Antarctica

The crew was engaged in the 'Deep Freeze IV' mission in Antarctica. After takeoff, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn to the left at low height, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed and was destroyed. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Lt Harvey E. Gardner,
Lt Lawrence J. Gardner.

Suffered a structural failure while taking off from Ross Island on a supply mission for the operation 'Deep Freeze IV'. The crew was able to fly to McMurdo Sound were the airplane was declared as damaged beyond repair.

The crew departed Christchurch on a supply mission to the bases of Cape Hallett and McMurdo Sound, carrying seven passengers, a crew of six and a load of 8,5 tons of wood. While approaching Cape Hallett at the altitude of 7,000 feet in a 'VMC on top' mode, the aircraft was already off course by 29 km. The pilot started the descent to 6,500 feet, completed a first turn to the right at 345° then a second turn to the left at 270° before reaching the Cape Hallett Bay. Shortly later, the crew reduced his altitude to 2,400 feet, went through the cloud layer at a speed of 135 knots and flaps were extended when the airplane struck the ground and disintegrated. The wreckage was spotted few hours later 37 km from the Cape Hallett camp and six wounded people were evacuated while seven others were killed.

At Mirny Ice Station, the crew was ready for takeoff and taxied to the runway when the airplane failed to enter the runway, skidded and got stuck on the edge of the runway. There were no injuries among the occupants and several attempts were made to salvage the airplane but without success. The ice broke out and the airplane drifted down.

On a flight from the area of Mount Brown to the Mirny Ice Station, the pilot lifted off at low speed and retracted the gear too early, causing the aircraft to stall and crash. There were no casualties. The accident occurred sometime in February 1958 (exact date unknown).

On a flight from Komsomolskaya Ice Station to Mirny Ice Station, the crew forgot to switch over the fuel tank selector so both engines flamed out. The aircraft crash landed on the ice-shield some 80 km from the abandoned Vostok-1 Ice Station, some 3,000 meters above sea level. There were no casualties. The exact date of the occurrence remains unknown (sometime in February 1958).

After liftoff, while climbing to a height of 10 feet, the left engine misfired. The airplane banked left, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Upon impact, six feet of the left wing were sheared off. The pilot-in-command continued to climb, completed a downwind circuit and made an uneventful landing. There were no injuries but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

On touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to halt on its nose. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft left Christchurch to McMurdo along with other long range aircraft of VX-6. After passing the PSR (point of safe return), a severe storm enveloped the McMurdo area. Since they had insufficient fuel to return to Christchurch, the crew was committed to flying into the storm and landing at McMurdo. The pilot made a ground controlled approach from 12,000 feet to 300 feet and then elected to make a visual landing. With the landing gear down, the plane began to turn right, the nose of the plane fell, and the Neptune struck the snow on the nose and right wing. The Neptune was completely demolished. Four crew members were killed while four others were injured.
Source: Joe Baugher.

While on a supply mission from Little American V Station to Mile 38 Station, the crew encountered severe icing conditions. The aircraft crash landed on a snowed and icy hill. Unhurt, both pilot decided to return to their base located 110 miles away and walked for 40 miles before being rescued by the crew of an helicopter.