Zone
Virginia

Crash of a Martin P5M-1 Marlin off Norfolk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Martin P5M-2 Marlin
Operator:
Registration:
130265
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Norfolk - Norfolk
Location:
Norfolk
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
During a night takeoff in Willoughby Bay, the seaplane crashed into a seawall at NAS Norfolk. Four crew members were killed and four others were injured.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Chattanooga

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N1242N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Norfolk – Knoxville – Oklahoma City
MSN:
22406
YOM:
1945
Location:
Chattanooga-Lovell Field
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Norfolk NAS on a cargo flight to Oklahoma City with an intermediate stop at Knoxville, carrying a load of 12,000 pounds of various goods on behalf of the US Army. As the weather conditions worsened at Knoxville, the crew was diverted to Chattanooga. With a ceiling at 900 feet, the crew continued the approach at an insufficient altitude when the airplane hit trees, lost its left wing and crashed 2,660 feet short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to continue the approach below the glide without any visual contact with the ground.

Crash of a Fairchild R4Q-2 Flying Boxcar in Whiting Field NAS: 44 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1953 at 2315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
131663
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Corpus Christi – Whiting – Norfolk
MSN:
10830
YOM:
1951
Location:
Whiting Field NAS
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Corpus Christi to Norfolk with a fuel stop at Whiting Field NAS, carrying 44 members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Shortly after a night takeoff from Whiting Field NAS, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and eventually crashed in a wooded area located 0,75 mile past the runway end. A crew member and a passenger were rescued while 44 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The copilot was the pilot-in-command at the time of the accident. It is believed he suffered a spatial disorientation immediately after liftoff. Despite a visibility of about 9 miles, experts considered the flight conditions as non satisfying. It was determined that the climb gradient was too low while the flaps and the undercarriages were raised at impact. Thus it is believed that the pilots forgot to deploy the flaps prior to takeoff, which contributed to the loss of lift after rotation and the subsequent crash.

Crash of a Martin P5M-1 Marlin off Cape Henry: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Martin P5M-2 Marlin
Operator:
Registration:
126503
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Norfolk - Norfolk
Location:
Virginia Beach
Virginia
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:
The crew was completing a training sortie from NAS Norfolk. En route, an engine failed and control was lost. The airplane crashed off Cape Henry, north of Virginia Beach. All seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Norfolk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
48291
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Norfolk - Norfolk
Location:
Norfolk
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie in NAS Norfolk. In flight, the seaplane collided with a Chance Vought F4U Corsair. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airbase. One crew aboard the Catalina survived the crash while six other occupants and the pilot of the Corsair were killed.

Crash of a Martin PBM-3R Mariner off Norfolk NAS: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
6482
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Norfolk - Norfolk
MSN:
6482
Location:
Norfolk
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Norfolk NAS, while on a training mission, the seaplane lost height and fell into the Willoughby Bay. Its nose lodged into mud and sand. Seven crew were killed while five others were injured. The aircraft was partially submerged and damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Natal: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7252
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Norfolk - Natal
Location:
Natal
Rio Grande do Norte
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was in charge to ferry the aircraft from NAS Norfolk to Natal. While approaching its destination, the seaplane went through a thunderstorm area and encountered a squall. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ocean and crashed 5 miles off Natal. All 10 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Livermore: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7266
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alameda - Norfolk
Location:
Livermore
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The seaplane left Alameda NAS on a cross country flight to Norfolk-Chambers NAS, Virginia. Few minutes after take off, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain near Livermore. Six crew members were killed while the seventh was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Livermore: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7269
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alameda - Norfolk
Location:
Livermore
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The seaplane left Alameda NAS on a cross country flight to Norfolk-Chambers NAS, Virginia. Few minutes after take off, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 11 km east of Livermore. All eight crew members were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire.

Crash of a Douglas R2-D Dolphin off Assateague: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Douglas Dolphin
Operator:
Registration:
V111
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Assateague - Norfolk
MSN:
1122
YOM:
1932
Location:
Assateague
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Assateague on an ambulance flight to Norfolk, carrying two crew members and one sick man from a surfboat. Shortly after takeoff, the float plane went out of control and crashed into the sea. Lt Luke Christopher was killed while both other occupants were rescued.
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