Zone
California

Crash of a Loening C-2C Air Yacht Air Yacht off Oakland

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Loening C-2 Air Yacht
Operator:
Air Ferries
Registration:
NC9160
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
229
YOM:
1929
Location:
Oakland
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:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from the bay of Oakland, the seaplane hit a tug and plunged into the water. All eight occupants were quickly rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fokker F10 in Oakland

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC5358
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Oakland
MSN:
1002
YOM:
1928
Location:
Oakland
California
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:
Upon landing at Oakland Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-29A in Pacoima: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-29
Operator:
Registration:
NC2756
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cinematography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oakland - Oakland
MSN:
1
YOM:
1929
Location:
Pacoima
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the movie called 'Hell's Angels'. In flight, the pilot encountered problems and attempted to bail out with his parachute. He asked the engineer to do so. Worried about the malfunction of a generator, the engineer did not hear the order coming from the pilot who abandoned the aircraft shortly later. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. The engineer was killed while the pilot was uninjured.
Crew:
Al Wilson, pilot,
Phil Jones, engineer.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical failure.

Crash of a Buhl CA-5 Air Sedan in the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Buhl CA-5 AirSedan
Operator:
William F. Malloska
Registration:
NC2915
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Oakland - Honolulu
MSN:
10
YOM:
1927
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the 'Dole Race' prize between Oakland and Honolulu. Ten minutes after takeoff, the crew returned to Oakland due to technical problems. The second departure was performed without any problems few minutes later and has been approved. Named 'Miss Doran', the aircraft never arrived in Honolulu and was lost without trace in the Pacific Ocean. All efforts to find the aircraft and its crew were unsuccessful.
Crew:
Auggy Pedlar, pilot,
Vilas R. Knope, navigator.
Passenger:
Mrs. Mildred Doran.

Crash of a Lockheed 1 Vega in the Pacific Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 1 Vega
Operator:
Jack Frost
Registration:
NX913
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Oakland - Honolulu
MSN:
1
YOM:
1927
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the 'Dole Race' between Oakland and Honolulu. The aircraft departed Oakland Airport in the morning but never arrived at destination. It was lost without trace in the Pacific Ocean. The aircraft was named 'Golden Eagle'.
Crew:
Jack Frost, pilot,
Gordon Scott, navigator.

Crash of a Travel Air 5000 in Molokai

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Travel Air 5000
Operator:
Ernest L. Smith
Registration:
Spirit of Oakland
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oakland - Honolulu
MSN:
160
YOM:
1927
Location:
Molokai
Hawaii
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:
Both pilots Ernest L. Smith and Emory R. Bronte were engaged in one of the first transpacific nonstop flight from Oakland to Honolulu, taking part to the 'Dole Race' with a price of 25,000 US$. After a flight of 26 hours and 36 minutes, the crew was approaching the coast of Molokai when the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The crew made an emergency landing and was uninjured while the aircraft named 'Spirit of Oakland' was damaged beyond repair. As he did not reach Honolulu, the crew was disqualified and did not win the prize.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Ryan M-1 near Ashland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1926 at 1035 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ryan M-1/M-2
Operator:
Registration:
2
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Medford – Oakland
MSN:
2
Location:
Ashland
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Pat Patterson departed Medford on a mail flight to Oakland. En route, he encountered foggy conditions when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Ashland. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured. He died from his injuries a week later on December 23.
Subscribe to Oakland