March AFB

After landing at the aircraft's manufacturer facility with an asymmetric fuel condition and an inoperative yaw damper the crew elected to continue the flight to their destination without correcting the deficiencies. Enroute the captain informed air traffic controllers that he had fuel coming from one tank and that he doubted that had fuel available to reach his destination. The controller cleared the aircraft to land at a March AFB, the nearby airport. As the aircraft turned onto the final approach it rolled inverted and impacted the ground inverted short of runway 32. Both pilots were killed.

During the takeoff roll at a speed of 140 knots on runway 32, the crew heard a loud bang followed by vibrations. Decision was taken to abandon the takeoff procedure and the crew was able to stop the aircraft before the end of the runway. All 19 occupants evacuated while the aircraft was quickly destroyed by fire.

The crew departed March AFB, California, on a night training flight. In the evening, while cruising at low altitude to simulate an aerial attack, the airplane struck a sand dune then crashed in a huge explosion in a prairie located few miles west of Las Animas. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James L. MacGregor, pilot,
Cpt Gani Aydoner, copilot,
Cpt Clifford R. Duane,
1st/Lt Kendall E. Wallace,
Cpt Stanley H. Eddleman,
S/A Timothy E. McFarland,
A1c Bruce E. Schaefer,
A1c David W. Smith.

Shortly after takeoff from March AFB, while on a local training mission, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion about 2,5 miles southeast from the airfield. A crew member was seriously injured while five others were killed.

The crew was completing a night training mission out from March AFB, Riverside. While cruising in stormy weather at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed on the slope of Mt Pallett located 8,4 miles south of Pearblossom. The aircraft impacted the north slope just below the ridge scattering wreckage on both sides of the ridge. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Elvin Estes,
Cpt Norman Gassman,
Cpt Raymond Miller,
S/Sgt Roger DuCharime.

The crew was performing a secret mission from Andrews AFB to March AFB. While overflying New Mexico, he encountered severe icing conditions. A wing fell off and the aircraft crashed in the Sandia Mountain Range located northeast of Albuquerque. All nine occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. All USAF C-47's were grounded following this accident, until the struts had been replaced.

During the takeoff roll, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane skidded for few dozen metres then veered off runway and collided with a fuel tank, bursting into flames. All 24 occupants evacuated, among them five were injured. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
1st Lt William E. Novetzke, pilot,
Cpt Thomas L. Hedge, pilot,
1st Lt Thomas G. Artman, navigator,
A2C Wilbert T. Heath, boom operator.
Passengers:
S/Sgt Annas S. Thompson,
A1C Edward M. Sennett,
Maj Walter A. Arrington,
M/Sgt Robert L. Chapin,
T/Sgt Robert W. Watson,
A2C Lawrence E. Newton,
1st Lt Ronald L. Munn,
1st Lt Berthold Muecke,
A2C Eugene C. Shelton,
A1C Melvin R. Furgeson,
A2C Charles W. Samples,
A2C Lloyd C. Bray,
A1C Darr E. Martner,
A2C Clyde E. Rufener,
A3C Nroman S. Rydwell,
A2C Howard A. Betts,
A2C Ronald H Ragland,
S/Sgt James E. Briggs,
A2C Walt Coburn,
A2C Raymond A. Nelson.

The takeoff was attempted in strong cross winds. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft deviated from the runway centerline. Despite corrections on part of the flying crew, the four engine aircraft veered off runway and came to rest. A passenger was killed while few others were injured.

The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from Malmstrom AFB (Great Falls) to March AFB (Riverside) with an intermediate stop at Hill AFB in Ogden. After takeoff from Ogden-Hill AFB, bound for the south, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (stormy weather) and low visibility when the aircraft hit the east side of Mt Timpanogos (11,751 feet high) located about 28 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. As the aircraft failed to arrive at March AFB, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found three days later about 300 feet below the summit. All five occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Maj Daniel C. Howley, pilot,
2nd Lt Howard E. St John Jr., copilot,
A2c Doyle Dempsey, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Donald R. Cubbage,
Maurice McNulty.

The crew was completing a flight from Altus, Oklahoma, to the March AFB located southeast of Riverside, California. While approaching March AFB, the crew was informed by ATC about poor weather at destination and was then vectored to Norton AFB in San Bernardino. While cruising by night at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane hit the slope of Mt Box Springs located between the cities of Riverside and San Bernardino. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 14 occupants were killed.