Zone
Washington

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-20-CO Liberator near Ryderwood: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-73191
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
McChord - Oklahoma City
MSN:
2761
Location:
Ryderwood
Washington
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:
While flying in a thunderstorm, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a hilly terrain. All five crew members were killed. It appears there were severe turbulence in the area at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-5-CF Liberator near Ryderwood: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-64160
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
McChord - Oklahoma City
MSN:
409
Location:
Ryderwood
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While flying in a thunderstorm, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a hilly terrain. All five crew members were killed. It appears there were severe turbulence in the area at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando near Coos Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77561
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sedalia – Fresno – McChord
MSN:
32957
YOM:
1944
Location:
Coos Bay
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
When the crew started the approach to McChord AFB, he was informed that a landing was not possible due to poor weather conditions. The captain decided to return to Fresno but while flying east of Coos Bay, the crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a wooded area located 42 miles east of Coos Bay. Rescuers arrived on site two days later and nine occupants were evacuated. For unknown reason, two people were still in the aircraft and were killed while a third one was never found. The exact cause and circumstances of the accident remains unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed A-29-LO Hudson at McChord AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23441
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6258
YOM:
1941
Location:
McChord AFB
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was supposed to be delivered to the Royal Air Force in Canada with registration BW579. Shortly after takeoff from McChord AFB, it crashed for unknown reasons. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles R. Solberg, pilot,
Cpl Forest W. Barlow, †
Sgt Kenneth W. Holmstrom. †

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder at McChord AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1513
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1513
YOM:
1940
Location:
McChord AFB
Washington
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 airplane suffered an engine failure at takeoff and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Jesse Peter Ottosen, pilot,
2nd Lt Conner G. Hopkins,
Sgt Lee C. Osborn.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo near Morton: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-523
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
McChord - Edwards
MSN:
2523
YOM:
1937
Location:
Morton
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was on its way from McChord AFB, Washington, to Edwards AFB, California, to take part to a training exercise at the Muroc Dry Lake. While cruising some 30 miles south of his departure point, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility due to clouds. Too low, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Deschutes (4,322 feet high) located in the Snoqualmie National Forrest. The wreckage was found by two woodsmen on February 3, less than 30 feet below the summit. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert M. Krummes, pilot,
2nd Lt Charles Thomas Nielsen, copilot,
T/S Hearn A. Davis, flight engineer,
2nd Lt John F. Geis, navigator,
Sgt Paul L. Maas, bombardier,
Sgt Leo H. Nietling, radio operator.
Passenger:
1st Lt Lewis E. MacKay.
Source: http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9923
Probable cause:
The official cause of the accident was attributed to a pilot error.
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