Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Convair CV-880-22-2 in Atlanta: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1960 at 1152 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-880
Operator:
Registration:
N8804E
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Atlanta - Atlanta
MSN:
22-00-16
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
DL1903
Location:
Atlanta-William Berry Hartsfield
Georgia
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
13197
Captain / Total hours on type:
179.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
17221
Copilot / Total hours on type:
10
Circumstances:
The flight was scheduled for training for two pilots who were to “check out” in the CV-880. A pilot-trainee occupied the left seat and a qualified instructor-pilot occupied the right. Immediately after liftoff the aircraft assumed an extremely nose-high attitude and banked steeply to the left. It then rolled to a vertical right bank, the nose fell through, and the aircraft struck the ground and burned. Four crew members, the only occupants, received fatal injuries.
Probable cause:
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident to be the stalling of the aircraft, for reasons undetermined, at an altitude too low to effect recovery.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-97G-23-BO Stratotanker in Lincoln

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1960 at 0951 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
52-0919
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lincoln - March
MSN:
16613
YOM:
1952
Location:
Lincoln
Nebraska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane skidded for few dozen metres then veered off runway and collided with a fuel tank, bursting into flames. All 24 occupants evacuated, among them five were injured. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
1st Lt William E. Novetzke, pilot,
Cpt Thomas L. Hedge, pilot,
1st Lt Thomas G. Artman, navigator,
A2C Wilbert T. Heath, boom operator.
Passengers:
S/Sgt Annas S. Thompson,
A1C Edward M. Sennett,
Maj Walter A. Arrington,
M/Sgt Robert L. Chapin,
T/Sgt Robert W. Watson,
A2C Lawrence E. Newton,
1st Lt Ronald L. Munn,
1st Lt Berthold Muecke,
A2C Eugene C. Shelton,
A1C Melvin R. Furgeson,
A2C Charles W. Samples,
A2C Lloyd C. Bray,
A1C Darr E. Martner,
A2C Clyde E. Rufener,
A3C Nroman S. Rydwell,
A2C Howard A. Betts,
A2C Ronald H Ragland,
S/Sgt James E. Briggs,
A2C Walt Coburn,
A2C Raymond A. Nelson.
Probable cause:
Nose gear collapsed during takeoff.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A Commando in Miami

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CU-C644
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Havana
Location:
Miami-Intl
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and belly landed. It skidded for dozen yards before coming to rest. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress at Fairchild AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
56-0607
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fairchild - Fairchild
MSN:
17290
YOM:
1956
Location:
Fairchild AFB (Spokane)
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. Eight crew members were killed and one survived. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the loss of control was caused by a structural failure of the upper wing surface.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188C Electra near Tell City: 63 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1960 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-188 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
N121US
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Minneapolis – Chicago – Miami
MSN:
1057
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
NW710
Location:
Tell City
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
63
Captain / Total flying hours:
27523
Captain / Total hours on type:
254.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2974
Copilot / Total hours on type:
200
Aircraft flight hours:
1786
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Chicago-Midway at 1438LT bound for Miami, carrying 57 passengers and a crew of six. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet over the south of Indiana State, the aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a snow covered field located east of Tell City. Some debris were also found in a wooded area. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 63 occupants were killed. The crew was unable to send any distress call prior to the accident.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the separation of the right wing in flight due to flutter induced by oscillations of the outboard nacelles. Contributing factors were a reduced stiffness of the structure and the entry of the aircraft into an area of severe clear air turbulence.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Carswell AFB

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1960 at 2323 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
57-1466
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Carswell - Carswell
MSN:
17537
YOM:
1958
Location:
Carswell AFB (Fort Worth)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base at Carswell following a refueling mission. The approach was completed in low visibility due to the night and foggy conditions. On final, the airplane was too low and struck the ground one mile short of runway. It bounced, struck successively power cables and the roof of a building before crashing short of runway threshold. All seven crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, the crew continued the approach at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation in Chicago

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
N7101C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Phoenix
MSN:
4582
YOM:
1955
Location:
Chicago-Midway
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
54
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft swung on runway and came to rest. All 60 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The right main gear collapsed during takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster at Elmendorf AFB

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
N11817
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Anchorage - Elmendorf
MSN:
44653
YOM:
1955
Location:
Elmendorf-Richardson AFB (JBER)
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a positioning flight from Anchorage International Airport to Elmendorf AFB. The approach was completed in marginal weather conditions with a limited visibility due to fog. On final, the four engine aircraft was too low and struck the ground 1,200 feet short of runway threshold. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the captain had used an rpm setting of 2200 instead of 2400 during the approach, power setting of 20" manifold pressure instead of 25" and a 40° flap setting instead of 30°. The first officer and the flight engineer were aware of this but failed to report it to the captain. Furthermore, the GCA controller advised the flight that it was below the limits of the glide path.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Madeira: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Champion Paper & Fiber Company
Registration:
N31CP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cincinnati - Cincinnati
MSN:
5165
YOM:
1942
Location:
Madeira
Ohio
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
Circumstances:
The crew departed Cincinnati-Lunken Field in the morning to conduct a local training flight. After completing several maneuvers in the area, the twin engine airplane passed over a school at low height and with both engines at full throttle before it crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Madeira. All three crew members were killed, two pilots of the Champion Paper & Fiber Company and one instructor.
Crew:
Charles Hayes,
Robert Kern,
Joseph Lockwood.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando at McGuire AFB

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Associated Air Transport
Registration:
N46Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Louisville – McGuire
MSN:
26684
YOM:
1943
Location:
McGuire AFB (Fort Dix)
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
54
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Curtiss was being used for a civil air movement of military personnel from Louisville to McGuire AFB. En route, in the Elkins-Charleston area light to moderate icing occurred. This required the use of wing deicers and propeller anti-icers. Shortly after passing Baltimore the same weather conditions were encountered which required a power setting of 2400 rpm and 38" manifold pressure. The plane lost altitude, which forced the crew to apply METO power setting of 2600 rpm and 45" manifold pressure. During the final (GCA) approach to McGuire AFB the plane stalled and crash-landed 1200 feet short of the runway threshold. Both engines were sheared off on impact.
Probable cause:
Crew failed to maintain an accurate log of the flight as pertains to flight planning/fuel consumption/fuel requirements.
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