Zone
Utah

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-197 near Knight: 19 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1937 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC16074
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Newark – Chicago – Cheyenne – Salt Lake City – Los Angeles
MSN:
1914
YOM:
1936
Flight number:
UA001
Location:
Knight
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
11000
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3500
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet at night and in bad weather conditions, the pilot tried to contact ATC without any success. He could not receive any signal from the regional beacons and decided to continue ahead to Salt Lake City Airport. Few minutes later, in low visibility, the aircraft impacted the slope of Haydens Peak located 81 km east from Salt Lake City and 32 km southwest from Knight. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 19 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Earl D. Woodgerd, pilot,
John B. Adams, copilot,
Leah Derr, stewardess.
Passengers:
George Ferreira,
Phyllis Ferreira,
Louis Cleaver,
Ralph McKeown,
John Conroy,
Charles D. Renouf,
W. Pischell,
William Pitt,
J. Percola,
Mrs. C. Pritchett,
D. A. McMillan,
Mrs. J. Hammer,
W. J. Hart,
Charles Jamison,
C. L. Jensen,
Dr. L. Gross.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Investigating Board that the probable cause of this accident was a combination of the following three factors:
- Static conditions encountered in the last portion of the flight which rendered the reception of radio range signals unintelligible,
- The continuation of the flight into mountainous country at an altitude below of higher mountains without the aid of ground visibility or radio signals to definitely identify position,
- A change in the weather caused by the approach of an unpredicted cold front.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 247D on Lone Peak: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1936 at 0314 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13370
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Burbank – Las Vegas – Salt Lake City
MSN:
1957
YOM:
1935
Flight number:
WX006
Location:
Lone Peak
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching Salt Lake City Airport at night and in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to fix his real position and was unaware that the aircraft deviated from the approach path to the east. While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet at a speed of 207 miles an hour, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Lone Peak (11,253 feet high) located some 20 miles southeast of the airport. SAR teams were unable to locate the aircraft and all operations were suspended few days later. The wreckage was eventually found on July 4, 1937.
Crew:
S. J. Samson, pilot,
William L. Bogan, copilot,
Gladys Witt, stewardess.
Passengers:
C. Christopher,
Mr. & Mrs. John Wolf,
E. W. Edwards.
Probable cause:
It was established that during the approach to Salt Lake City, the flight encountered snow static which rendered the aircraft's navigation receivers inoperative. Without a definite course to follow, the flight drifted east into mountainous terrain. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of the accident was inability of the pilots to identify the south leg of the Salt Lake Radio Range due to a local static condition which rendered both range receivers in the airplane inoperative.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-2A-127 off Salt Lake City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC14285
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1328
YOM:
1934
Location:
Salt Lake City
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was flying back to his base in California. Shortly after takeoff from Salt Lake City Airport, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and plunged into the Great Salt Lake. The aircraft sank quickly but all three occupants were able to evacuate the cabin. Unfortunately, they drowned while trying to reach the shore. The aircraft was owned by the Standard Oil of California, not the Standard Oil Company, defunct in 1914.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Burbank: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1935 at 2307 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13314
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Burbank – Salt Lake City
MSN:
1695
YOM:
1935
Flight number:
WX006
Location:
Burbank
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Burbank Airport, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet in limited visibility due to fog and night, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, collided with power cables and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All three occupants, two pilots and a stewardess, were killed.
Probable cause:
Several theories have been suggested as the probable cause of this accident. However, to date, no direct evidence has been uncovered which will substantiate any of them. Thus, it is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was failure of the pilot to maintain proper control of the aircraft while climbing through fog. It is believed he suffered a spatial disorientation while climbing in low visibility due to poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Salt Lake City: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1934 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13357
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Salt Lake City – Cheyenne – Chicago
MSN:
1739
YOM:
1933
Location:
Salt Lake City
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a schedule service from Los Angeles to Chicago with intermediate stops in Salt Lake City and Cheyenne. It departed Salt Lake City Airport at 1400LT bound for Cheyenne with five passengers and three crew members on board. Weather conditions were poor with limited visibility due to snow falls and fog. While flying at an altitude of 8,000 feet at full speed, the airplane impacted the slope of the Parley's Canyon located about 17 km southeast of Salt Lake City Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lloyd Anderson, pilot,
Eric G. Danielson, copilot.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Boeing 247 in Provo

Date & Time: May 12, 1933 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13320
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salt Lake City – Rock Springs
MSN:
1701
YOM:
1933
Location:
Provo
Utah
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
Aircraft flight hours:
15
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Salt Lake City to Rock Springs, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the airplane impacted ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain located near Provo. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 40B in Knight: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1932 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC273
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Salt Lake City – Cheyenne
MSN:
884
YOM:
1927
Location:
Knight
Wyoming
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 Salt Lake City to Cheyenne, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in a field located 6 miles east of Knight. The pilot Paul 'Red' Andret was killed.

Crash of a Boeing 40B in Salt Lake City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1931 at 0240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC286
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oakland – Salt Lake City
MSN:
897
YOM:
1927
Location:
Salt Lake City
Utah
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, sole on board, departed Oakland on a mail flight to Salt Lake City. While on approach at night, he encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. Control was lost and the airplane crashed some 14 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Fokker F10 in Alhambra

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC5170
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salt Lake City – Alhambra
MSN:
1001
YOM:
1928
Location:
Alhambra
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Salt Lake City in the evening of December 21 on a cargo flight to Alhambra, carrying one passenger, two crew members and a load of 1,445 pounds of Christmas mail. After landing at Alhambra Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest against a house, bursting into flames. All three occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft, the cargo and the house were totally destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Bart Cox,
George Sherwood.

Crash of a Boeing 95 near Saint George

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC419E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Salt Lake City
MSN:
1063
YOM:
1929
Location:
Saint George
Utah
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, sole on board, was completing a night mail flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and while attempting an emergency landing, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a mountainous area located about 20 km west of St George, Utah, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.
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