Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Belle Center: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1945 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-3669
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Buffalo – Wright Patterson
MSN:
26802
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The C-46 transport plane operated on a military cargo flight from Buffalo, NY to Patterson Field, OH carrying 8000 pounds of cargo. A fire started in the area of the fuel cross-feed valve, APU and gasoline heater. The floor structure weakened due to the intense fire and collapsed. The airplane descended on fire and crashed into trees.
Crew:
Cpt James Wyatt Hartzog,
2nd Lt Francis F. Munchrath,
M/Sgt Jacob Oswalt.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19450126-1

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DL in Harrisburg: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1944 at 0427 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-23360
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wright Patterson - Minneapolis
MSN:
9222
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Wright Patterson AFB at 2221LT on December 24 bound for Minneapolis-Wold Chamberlain Airport. At 2318LT, less than hour into the flight, the captain informed ATC he was returning due to strong head winds up to 54 mp/h. Due to the deterioration of the weather conditions at Wright Patterson AFB, the crew was vectored to Harrisburg where the cloud layer was up to 2,500 feet with a good visibility. Unfortunately, the weather conditions worsened in Harrisburg as well and it was impossible for the pilot to land. After five unsuccessful attempts, the captain reported he was short of fuel. At an altitude of 900 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of the Reesers Summit located 6 miles south of the airport, near York Haven. All four crew members and eight passengers were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-40A Electra Junior in Wright-Patterson AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943 at 1327 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
38-546
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wright Patterson - Wright Patterson
MSN:
1263
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The C-40A was flying in formation with a C-54 registered 41-37271, so his crew could photograph the dropping of a dummy combat tank from the C-54. After the tank was released, the pilot of the C-40A made a quick turn to the left, striking the C-54 right wingtip. The C-40A entered a spin and crashed near the runway, killing all five crew members. The C-54 continued on for 700 feet, allowing two passengers to bail out. The plane then crashed in a vertical dive, killing three other crewmen.
Source: http://www.joebaugher.com/
Probable cause:
Wrong judgement on part of the C-40 crew.

Crash of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Wright-Patterson AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943 at 1327 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-37271
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wright Patterson - Wright Patterson
MSN:
3057
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The C-54 was flying in formation with a Lockheed C-40A Electra Junior registered 38-546, so his crew could photograph the dropping of a dummy combat tank from the C-54. After the tank was released, the pilot of the C-40A made a quick turn to the left, striking the C-54 right wingtip. The C-40A entered a spin and crashed near the runway, killing all five crew members. The C-54 continued on for 700 feet, allowing two passengers to bail out. The plane then crashed in a vertical dive, killing three other crewmen.
Source: http://www.joebaugher.com/
Probable cause:
Wrong judgement on part of the C-40 crew.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar in Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-108790
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
18-2169
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Wright-Patterson AFB, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The crew fate remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Loss of control shortly after rotation caused by an engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator in Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-11872
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
368
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 10 km east of the Wright-Patterson AFB. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-191 in Wright-Patterson AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC16064
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1904
YOM:
1937
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to the Wright-Patterson AFB, on of the wing hit a tree. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All three crew members were killed. They were completing a cargo flight on behalf of the USAAF. For undetermined reasons, the aircraft was approaching too low.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-11780
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
276
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Wright-Patterson AFB. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-18449
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4511
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash on landing in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: May 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-7443
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7443
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Wright-Patterson AFB, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All seven crew members were able to leave the cabin before the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear on landing.