Zone
Nebraska

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Moline: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1946 at 0419 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Trans-Luxury Airlines - TLA
Registration:
NC51878
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Omaha
MSN:
4542
YOM:
1942
Location:
Moline-Quad City
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2589
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3452
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1500
Aircraft flight hours:
4121
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Chicago Airport at 0303LT bound for Omaha on a charter flight with 22 passengers and a crew of three on board. Less than one hour into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet via the route Green 3, a small explosion occurred in the left engine, forcing the crew to shut this engine down and to feather the propeller. The captain informed ATC of his situation and obtained the permission to divert to Moline Airport located 35 miles from his position. On final approach to runway 22, the captain realized that his position to the runway centerline was wrong and elected to make a go around. With undercarriage and flaps down, he made a turn to the left when the left wing tip hit the ground, causing the aircraft to crash in a field. Both pilots were killed while 23 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
On the basis of the foregoing, the Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the faulty execution of an emergency single engine approach following failure of the left engine in flight. A contributing factor was the failure of the pilot to exercise sufficient caution by having, a qualified mechanic determine the reasons for oil leakage in the left engine prior to departure from Chicago. Investigations revealed that the failure of the left engine was caused by a fracture of the cylinder number 5.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Omaha

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11771
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
267
YOM:
1941
Location:
Omaha-Eppley
Nebraska
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:
On final approach to Omaha Airport, the aircraft was too low. The left main gear hit the perimeter fence and the aircraft bank right and plunged into a lake short of runway. The aircraft was wrecked while the crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Boeing 247 in Western Springs

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1934 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13328
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Chicago – Omaha
MSN:
1709
YOM:
1933
Location:
Western Springs
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Fifteen minutes after takeoff from Chicago, the copilot informed ATC about problems with the right engine and elected to return. Shortly later, the left engine lost power as well and the crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field. On final, the aircraft impacted trees and came to rest in a vertical position against trees, near houses. The stewardess and the passenger (an employee of the operator) were slightly injured while both pilots were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was ice forming in the carburetors of both engines which resulted in loss of power.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000 in Amazonia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1934 at 2342 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC10809
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Omaha – Kansas City
MSN:
5031
YOM:
1931
Location:
Amazonia
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While flying at night in marginal weather conditions, the pilot did not realize he was too low. The airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Amazonia, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot committed an error in judgment in turning too close to the ground in a fog-bound area. Weather reporting facilities of the Company were inadequate to meet the conditions that confronted the pilot in this flight.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000B in Oregon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1934 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC11118
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City – Omaha
MSN:
5004
YOM:
1931
Location:
Oregon
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kansas City at 1835LT on a schedule service to Omaha, carrying four passengers and one pilot. En route, the pilot was instructed to divert to St Joseph due to the deterioration of the weather conditions en route. The airplane landed in St Joseph at 1905LT and remained there until 2200LT. It took off shortly after 2200LT on the final leg to Omaha. But few minutes after takeoff, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility while cruising at night and heavy rain falls. He reduced his altitude, probably to establish a visual contact with the ground. The plane missed a house by only 50 feet then impacted trees and crashed against an embankment. The wreckage was found about 10 miles northwest of St Joseph. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Don Bontrager.
Passengers:
Mrs. Maude Schiffmacher,
Frank Mahan,
W. W. Truelson,
Dallas Leitch.

Crash of a Boeing 40B-4 in McClelland

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1932 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC842M
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Omaha
MSN:
1168
YOM:
1929
Location:
McClelland
Iowa
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a night mail flight from Chicago to Omaha, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation. He reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed and came to rest upside down, bursting into flames. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Boeing 95 in Omaha

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC186E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1049
YOM:
1929
Location:
Omaha-Eppley
Nebraska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Omaha Airfield, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, impacted a tree and crashed in an open field. The pilot was injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Boeing 40B near Omaha

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC278
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
889
YOM:
1927
Location:
Omaha-Eppley
Nebraska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a mail flight. While cruising in the region of Omaha, he encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to a heavy snow falls. Too low, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed. The pilot was seriously injured.

Crash of a Boeing 40B in Marquette: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC280
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Omaha – Cheyenne
MSN:
891
YOM:
1927
Location:
Marquette
Nebraska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Omaha to Cheyenne, the pilot lost control of the aircraft after a propeller blade separated in flight. The pilot was killed while the passenger was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Propeller blade separation in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Kaneville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1924
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
311
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago - Omaha
Location:
Kaneville
Illinois
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:
En route from Chicago to Omaha, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. He abandoned the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in Kaneville. The pilot died as his parachute failed to open.
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