Region
Asia

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 Junkers W.33c in Lanzhou

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.33
Operator:
Registration:
I
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lanzhou - Lanzhou
MSN:
2545
YOM:
1931
Location:
Lanzhou
Gansu
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 completing a local flight in the area of Lanzhou to test new mail routes. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1F Detroiter near Tai'an: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-1 Detroiter
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nankin – Peking
Location:
Tai'an
Shandong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a mail flight from Nanking to Peking and flying over the area of Tai'an, Shandong, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Qingshan Mountain range. The wreckage was found 15 km northeast of Tai'an. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed, among them the famous Chinese poet Xu Zhimo who was flying to Peking to attend a lecture given by Lin Huiyin.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Loening C-W Air Yacht off Haikou

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Loening C-W Air Yacht
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Haikou
Hainan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing off Haikou, the seaplane lost a propeller and went out of control. It plunged into water and sank. All four occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Junkers W.33d in Lanzhou

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.33
Operator:
Registration:
II
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Nankin – Lanzhou
MSN:
2560
YOM:
1930
Location:
Lanzhou
Gansu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
It is believed that the crew was forced to make an emergency landing while approaching Lanzhou. The mechanic was injured and the pilot escaped unhurt. Other source reports that the aircraft was shot down over Mongolia - China border.

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.
Subscribe to China