Zone
Texas

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando near Turkey: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1945 at 1344 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77706
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sedalia – San Antonio
MSN:
33102
YOM:
1945
Location:
Turkey
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew left Sedalia AFB, Missouri, in good weather conditions, bound for San Antonio-Brooks Field. Enroute, weather conditions worsened, forcing the pilot to continue in instrument flight rules. While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a canyon located north of Turkey. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O Thomas G. Anderson,
2nd Lt Ernest F. Crow Jr.,
Sgt Henry V. Curran,
2nd Lt Paul Julian Entres,
2nd Lt Forrest M. Faulkner,
2nd Lt Richard A. Gildersleeve,
2nd Lt Robert A. Gray,
1st Lt Edward T. Kelly,
Cpt Brown G. Middleton Jr.,
Cpl Edward J. Shields Jr.,
F/O Hollis K. Smith.

Crash of a North American B-25A Mitchell in Hope: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1942 at 2105 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
40-2208
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Antonio - Alexandria
MSN:
62A-2877
YOM:
1940
Location:
Hope
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed San Antonio-Duncan Field on a flight to Alexandria-Esler Airport, carrying six crew members. While cruising at night and relative low altitude, the airplane went out of control and crashed one mile northeast of Hope. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Dana W. Bradford, pilot,
2nd Lt Ronald C. Hocking, pilot,
1st Lt Angus M. Johnston, flight engineer,
Sgt Stanley A. Smith, radio operator,
M/Sgt Charles G. Fraser, observer,
T/Sgt Earl F. Ricks, observer.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Stearman 4-CM1 in Boerne: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1933 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stearman 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC11721
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Angelo – San Antonio
MSN:
4039
YOM:
1931
Location:
Boerne
Texas
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 San Angelo on a night mail flight to San Antonio. En route, he encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain near Boerne. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Ford 4 near Spur: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1928 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Sunbeam Air Transport Company
Registration:
NC7862
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Antonio – Denver
MSN:
4-AT-047
YOM:
1928
Location:
Spur
Texas
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:
Homer D. Ballard, owner of the Sunbeam Air Transport Company, took delivery of this aircraft in San Antonio and was flying back to his base in Denver with one pilot, a garage's employee, his chef and his chauffeur. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and lost control of the aircraft that crashed 10 km north of Spur, Texas. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Matthew Watson, pilot.
Passengers:
Homer D. Ballard,
Willis Washburn,
Mr. Quinten,
James O'Banion.
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