Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 6BA in Stuart: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1964 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
National Executive Flight Service
Registration:
N4267C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stuart - Stuart
MSN:
04337
YOM:
1952
Location:
Stuart-Witham Field
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4035
Captain / Total hours on type:
210.00
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a local training flight at Stuart-Witham Field Airport. Just after liftoff, while taking off with one engine inoperative to simulate a failure, the aircraft stalled and crashed. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft stalled during a simulated single-engine takeoff because its speed was insufficient. Inadequate supervision of flight on part of the crew.
Final Report:

Crash of an Aero Commander 560 in Bruceton Mills: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1964 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Registration:
N8239D
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Bruceton Mills
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8879
Captain / Total hours on type:
1650.00
Circumstances:
In flight, the twin engine aircraft started and uncontrolled descent and crashed in flames in a prairie located in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot lost control of the aircraft after he suffered a heart attack.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52F-105-BO Stratofortress at Columbus AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
57-0043
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Columbus - Columbus
MSN:
17437
YOM:
1957
Location:
Columbus AFB (Kaye Field)
Mississippi
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Columbus AFB, while climbing, the aircraft went into a cloudy area when control was lost. The airplane inverted then crashed in a huge explosion in a field located few km north of the airbase. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Carl M. Funk, pilot,
Cpt Elbert J. Andoe, copilot,
2nd Lt Leonard J. LeRose, copilot,
1st Lt Anthony J. Linzi, navigator,
1st Lt Harry L. Grebe, navigator,
Cpt Harry E. Bell, navigator,
Cpt Fred R. Curtis, radio operator,
1st Lt Liam Rafferty, electronic warfare officer,
M/Sgt Lacy Potter, air gunner.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control occurred while the airplane was flying in clouds after the artificial horizon failed. Due to the lack of any visual reference points, control was lost.

Crash of a Convair CV-580 in Midland

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1963 at 1142 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-580
Operator:
Registration:
N7601
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
452
YOM:
1960
Location:
Midland
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Midland Airport, during the last segment, the airplane rolled left and right then lost height and struck the runway 10 surface. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All four occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A layer of 0,6 to 3 inches of ice was found on the upper wing surfaces.
Probable cause:
Failure of crew to use full deicing and anti-icing equipment in known icing conditions. It was reported they have been informed about icing conditions prior to the accident.

Crash of a Boeing 707-121 in Elkton: 81 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1963 at 2059 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
N709PA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Juan – Baltimore – Philadelphia
MSN:
17588
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
PA214
Location:
Elkton
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
73
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
81
Captain / Total flying hours:
17049
Captain / Total hours on type:
2890.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
13963
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2681
Aircraft flight hours:
14609
Circumstances:
Pan American Flight 214, a Boeing 707-121, N709PA, departed Friendship International Airport, Baltimore, Maryland, for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 2024 1 December 8, 1963. The aircraft, with 73 passengers and a crew of eight, was on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) clearance. Flight 214 reported over the New Castle, Delaware VOR at 2042 and was instructed to hold at 5,000 feet, west of the VOR. At 2058 a "MAYDAY" 2 transmission was heard from the flight. Shortly thereafter, the pilot of another aircraft broadcasted that "Clipper 214 is going down in flames". Flight 214 crashed two miles east of Elkton, Maryland, at 2059. All persons aboard the aircraft were killed instantly. The aircraft was destroyed by explosion, impact, and fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was lightning induced ignition of the fuel/air mixture in the No. 1 reserve fuel tank with resultant explosive disintegration of the left outer wing and loss of control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando near Nederland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1963 at 1919 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N609Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lowry - Ogden
MSN:
26571
YOM:
1943
Location:
Nederland
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
13527
Captain / Total hours on type:
10128.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11694
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a cargo flight from Lowry AFB to Ogden-Hill AFB on behalf of the US Air Force. While cruising over the Rockies at an altitude of 12,500 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of mountain and crashed in flames. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the three occupants was found. The wreckage was located on 8 July 1964. All three occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the probable cause of the accident was an improper in-flight decision or planning on part of the flying crew who exercised poor judgment. The weather briefing provided to the crew by the military personnel prior to takeoff at Lowry AFB was inadequate, which was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Morgantown: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1963 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N386T
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lafayette – Morgantown
MSN:
20411
YOM:
1944
Location:
Morgantown
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
23553
Captain / Total hours on type:
3899.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
966
Copilot / Total hours on type:
207
Aircraft flight hours:
12241
Circumstances:
A Purdue Aeronautics Corporation, Douglas DC-3, N386T crashed while making an instrument approach to the Morgantown Municipal Airport, Morgantown, West Virginia. The accident occurred 2.5 nautical miles from the Morgantown VOR on the 340 degrees radial at 1110 c.s.t. 1 November 29, 1963. The stewardess was fatally injured in the accident but the captain and first officer escaped with minor injuries. There were no other persons aboard the aircraft. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair by the impact and post impact fire. N386T was being ferried to Morgantown in preparation for a charter flight.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot's execution of an instrument approach in an aircraft not equipped with navigational instrumentation appropriate to the ground facilities being used.
Final Report:

Ground accident of a Martin 202 in Newark

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Martin 202
Operator:
Registration:
N177A
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9147
YOM:
1948
Location:
Newark
New Jersey
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:
Suffered a ground accident while taxiing at Newark Airport. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7C in Nashville

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1963 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Registration:
N843D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
45449
YOM:
1958
Location:
Nashville
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
458.00
Aircraft flight hours:
15975
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight, the crew started the approach to Nashville Airport in poor weather conditions with fog, rain showers and a 400 feet ceiling. After touchdown, the airplane suffered an asymmetrical thrust reversal. Due to high pressure, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid on runway for several yards before coming to rest. All 45 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls on part of the pilot-in-command and the thrust reversal-asymmetrical was considered as a miscellaneous act.
The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Failure of the pilot-in-command to initiate a go-around,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Overload failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Malmstrom AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1963 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N67941
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Malmstrom - Ellsworth
MSN:
22391
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
AAX1814
Location:
Malmstrom AFB
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
15834
Captain / Total hours on type:
5807.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
13606
Copilot / Total hours on type:
113
Aircraft flight hours:
25571
Circumstances:
An AAXICO Airlines, Inc., C-46-F, N 67941, a cargo flight, crash landed in a plowed field and skidded into a small earthen dam approximately 35 miles eastnortheast of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, Montana, at approximately 1500 m.s.t., on August 14, 1963. The crash occurred after the pilot failed to maintain altitude and appropriate single-engine airspeed following the shut-down of the right engine. The first officer sustained fatal injuries; the captain sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the captain to effect a proper and timely assessment of a powerplant malfunction, followed by improper judgement and technique during a single-engine emergency operation.
Final Report:
Subscribe to United States of America