Seattle

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Shortly after takeoff from runway 27 in Oakland Airport, while climbing, left engine failed. Right away, the pilot feathered the propeller and started a right turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed onto a house near the airport. All eight occupants were killed while nobody on the ground was injured.

Probable cause:

According to officials, the failure of the left engine was likely caused by the ruptured of a fuel line.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando in McCloud: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1943 at 2345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-12356

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

McClellan - Seattle

MSN:

26483

YOM:

1943

Location:

McCloud

California

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Circumstances:

In the evening, the crew left McClellan AFB, near Sacramento, on a routine flight to Seattle, Washington. After take off, the pilot completed a circuit over the airport to reach the assigned altitude of 16,500 feet and reduced the engine power to 2,300 RPM. After few minutes, the right engine failed, followed shortly later by the left engine. A crew member was able to bail out before the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All five occupants were killed while the sixth was found alive.
Crew:
Cpt Marvin E. Bradley,
Cpl Robert E. Delmar,
2nd Lt Christopher P. Gadsden Jr.,
2nd Lt Joe F. Welch.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Mt Washington: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

33142

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Seattle - Seattle

MSN:

5151

Location:

Mt Washington

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The crew was performing a training sortie from Seattle. En route, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft hit the northeast side of Mt Washington. All five crew members (Marine Corps) were killed.

Crash of a Grumman JRF-2 Goose near Blyn: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-21A Goose

Operator:

Registration:

V176

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Port Angeles – Seattle

MSN:

1065

YOM:

1940

Location:

Blyn

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

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Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the seaplane hit a mountain located near Blyn. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
L/Cdr Frederick L. Westbrook,
Lt Jg C. R. Heussy,
Cpt E. H. Muyskens,
RM1 T. E. Kesner.

Crash of a Boeing XB-29 Super Fortress in Seattle: 34 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1943 at 1226 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

41-003

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Seattle - Seattle

MSN:

2482

YOM:

1941

Location:

Seattle

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a test flight on this second prototype. Ten minutes after departure from Seattle-Boeing Field, the crew informed ATC that engine number one caught fire and attempted to return. At an altitude of 2,400 feet, pilot feathered the propeller and notified ATC that the fire was spreading quickly. One minute later, as it was about to land, the bomber struck a power line and crashed on an industrial butchery. Extensive emergency resources were dispatched to the scene where rescuers did not find any survivors among the debris scattered over a wide area. The building was destroyed as well and 34 dead bodies were found: all 11 occupants on board the airplane and 23 people on ground. Thirty others people were injured as well.
Crew:
Eddie Allen, Chief test pilot by Boeing,
Bob Dansfield, captain.

Probable cause:

A fire on engine number one was likely due to the rupture of a supply fuel line. When fuel contacted the engine nacelle and several other components whose temperature was high, a fire erupted that quickly spread across the wing. On final approach, a violent explosion occurred on the left wing when fire contacted the valves of the wing defrost system which was mainly composed of magnesium. In addition, air flowing under the leading edge slats boosted flames significantly, which was considered as a contributory factor. Following this tragedy, Boeing technicians were forced to modify the engine fuel system as well as some others points.

Crash of a Lockheed 10B Electra near Ketchikan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Gillam Airways

Registration:

NC14915

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Seattle – Ketchikan

MSN:

1021

YOM:

1935

Location:

Ketchikan

Alaska

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Circumstances:

On approach to Ketchikan, the twin engine aircraft hit a hill located 30 miles southeast of the airport. SAR teams did not find the aircraft and two days later, a female passenger died from her injuries. The pilot, Harold Gillam, decided to walk away to find help while all four other passengers walked on another way. One month later, all four passengers eventually found help and few days later, the pilot's dead body was found iced.

Probable cause:

It is considered that the accident was caused by an error on part of the pilot who referred to a wrong beacon to approach Ketchikan and thus followed a wrong path.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra near Kellogg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1936 at 0323 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

NC14935

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chicago – Minneapolis – Missoula – Seattle

MSN:

1024

YOM:

1935

Flight number:

NW001

Location:

Kellogg

Idaho

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Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a night mail flight from Chicago to Seattle with intermediate stops in Minneapolis and Missoula, carrying two pilots and a load of 500 lbs of mail. While overflying west Idaho in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located in the region of Kellogg. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Joe Livermore, pilot,
Arthur A. Haid, copilot.

Probable cause:

In arriving at a conclusion after an analysis of the evidence, it does not appear that the accident was due to weather, mechanical failure of the aircraft, radio aids or communications, or to any failure of the company to comply with prevailing rules and practices. Full cognizance is taken of the possibility that the magnetic compass may not have been functioning properly during the flight. However, a study of available evidence, this appear improbable. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was faulty navigation in not following the radio range course upon leaving Missoula and failing to ascent to a safe altitude over the course pursued from Elk River.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 247D near Selleck

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 247

Operator:

Registration:

NC13302

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Spokane – Wenatchee – Seattle

MSN:

1683

YOM:

1933

Location:

Selleck

Country:

Region: