Saint Petersburg

The crew was completing a ferry flight from Miami-Opa Locka Airport to a maintenance facility based in St Petersburg. This was the first flight for maintenance. En route, smoke spread in the cockpit and the crew was forced to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in flames in a prairie located in Golden Gate, northeast of Naples.

Suffered a ground accident at St Petersburg Airport. No casualties.

After a normal run-up the copilot taxied the aircraft to the end of the 5,010-foot runway. The aircraft was then lined up with the runway slightly to the right of the centerline, the tail wheel was locked, and power was applied. As the aircraft progressed down the runway the tail came up and the copilot applied forward pressure to the control column. Shortly thereafter the airplane began to swerve to the left and when this was corrected it went too far to the right. A series of over-corrections followed which resulted in several swerves in both directions. As these maneuvers began the crew noted a five-inch drop in the manifold pressure of the left engine. At a speed of approximately 80 knots the aircraft again began turning to the left. The captain immediately took over the controls when he noticed a second drop of 25 inches in manifold pressure of the same engine. Both throttles were closed at once and he tried unsuccessfully to stop the turn. The turn developed into a skid and the main landing gear of the aircraft collapsed, rupturing the right wing fuel tank. The airplane cam to rest on the sodded area, off the runway, heading 180 degrees from its original takeoff position. Fire immediately occurred near the right engine nacelle. Under the supervision of the stewardess all passengers left the aircraft in a rapid, orderly manner through the main cabin door. The pilots left through the cockpit windows. The captain and copilot entered the cabin and made a recheck after all passengers were reported out and away from the aircraft. Local weather conditions at the time were: Ceiling 30,000 feet scattered, 600 feet scattered, visibility 12 miles, temperature 70, dewpoint 67, wind south 7. Atmospheric conditions were not conducive to carburetor ice.

After takeoff from Tampa Airport, on a cargo flight to Guatemala City, the crew encountered engine problems en decided to divers to St Peterburg Airport where a safe landing was completed. Technicians proceeded to several controls on both engines and nothing abnormal was reported, so the crew left St Petersburg. Shortly after takeoff, ATC reported to the crew that white smoke was spreading from the right engine. In such conditions, the crew obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing, shut down the engine and feathered the propeller. For unknown reason, the aircraft missed the runway and flew over its entire length without landing. In such situation, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were injured.

On final approach to Charleston Airport, the crew was informed by ATC that he was misaligned. At this time, the aircraft was on the left of the glide and at an insufficient altitude. Shortly later, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 1,266 yards short of runway threshold. Both crew members were killed.

The three engine airplane departed Havana on a trip to Key West, carrying two passengers and a crew of three. The airplane has been refuelled prior to departure from Havana, giving an endurance of about three hours, which was more than enough for the 100 miles distance between both airports. About 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 3,400 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a visibility below two miles. In such conditions, the pilot lost his orientation and passed over Key West before continuing to the north. After three hours of flight, as the fuel reserve was low, the pilot reduced his altitude to 100 feet and spotted the tanker named 'S. S. Ligonier' cruising in the Gulf of Mexico. After all three engines stopped due to fuel exhaustion, he ditched the airplane around 1915LT in rough sea. All five occupants, slightly injured, were quickly rescued by the crew of the tanker. Some mail bags were salvaged before the aircraft named 'General Machado' sank and was lost.
Crew:
Cpt Robert H. Fatt, pilot,
Angel Alfanco, mechanic,
Hugo C. Leuteritz, radio operator.
Passengers:
Norman Ageton-Iost,
William Mallon.