Zone
Shanghai

Crash of a Sikorsky S-43W into the Daya Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-43
Operator:
Registration:
NC16930
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Guangzhou– Hong Kong – Shanghai
MSN:
4321
YOM:
1936
Location:
Daya Bay
Guangdong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After departure from Hong Kong, while overflying the Bias Bay (Daya Bay), the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to ditch the aircraft offshore. Upon landing, the float plane named 'Chekiang' hit waves and lost its both wings before coming to rest. Seven passengers found refuge on a wing and were later rescued by the crew of the British destroyed 'HMS Thracian'. Unfortunately, three crew members, among them the copilot George Ohrnberger, were killed. The captain survived and the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Nankin

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1936 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
25
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Hankow - Shanghai
MSN:
5-AT-116
YOM:
1933
Location:
Nankin
Jiangsu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Hankow (now Wuhan) to Shanghai. En route, an engine caught fire and the crew decided to divert to Nankin Airport. On approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the district of Hsiakwan, west of Nankin, near the Yangtze River, bursting into flames. Both pilots were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-38B in the Hangzhou Bay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-38
Operator:
Registration:
NC17V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Shanghai - Guangzhou
MSN:
414-08
YOM:
1929
Location:
Hangzhou
Zhejiang
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
One hour after his departure from Shanghai, while overflying the Bay of Hangzhou, the crew encountered foggy conditions and informed his base he was returning to Shanghai. A brief message was transmitted with two audible words 'turning back'. Shortly later, the seaplane crashed in the Bay of Hangzhou, south of Shanghai. Some debris were found 10 days later and the dead body of the captain was found four months later. The passenger was a Japanese citizen.
Crew:
Robert H. Gast, pilot,
James Frink, pilot,
Ivan Carlson, radio operator.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-38B in Hangzhou

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1933 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-38
Operator:
Registration:
NC16V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Shanghai – Hangzhou
MSN:
314-20
YOM:
1930
Location:
Hangzhou
Zhejiang
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Hangzhou, the crew reduced his altitude due to low visibility caused by foggy conditions. As the Captain was unable to locate the landing area in the Hangzhou Bay, he initiated a go around procedure. During the last turn, while flying too low, the float plane impacted a hill and crashed. All 11 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Junkers F.13 near Shanghai

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Junkers F.13
Operator:
Registration:
III
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
746
YOM:
1931
Location:
Shanghai
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Loening C-W Air Yacht off Shanghai: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Loening C-W Air Yacht
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Shanghai – Hankow
Location:
Shanghai
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Shanghai's harbor, while climbing, the floatplane named 'Shanghai' impacted the mast of a boat. It nosed down by an angle of 60° and crashed into the bay. Both crew members and two passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
According to investigators, the pilot did not realized the presence of the boat due to the low wing position of the Loening.
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