Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Portage

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1933 at 0256 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC127W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pittsburgh – Harrisburg
MSN:
2
YOM:
1931
Location:
Portage
Pennsylvania
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 departed Pittsburgh on a night cargo flight to Harrisburg. En route, weather conditions worsened with snow falls. Ice accumulated on wings and airframe so the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Roaring Springs

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1933 at 0250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC947Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Harrisburg – Pittsburgh
MSN:
7
YOM:
1931
Location:
Roaring Springs
Pennsylvania
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 departed Harrisburg on a night cargo flight to Pittsburgh. En route, weather conditions worsened with snow falls. Ice accumulated on wings and airframe so the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Pitcairn PA-7M Mailwing in Bedford

Date & Time: May 13, 1933 at 2315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-7 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
NC351V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Washington DC – Pittsburgh
MSN:
140
YOM:
1930
Location:
Bedford
Pennsylvania
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 departed Washington DC on a night mail flight to Pittsburgh. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the engine failed. As he was unable to find a suitable terrain for an emergency landing, the pilot bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 3 in Steubenville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1932 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 3
Operator:
Registration:
NC966Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Columbus – Pittsburgh
MSN:
9
YOM:
1931
Location:
Steubenville
Ohio
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 on a night cargo flight from Columbus to Pittsburgh, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. He decided to bail and abandoned the aircraft when the cords of his parachute got stuck in the fuselage. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in the Ohio River in Steubenville. The pilot was killed and the passenger female was never recovered.

Crash of a Lockheed 1 Vega on Mt Sherman: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 1 Vega
Operator:
Ruth Stewart
Registration:
NR7973
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pittsburgh – New York
MSN:
32
YOM:
1929
Location:
Mt Sherman
Pennsylvania
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:
En roue from Pittsburgh to New York, the single engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Sherman, some 17 km northwest of Newville. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Ruth Stewart,
Debbie Stanford.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Pittsburgh

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
NC9665
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5-AT-024
YOM:
1929
Location:
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
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:
On approach to Pittsburgh Airport, the crew encountered bad weather with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. On final, the airplane went out of control and crashed short of runway. It was damaged beyond repair and all eight occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Pittsburgh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Middle States Airlines - MSA
Registration:
NC513E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
52
YOM:
1929
Location:
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
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:
After takeoff from Pittsburgh-Bettis Field, the pilot lost his orientation due to foggy conditions. He turned over the airport for almost 15 minutes when he lost control of the airplane that crashed on Pittsburgh-McKeesport Blvd located near the airfield. The pilot Harry Smith, sole on board, was killed.
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