Region
North America
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USA

Crash of a Lockheed L-188A Electra in LaGuardia

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1960 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-188 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
N6127A
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Boston – New York – Saint Louis
MSN:
1117
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
AA361
Location:
New York-LaGuardia
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
70
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14082
Captain / Total hours on type:
279.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
18310
Copilot / Total hours on type:
460
Aircraft flight hours:
1573
Circumstances:
The Electra scheduled as Flight 361 departed Boston at 0716LT with its destination St Louis, Missouri, and with a planned intermediate stop at LaGuardia Airport. About ten minutes prior to departure a crew change was made when a check pilot boarded the aircraft to flight-check the flight engineer. This check pilot, by mutual agreement with the crew and in accordance with existing company policy, took over the left or pilot-in-command seat with the previously assigned captain moving to the jump seat. The trip was routine until final approach at LaGuardia. On final approach, the airplane aircraft was too low and struck a dyke with its main landing gear and crash landed. Approximately half of the 76 persons on board suffered minor injuries or shock; no one was killed. The aircraft was severely damaged by impact forces and fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the pilot to properly plan and execute the approach to a landing. Factors which may have contributed were the shortened runway and the unmarked upper portion of the dike.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-13-FA Provider near Empire: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1960 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
55-4539
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pope - Lowry - Hill - Hamilton
MSN:
20200
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
USAF998
Location:
Empire
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Pope AFB to Hamilton AFB with intermediate stops at Lowry AFB and Ogden-Hill AFB. The aircraft departed Lowry AFB at 0801LT. The crew completed to successives turns to the left then to the right and continued heading 270°. Few minutes later, the airplane entered a box canyon and was unable to gain sufficient height when it struck the slope of Mt Vasquez Peak (3,414 meters high). The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of wrong decision on part of the pilot who violated paragraph 12A (4), AF Reg 60-16 and entered a box canyon with insufficient altitude and lateral clearance from which to effect a safe recovery. The following contributing factors were reported:
- A breach of air discipline, in that the pilot operated his aircraft for a distance of thirty-two miles at altitudes ranging from 500 feet down to 50 feet above the immediate terrain, in violation of Para 12A (3) AF regs 60-16,
- Weather conditions may have been a contributing factor in that the forecast winds and turbulence indicate a probable adverse mountain wave effect on the aircraft immediately prior to impact.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in Yuba City

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Registration:
N6957C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
5076
YOM:
1943
Location:
Yuba City
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While conducting a firefighting mission in the region of Yuba City, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The twin engine aircraft crash landed in canyon and came to rest in flames. While both occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97G-28-BO Stratotanker near Newry: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
52-2738
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Refuelling
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Plattsburgh - Plattsburgh
MSN:
16769
YOM:
1952
Location:
Newry
Maine
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
At 8:15 PM on Monday, June 27, 1960, crew T-51 of the 380th Air Refueling Squadron departed Plattsburgh AFB aboard a KC-97G for the "Fighting Fox" air refueling area over Maine. Their mission was part of a SAC Operational Readiness Inspection of the 380th Bombardment Wing code named "Jet Stream Golf". They, and a backup KC-97G, were to refuel a B-47 under simulated combat conditions. The mission was expected to last just under four hours, with both tankers returning to Plattsburgh. After a successful rendezvous with the bomber, the tanker descended to the refueling altitude of 15,500 feet and accelerated, nose down, to 190 knots. The low altitude, when compared to today's KC-135 and KC-10 operations, was one of the necessities of refueling jet bombers like the B-47 and B-52 with a reciprocating engine powered aircraft. As the B-47 closed with the KC-97 from a higher altitude in "observation" position, everything seemed fine. Logistical radio exchanges were made and the bomber began to descend and close into refueling position. As they approached, the B-47 pilot and copilot saw a long stream of flame come back toward them from the KC-97's number one engine, then suddenly disappear. A small spot of white hot glow was noted near the rear of the number one engine. Seconds later, a large ball of flame enveloped the engine and the surrounding wing area. The boom operator transmitted "breakaway, breakaway, breakaway", and the B-47 commander took up a loose formation position off the tanker's right wing. The backup tanker, above and to the rear, made radio contact asking if they were in trouble, to which Lt. Burgess, the aircraft commander calmly replied "Roger, I'm on fire". At this point, the aircraft entered a gradual left turn which continued to get steeper, and turned into a spiral or spin. It was later determined that the left wing outboard of the burning engine had failed due to fire damage, before the crew could complete the "engine fire" drill. It was later found in Howard Pond some three miles from the crash site. The B-47 commander called "bail out! bail out!" but got no reply and spotted no parachutes. Witnesses on the ground, including over three hundred moviegoers at the Rumford Point Drive-In, saw the flaming aircraft spin down with burning pieces falling off. The fuel laden tanker crashed into Jonathan Smith Mountain near Route 26 in the Town of Newry. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt William Burgess, pilot,
Lt Lewis Turner, copilot,
Lt Raymond Kisonas, navigator,
M/Sgt Harold Young, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Robert Costello, boom operator.
Source: http://www.mewreckchasers.com/kc97art.html
Probable cause:
The investigation revealed that the accident was caused by a lubrication failure to the supercharger impeller shaft of the number one engine, leading to premature failure. The impeller, leaving the engine nacelle, did major damage and caused fuel leakage resulting in the severe fire and rapid structural failure of the wing.

Crash of a Lockheed L-749A-79-32 Constellation on Mt Gilbert: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1960 at 0447 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-749 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
N1554V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seattle – Cordova – Anchorage
MSN:
2555
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
PN201
Location:
Mt Gilbert
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
14460
Captain / Total hours on type:
4318.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2258
Copilot / Total hours on type:
563
Aircraft flight hours:
30560
Circumstances:
Pacific Northern Flight 201 failed to maintain its intended track after taking off from Cordova, Alaska, bound for Anchorage, Alaska. Mt. Gilbert is approximately 28 nautical miles to the right of the flight's first intended checkpoint and is 9,646 feet in elevation. At an altitude of 9,000 feet, crashed into the sheer face of Mt. Gilbert, killing all nine passengers and five crew members.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the crew to use all available navigational aids in establishing the aircraft's position on Amber I Airway, thereby allowing the aircraft to deviate from course and fly over hazardous terrain. A contributing factor was the failure of Air Defense Radar, which had been tracking the aircraft, to notify either ARTCC or the crew that the aircraft was proceeding on a dangerous course.
Final Report:

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:
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