Crash of a Volpar Turboliner 18 into the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Volpar Turboliner 18
Operator:
Registration:
N3674G
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Midway Island - Adak
MSN:
AF-689
YOM:
1954
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Lost without trace while completing a ferry flight from Midway Island to Adak, Aleutians Islands. The pilot did not send any distress call. SAR operations did not find any trace from the aircraft nor the pilot.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-133B-DL Cargomaster off Kadena AFB

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-133 Cargomaster
Operator:
Registration:
59-0534
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kadena - Midway
MSN:
45585
YOM:
1959
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Kadena AFB in Okinawa, while climbing to an altitude of 12,450 feet, the engine number four began to malfunction and was shut down by the crew who also feathered the propeller. The crew was cleared to return to Kadena for an emergency landing. On final approach, while at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the three remaining engines failed simultaneously. The captain decided to ditch the airplane into the sea, about 5 km offshore. The airplane broke in two and partially sank while all nine crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Failure of the propeller control and propeller power circuit on approach, causing the engine to flameout.

Crash of a Lockheed WV-2 on Midway Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1961 at 0304 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
143193
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Midway - Midway
MSN:
4467
YOM:
1957
Location:
Midway Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While conducting a maritime patrol flight over the Pacific Ocean, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and the captain decided to return to Midway Island NAS for a safe landing. During the final approach completed by night, the four engine aircraft was too low, causing the main landing gears to struck a seawall located short of runway threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off. The airplane went out control and crashed in flames onto a fire truck parked by the runway. Six passengers were killed as well as all three firemen sitting in the truck and awaiting the aircraft according to procedures.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 off Midway Island

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
87755
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tokyo - Barbers Point
Location:
Midway Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
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:
Ditched due to fuel exhaustion caused by a faulty navigation near Midway Island enroute from Tokyo-Haneda Airport, Japan, to Barbers Point NAS, Hawaii. All crew members were rescued by a Navy ship while the plane sank by gunfire.
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the crew.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Midway Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46500
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Midway Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances off Midway Island. All nine crewmen were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder into the Pacific Ocean: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1424
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Midway - Midway
MSN:
1424
YOM:
1940
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the Battle of Midway and was dispatched to attack Japanese ships cruising some 180 miles away. In the target, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the ocean. The aircraft and all crewmen were lost.
Crew:
Lt Herbert C. Mayes, pilot,
Lt Garrett M. McAllister, copilot,
2nd Lt William D. Hargis,
Lt Gerald J. Barnicle, bomber,
S/Sgt Salvadore Battaglia, air gunner,
Pvt Benjamin F. Huffsticker,
Pvt Roy W. Walters.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Midway Island

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1391
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Midway - Midway
MSN:
1391
YOM:
1940
Location:
Midway Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the Battle of Midway. While returning to the Midway Airport, the pilot was forced to complete the landing with the gear partially retracted. The aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest. All eight occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Gear partially retracted on landing.

Crash of a Kawanishi H8K off Midway Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Kawanishi H8K
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Midway Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
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:
The floatplane was shot down by a USMC Buffalo and crashed into the sea off Midway Island. The entire crew was killed. The exact number of crew number remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a US fighter.

Crash of a Martin PM-1 off Midway Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Martin PM-1
Operator:
Registration:
0667
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Midway Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The float plane departed USS Pennsylvania on a patrol flight over the Pacific Ocean. While approaching Midway Island, it crashed in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members (two officers and four enlisted men) were ever found. The aircraft was coded VP-6F.
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