very bad due to heavy rain falls. The crew reduced his altitude and apparently attempted an emergency landing in an open field when, on short final, the aircraft rolled to the left and lost height, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed and slid for about 60 metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all 16 occupants were killed. Up to date, worst aircraft accident in the United States.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred in darkness and during a rain and low overcast, with the weather considered as a primary causative factor by an official inquiry board. Specifically, it was concluded that the Tri-Motor had encountered a local meteorological condition with 'unpredicted and unforeseen characteristics’ that the flight crew apparently tried to avoid, but which must have caused them to become disoriented. After turning to the left towards an area devoid of lights, the aircraft’s port wing struck the ground.

Crash of a Fokker F10 in Oakland

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC5358
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Oakland
MSN:
1002
YOM:
1928
Location:
Oakland
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:
Upon landing at Oakland Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Ford 5 on Mt Taylor: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1929 at 1101 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
NC9649
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Albuquerque – Los Angeles
MSN:
5-AT-020
YOM:
1928
Location:
Mt Taylor
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Few minutes after his departure from Albuquerque Airport, while cruising bound to the west, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, turbulences and lightnings. While cruising between Albuquerque and Gallup, the aircraft named 'City of San Francisco' went out of control and crashed on Mt Taylor (11,305 feet high), some 45 miles west of Albuquerque. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
J. B. Stowe, Chief pilot by TAT,
E. A. Dietel, copilot,
C. F. Canfield, courier.
Passengers:
Mrs. Corina Raymond,
A. B. McGaffey,
William Henry Beers,
Harris Livermore,
M. M. Campbell.
Probable cause:
The Tri-Motor was believed to have encountered an area of thunderstorm activity that was localized and had not been indicated in weather reports before it slammed into the mountain, which rises to above 11,000 feet.

Crash of a Lockheed 5 Vega in Randsburg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC393H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Chicago
MSN:
85
YOM:
1929
Location:
Randsburg
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 pilot, sole on board, departed Los Angeles on a flight to Chicago, the aircraft having to be delivered to its new owner, the General Tire & Rubber Company. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity. Due to severe turbulences, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and disintegrated. The pilot Virgil Cline was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in stormy weather.
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