United States of America

En route on a cargo flight to Chicago-Midway Airport by night, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low clouds and rain showers. The VOR receiver failed en route and the pilot decided to reduce his altitude, probably to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the airplane struck a hill and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

The crew departed Dover AFB on a training mission. During flight, the right wingtip detached and separated until the engine number four. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located near Cordova. All six crew members were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Bridgeport Airport, while climbing in heavy snow falls, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a snow covered field. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

En route to Chicago, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and elected to divert to Philipsburg-Mid-State Airport. On final, the visibility was poor due to snow falls when the airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames in a snow covered field. A passenger was seriously injured while both other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

The crew was completing a positioning flight from Miami to Pontiac, Michigan. Shortly after takeoff from Miami-Intl Airport, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the twin engine aircraft nosed down, plunged into the earth and crashed in a huge explosion. Both pilots were killed.

En route, control was lost and the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion near Kansas City. All five occupants were killed.

While cruising by night, the crew apparently lost his sens of orientation. Following a mismanagement of fuel, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an uninhabited area located near Sonora. The wreckage was found on March 3, 1965 and all six occupants were killed.

The crew was performing a night cargo flight from Miami to San Salvador. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion near the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Eastern Air Lines, Flight EA 663 was a scheduled passenger flight originating at Boston, MA (BOS), and terminating at Atlanta, GA (ATL) with intermediate stops at New York (JFK), Richmond, VA (RIC), Charlotte, NC (CLT), and Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP). The DC-7B took off from runway 31L at New York-JFK at 18:20 on an IFR clearance to the Richmond Airport. The crew flew a Dutch 7 Standard Instrument Departure. About 18:24 EAL 663 was further cleared to 8,000 feet and instructed to turn right to a heading of 150 degrees. The flight acknowledged this clearance and reported leaving 3,000 feet. Shortly thereafter the crew reported leaving 3,500 feet at which time the flight was instructed to turn left to a heading of 090 degrees. At 18:25, while climbing through 3700 feet Departure Control instructed the flight to "... turn right now, heading one seven zero to Victor one thirty nine, traffic 2 o'clock five miles northeast bound below you." The flight responded, "OK we have the traffic, turning one seven zero..." The other traffic was Pan American flight 212 arriving from San Juan. The Boeing 707 was being vectored to intercept the final approach course to runway 31R. At approximately 18:24 Approach Control had instructed the PA212 to turn right to a heading of 020 degrees and inquired if the flight had as yet, reached 3,000 feet. Approach Control then instructed the flight to report leaving each 500-foot level down to 3,000 feet and advised the flight of " ...Traffic at 11 O'clock, six miles southeast bound just climbing out of three (3,000 feet)." As the Eastern DC-7 was turning from 090 to 170 degrees, the airplane was in a 35-degree banked nearly level turn. With PA212 approx. 700 feet lower and four miles away at 3 o'clock, PA212 would not be visible to the captain of EA663 until he was nearly around the turn and on the rollout. Upon completion of the turn, they were on a nearly head-on, converging course with PA212. At that moment, PA212 started a left turn to the assigned heading of 360 degrees. The results of this turn would be to produce an illusion of an apparent collision track. Also, EA663 was turning away from the background lights of the Long Island shore into a black area, so there was no horizon available to assist in the determination of the relative altitude of the target airplane. Under these circumstances, it is likely that the Eastern pilot started a descent, initially as a precautionary measure, which would give him a longer time to observe the other aircraft, and provide him with a measure of vertical separation. Afraid of a collision, PA212 rolled rapidly to the right and also initiated a descent. The Eastern pilot also made a rapid roll to the right and/or a pull up. In this circumstance the DC-7 was placed in an unusual attitude, resulting in spatial disorientation of the crew. They were not able to recover from the vertical bank. The DC-7 struck the sea and disintegrated.

En route, weather conditions worsened with snow falls, thunderstorm activity and turbulences. In low visibility, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Elko. Due to poor weather conditions, SAR operations were hampered and eventually suspended few days later. The wreckage was found on 13 May 1965 in an isolated area. The pilot was killed. The aircraft was owned by David E. Gast.