Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Martin 404 in New Bern: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1966 at 0606 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin 404
Operator:
Registration:
N40406
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wilmington - New Bern
MSN:
14170
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
PI101
Location:
New Bern
North Carolina
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
12779
Captain / Total hours on type:
2807.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Wilmington Airport, North Carolina, at 0540LT on a positioning flight to New Bern under call sign PI101. The approach to New Bern-Simmons Nott Airport was started in limited visibility due to the night when the airplane, too low, struck tree tops and crashed in the Croatan National Forest, about 3 miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Joe Helsabeck, pilot,
E. O. Adams, copilot,
Pamela Rumble, stewardess.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command descended below obstructing terrain for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-105-BW Stratofortress near Stone Lake: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
58-0228
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Barksdale - K. I. Sawyer
MSN:
464296
YOM:
1958
Location:
Stone Lake
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew departed Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, at 1500LT on a training flight to Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB (K. I. Sawyer AFB), Wisconsin. The goal of the mission was to test the performances of a new ground reconnaissance radar. While cruising by night at low altitude, the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in a dense wooded area located south of Stone Lake. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Curtis E. Robertson, pilot,
1st Lt Darrick R. Negron, copilot,
Lt Col Jack Atherton, pilot instructor,
Cpt Edward E. Kamph, radio navigator,
1st Lt Jerome P. Calligari, navigator,
Maj James H. Crook, navigator instructor,
Cpt Michael J. Dunlap, early warning operator,
A1C Gerald D. Turney, air gunner,
M/Sgt Lonnie Woodard, flight engineer.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar in Chicago

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1966 at 1652 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
N339
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Chicago – Pittsburgh
MSN:
2588
YOM:
1943
Location:
Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12811
Captain / Total hours on type:
2365.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs Airport, prior to V1 speed, a fire warning alarm sounded. The crew decided to abort the takeoff and started an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the twin engine aircraft overran and plunged into Lake Michigan. All eight occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning on part of the flying crew. The following findings were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Parts were missing on the exhaust system: manifolds,
- Despite the takeoff was interrupted prior to V1, the remaining distance was insufficient as the runway was slick and too short,
- False fire warning,
- Airport conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar in Deer Valley

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Flight Type:
Test
Site:
Desert
Location:
Deer Valley
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a ground crash test on behalf of the Flight Safety Foundation and assistance of North American Aviation. With no one on board, the aircraft was crashed at a speed of 130 knots against a concrete wall and was completely destroyed. The weapon cylinder in the cargo bay remained intact.
Thanks to Chris Baird - www.arizonawrecks.com
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Heflin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1966 at 0906 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Gastonia Aviation
Registration:
N411Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
A-832
YOM:
1952
Location:
Heflin
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
700
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the pilot encountered severe icing conditions and contacted ATC to obtain the permission to climb to 10,000 feet. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and eventually crashed in a field located in Heflin. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in icing conditions for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26B Invader in Homer

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1966 at 1251 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
N4824E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
28004
YOM:
1944
Location:
Homer
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4227
Captain / Total hours on type:
142.00
Circumstances:
The pilot completed a VFR approach to Homer in poor weather conditions. After touchdown on a contaminated runway, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest into soft ground. All five occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was written off. At the time of the accident, the runway was contaminated with ice, slush and snow.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions despite the fact he was rated in aircraft for VFR flights only. He misjudged distance, speed and altitude and failed to initiate a go-around.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar in Wheeling: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1966 at 1708 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
BBR Drilling
Registration:
N131E
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2503
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wheeling
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff at Wheeling-Ohio County Airport, the right engine lost power. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when control was lost. The airplane stalled, struck the ground and crashed in flames. A passenger was killed while four other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Uncontrollable overspeed on the right engine caused by a master and connecting rods failure. The pilot failed to maintain flying speed and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. Failure of the driveshaft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules near Aspermont: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
63-7886
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dyess - Dyess
MSN:
3957
YOM:
1964
Location:
Aspermont
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training flight out from Dyess AFB, Abilene. In flight, control was lost and the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in an uninhabited area located in the region of Aspermont. A crew member was rescued while five others were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-14 near Wemme: 18 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1966 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
N9101
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Francisco – Eugene – Portland – Seattle
MSN:
45794/52
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
WC956
Location:
Wemme
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Captain / Total flying hours:
18998
Captain / Total hours on type:
17.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9545
Copilot / Total hours on type:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
164
Circumstances:
West Coast Flight 956 departed San Francisco (SFO) at 18:44 for a flight to Eugene (EUG), Portland (PDX) and Seattle (SEA). The brand new DC-9 aircraft, which had been delivered to West Coast Airlines just 2 weeks earlier, arrived at Eugene at 19:34 and took off again 18 minutes later. At 20:04 the crew were cleared to descend from the cruising altitude of FL140 to 9000 feet. While turning to heading 300°, the aircraft descended below the clearance altitude and impacted the wooded eastern slope of Salmon Mountain at the 3830 feet level. The aircraft attitude was 30° right bank, in a 3-4° climbing flight path on a heading of 265°. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The descent of the aircraft below its clearance limit and below that of surrounding obstructing terrain, but the Board had been unable to determine the cause of such descent.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar on Mt Pallett: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1966 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
53-3195
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
March - March
MSN:
11208
YOM:
1953
Location:
Mt Pallett
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training mission out from March AFB, Riverside. While cruising in stormy weather at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed on the slope of Mt Pallett located 8,4 miles south of Pearblossom. The aircraft impacted the north slope just below the ridge scattering wreckage on both sides of the ridge. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Elvin Estes,
Cpt Norman Gassman,
Cpt Raymond Miller,
S/Sgt Roger DuCharime.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
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