Crash of a Douglas DC-7D in Richmond

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1964 at 1833 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N809D
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York – Richmond
MSN:
44860
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
71
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16244
Captain / Total hours on type:
1862.00
Aircraft flight hours:
25106
Circumstances:
On final approach to Richmond-Byrd Field Airport, the pilot was cleared to land on runway 15 but the airplane was slightly below the glide. This caused the right main gear to struck the ground 150 feet short of runway threshold and to be sheared off at impact. The aircraft slid on the runway for 4,752 feet before coming to rest. All 76 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged altitude and distance and undershot during landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Toadlena: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1964 at 1225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9423Y
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
BA-569
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
11280
Aircraft flight hours:
2130
Circumstances:
While cruising under VFR mode in clouds, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in flames near Toadlena. All four occupants were killed and the aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure in flight (normal cruise) due to wings spars fatigue fracture. Presence of turbulences associated with clouds and/or thunderstorms, downdrafts and updrafts was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Avalon

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1964 at 0740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4221A
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Avalon – Long Beach
MSN:
1029
YOM:
1939
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7600
Captain / Total hours on type:
4100.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from the Bay of Avalon, while climbing, the pilot apparently encountered engine problems. He elected to make an emergency landing but the seaplane was ditched and later sank. All 10 occupants were evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was undetermined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount near Parrottsville: 39 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1964 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7405
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Philadelphia – Washington DC – Knoxville – Huntsville
MSN:
103
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
UA823
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Captain / Total flying hours:
15665
Captain / Total hours on type:
1700.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7715
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2100
Aircraft flight hours:
23804
Circumstances:
A United Air Lines, Inc., Vickers Viscount 745D, N7405, Flight 823, crashed 2-1/4 rules northeast of Parrottsville Tennessee, at 1815 e.s.t., July 9, 1964. Thirty-four passengers and the four crew members died in the crash. One passenger died of injuries following a free fall from the aircraft before the crash. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and impact damage. Flight 823 was a regularly scheduled operation from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Huntsville, Alabama, with en route stops at Washington, D. C., and Knoxville, Tennessee. The flight operated without any reported discrepancies or difficulties until approximately 1810 e.s.t., when it was observed flying at low altitude trailing smoke. The flight continued in a southwesterly direction and at a point approximately 1.6 nautical rules before the impact site, a passenger was seen falling from the aircraft, and a short time later a cabin window was seen falling. The aircraft was then observed going into a nose-high attitude, the left wing and the nose went down, and the aircraft dived into the ground, exploded, and burned.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was an uncontrollable in-flight fire of undetermined origin, in the fuselage, which resulted in a loss of control of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in the Death Valley National Park: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0340
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Larson - Larson
MSN:
18115
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The KC-135 was engaged in a refueling mission out from Larson AFB, Washington, and was carrying a crew of four. At an altitude of 26,000 feet, following a successful refueling mission of a USAF Republic F-105D-15-RE Thunderchief registered 61-0091, the crew of the KC-135 attempted to leave the area and the pilot-in-command made a turn to the right when the engine number four struck the cockpit window of the Thunderchief. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located in the Death Valley National Park. All four crew members on board the KC-135 as well as the pilot of the Thunderchief were killed.
KC-135 crew:
Cpt Thomas F. Dozier, pilot,
1st Lt Erwin W. Boelter Jr., copilot,
1st Lt Ronald D. Williams, navigator,
S/Sgt Robert J. Graves, boom operator.
Thunderchief pilot:
Cpt Leonard F. Reynolds.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the midair collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Lockheed 12 Electra Junior in Martinsville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1964 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N18946
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1240
YOM:
1938
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
15165
Captain / Total hours on type:
4.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Martinsville-Blue Ridge Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck trees, stalled and crashed in flames. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning on part of the pilot who started the flight with the gust locks engaged.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman HU-16E Albatross near Ketchikan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1964
Operator:
Registration:
7233
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
G-318
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Five Coast Guardsmen were killed when their HU-16E crashed on a mountainside near Ketchikan while returning from a search for a missing fishing vessel. The aircraft had failed to land during its first approach to the air station and was making a second attempt when it disappeared. Two days later wreckage was spotted near the summit of a mountain peak on Gravina Island, only three miles from the Air Station.
Crew:
Lcdr Joseph N. Andrassy,
Lt Robert A. Perchard,
Ao1 Harry W. Olson,
Am2 Donald C. Malena,
At3 Edward A. Krajniak.
Source: http://www.check-six.com/lib/Coast_Guard_Aviation_Casualties.htm

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in Roosevelt: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1964 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N8037E
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Deer Valley - Deer Valley
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Deer Valley to take part to a firefighting mission near Roosevelt. While flying at low height and starting a swath run, the airplane struck the ground and crashed. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland CV-2B Caribou near Ridgeway: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4196
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ridgeway - Ridgeway
MSN:
142
YOM:
1963
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Taking part to the 'Hawk Star I' exercice, the crew was taking off from a remote airstrip located about five miles north of Ridgeway. After liftoff, one of the engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed on a fence. Fifteen occupants were injured while five others were killed as well as two soldiers who were repairing the fence.
Probable cause:
Failure of one engine for unknown reason.

Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-5 Navigator in Fort Lauderdale: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1964 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N90280
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6539
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1071
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale-Bradley Airport, while climbing,both engines stopped. The airplane stalled, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines after takeoff due to a fuel starvation, a mismanagement of fuel and an inadequate inspection of the aircraft prior to takeoff on part of the pilot. It was determined that the fuel selector valve decal was missing and the pilot made erroneous determination of the valve position.
Final Report: