Zone
Colorado

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando near Nederland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1963 at 1919 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N609Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lowry - Ogden
MSN:
26571
YOM:
1943
Location:
Nederland
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
13527
Captain / Total hours on type:
10128.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11694
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a cargo flight from Lowry AFB to Ogden-Hill AFB on behalf of the US Air Force. While cruising over the Rockies at an altitude of 12,500 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of mountain and crashed in flames. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the three occupants was found. The wreckage was located on 8 July 1964. All three occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the probable cause of the accident was an improper in-flight decision or planning on part of the flying crew who exercised poor judgment. The weather briefing provided to the crew by the military personnel prior to takeoff at Lowry AFB was inadequate, which was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-13-FA Provider near Empire: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1960 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
55-4539
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pope - Lowry - Hill - Hamilton
MSN:
20200
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
USAF998
Location:
Empire
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Pope AFB to Hamilton AFB with intermediate stops at Lowry AFB and Ogden-Hill AFB. The aircraft departed Lowry AFB at 0801LT. The crew completed to successives turns to the left then to the right and continued heading 270°. Few minutes later, the airplane entered a box canyon and was unable to gain sufficient height when it struck the slope of Mt Vasquez Peak (3,414 meters high). The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of wrong decision on part of the pilot who violated paragraph 12A (4), AF Reg 60-16 and entered a box canyon with insufficient altitude and lateral clearance from which to effect a safe recovery. The following contributing factors were reported:
- A breach of air discipline, in that the pilot operated his aircraft for a distance of thirty-two miles at altitudes ranging from 500 feet down to 50 feet above the immediate terrain, in violation of Para 12A (3) AF regs 60-16,
- Weather conditions may have been a contributing factor in that the forecast winds and turbulence indicate a probable adverse mountain wave effect on the aircraft immediately prior to impact.

Crash of a Convair RB-36H-25-CF Peacemaker in Denver

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Operator:
Registration:
51-13720
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lowry - Ellsworth
Location:
Denver-Stapleton
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lowry AFB, while climbing, the aircraft suffered a loss of power on all engines. The captain decided to divert to the nearest Airport, Denver-Stapleton. On final, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames one mile short of runway 17 threshold. All 21 occupants escaped while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power caused by a fuel starvation.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Lowry AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49496
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15312/26757
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lowry AFB (Denver)
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in Lowry AFB while landing in poor weather conditions. At least one crew member was killed in the accident.

Crash of a Boeing TB-17G-85-DL Flying Fortress near Raton: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-83567
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lowry - Lowry
MSN:
33208
Location:
Raton
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. In low visibility, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located four miles west of Raton. The aircraft was destroyed and all ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
Walter C. Williams,
Melvin R. Truman,
James L. Reidinger,
Martin L. Murray,
Floyd C. Melton Jr.,
Frank M. Kackstetter,
James R. Irby,
Carl A. Hill,
Arthur L. Gaudreault,
Melvin C. Brock.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A Packet near Collinsville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1949 at 2240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Registration:
45-57823
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lowry - Alameda
MSN:
10193
YOM:
1945
Location:
Collinsville
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Lowry AFB (Denver) to Alameda NAS (Oakland), the airplane suffered a loss of power on both engines and the crew instructed all six passengers to bail out. After they abandoned the airplane, the crew lost control of the aircraft which dove into the ground and crashed in a marshy field located about 2 miles north of Collinsville. Both pilots were killed while all six passengers were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on both engines.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Lowry AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
44-47446
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7854
Location:
Lowry AFB (Denver)
Colorado
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:
On a night approach to Lowry AFB, the twin engine aircraft crashed in flames onto a military installation located 7 miles northeast of the airbase. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK near Goodland: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1946 at 2110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-0930
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Forbes - Lowry
MSN:
16933/34192
YOM:
1945
Location:
Goodland
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Forbes AFB (Topeka) to Lowry AFB located near Aurora, Colorado. Enroute, while cruising in adverse weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 4 miles north of Goodland. All 13 occupants were killed. It appears that at the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with thunderstorm activity and electricity.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by severe turbulence due to thunderstorm activity. Also, electricity in the stormy area may badly influenced on board equipment.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator in Lowry AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1943 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Lowry - Lowry
Location:
Lowry AFB (Denver)
Colorado
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all 7 crew members.

Crash of a Martin B-10M at Lowry AFB

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-99
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
630
YOM:
1934
Location:
Lowry AFB (Denver)
Colorado
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 while taking off from Lowry AFB. There were no casualties.
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