Zone
Nevada

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-CU near Lovelock: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1943 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-5170
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Salt Lake City - Reno
MSN:
26372
YOM:
1942
Location:
Lovelock
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet, the right engine failed and the fuel pressure decreased. The crew attempted to restart the right engine without success and pilots were unable to feather the propeller. Due to high drag, the aircraft lost height and at an altitude of 8,000 feet, all occupants decided to bail out as the minimum safe altitude for the region was set at 9,000 feet. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a valley near Lovelock. Fourteen occupants were found alive while one crew member (Pfc George E. Johnson) was killed as his parachute did not open properly.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed 12A Electra Junior in Reno: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior
Operator:
Adolph B. Spreckels
Registration:
NC18948
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Reno – San Francisco
MSN:
1242
YOM:
1938
Location:
Reno
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Reno Airport. A passenger was killed and four other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Boeing 40B in Rocky Ridge: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1932 at 0002 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC281
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Oakland – Reno
MSN:
892
YOM:
1927
Location:
Rocky Ridge
California
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:
Few minutes after his departure from Oakland Airport, bound for Reno, the pilot encountered poor visibility. He reduced his altitude, apparently to establish a visual contact with the ground, when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in Rocky Ridge, about 11 miles northeast of Oakland Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 40B in Rio Vista: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1932 at 0024 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC291
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oakland - Reno
MSN:
902
YOM:
1927
Location:
Rio Vista
California
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:
While cruising at night on a mail flight from Oakland to Reno, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. The airplane went out of control and crashed, killing the pilot, sole on board.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B near Silver Zone Pass: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1924
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
270
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salt Lake City – Reno
Location:
Silver Zone Pass
Nevada
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:
While cruising at an altitude of 8,200 feet in poor visibility due to foggy conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Silver Zone Pass. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

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

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1924
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
297
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Reno - Reno
Location:
Reno
Nevada
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:
A pilot of the company recently died in a crash. During the funeral, another pilot completed a low pass at low speed when the aircraft impacted power cables and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.
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