Zone
Sicily

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near Speculator: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1944 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-107397
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Syracuse - Syracuse
MSN:
27084
Location:
Speculator
New York
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 involved in a night training exercise and left Syracuse Airport in the evening. While cruising at an altitude of 3,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Blue Ridge located some 12 miles northwest of Speculator. All three occupants were killed. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft was found. Eventually, the wreckage was spotted in August 1945.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL off Constantia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1944 at 2235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15767
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Syracuse - Syracuse
MSN:
20233
YOM:
1944
Location:
Constantia
New York
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 left Syracuse Airport at 2039LT for a training exercise. Without proper permission, the crew modified his schedule and diverted to Niagara Falls prior and back. While flying over the Oneida Lake at low height, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the lake some 1,600 meters off Constantia. The aircraft sunk by three meters deep and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Syracuse: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1944 at 2110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100492
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Syracuse - Syracuse
MSN:
18955
YOM:
1943
Location:
Syracuse
New York
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 left Syracuse AFB on a training mission to the Wheeler-Sack Airbase. After take off, the captain decided to modify the program and diverted to Syracuse Municipal Airport to complete touch and go maneuver. After three such procedures, he started a new approach to runway 27 when, during the last turn, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located one mile short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss AT-32C Condor II near Wilmurt

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1934 at 2035 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss T-32 Condor II
Operator:
Registration:
NC12363
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Syracuse – Albany
MSN:
23
YOM:
1933
Location:
Wilmurt
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The left engine encountered problems some 30 minutes after takeoff from Syracuse Airport. Due to heavy snow falls, the crew was unable to maintain a visual contact with the ground and radio communications with ATC were difficult. Few minutes later, the right engine lost power and the crew elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft impacted a tree with its right wing and crashed in a wooded area. All four occupants were rescued few hours later, seriously injured by low temperature and outside conditions (snow). Carburetors failed due to icing conditions.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident is the failure of the company to have on duty in the Division Control Office a dispatcher in charge of flight control.

Crash of a Curtiss T-32 Condor II near Livingston Manor: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1934 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss T-32 Condor II
Operator:
Registration:
NC12354
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Newark – Syracuse – Chicago
MSN:
22
YOM:
1933
Location:
Livingston Manor
New York
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:
The aircraft departed Newark Airport at 1600LT bound for Syracuse and Chicago. While overflying the State of New York at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the crew encountered bad weather conditions and the visibility was reduced due to heavy rain falls and clouds. The airplane impacted the slope of Mt Last Chance located in the Catskills Mountain Range, some 15 km northeast of Livingston Manor. Rescuers arrived on the scene two days later and no survivors were found among the burnt wreckage.
Crew:
Clyde Holbrook, pilot,
John Barron Jr., copilot,
Ada Huckeby, stewardess.
Passengers:
Harry Pinsley,
Harold C. Coppins,
William Baxter Bader,
William Andrew Cass.
Probable cause:
A local official attributed the accident to an error caused by the pilot, who had deviated from the prescribed route and apparently tried to fly over the hazardous terrain at a too low altitude in adverse meteorological conditions.

Crash of a CMASA Wal Jupiter IV Cabina off Syracuse

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1932
Type of aircraft:
CMASA Wal
Operator:
Registration:
I-AZDL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Syracuse – Malta – Tripoli
MSN:
102
YOM:
1929
Location:
Syracuse
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane departed Syracuse harbor on a flight to Tripoli via Malta, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of four. Shortly after takeoff, the captain encountered engine problems and was forced to ditch the airplane few km offshore. All 18 occupants were rescued by the crew of a ship while the aircraft was lost during the tow.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.
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