Crash of a Beechcraft C18S Expeditor in Kotzebue: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6674C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kotzebue – Nome
MSN:
8313
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was returning to his base at Nome after having flown passengers to Kotzebue. After takeoff, a fire erupted in the cabin and the pilot elected to return for an emergency landing. While completing a sharp turn at low height, the right wing struck a telephone pole and was sheared off. Out of control, the airplane crashed and burned, killing the pilot. It was reported that cabin gas heater burst into flames after rotation.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando on Panther Peak: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N1240N
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Burbank – Seattle
MSN:
22404
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions at an altitude of 8,500 feet, the airplane struck trees and crashed on the slope of the Panther Peak. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the crew was not following the assigned route from Burbank to Seattle-Tacoma Airport for unknown reason. Apparently following a navigation error, the aircraft was 45 miles to the east from the intended route and at an insufficient altitude of 8,500 feet instead of the minimum 14,500 feet required.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver near Stehekin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
53-2806
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ellensburg - McChord
MSN:
600
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Ellensburg to the McChord AFB, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area covered by snow. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The following summer, walkers found the wreckage in an isolated area.
Crew:
Cpt Wade L. Shankle Jr.
Passenger:
John A. Ardussi.
Source & photos:
http://washingtonwreckchasing.blogspot.ch/2009_06_01_archive.html

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II near Homer: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
50-0111
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
McChord – Kodiak
MSN:
43249
YOM:
1950
Location:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from McChord AFB, Washington, to Kodiak, with a load of various goods for a total weight of 34,500 pounds. While approaching the Kenai Peninsula, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and elected to divert to Anchorage. Few minutes later, the captain reported he was unable to maintain a safe altitude when, at an altitude between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Petrof Glacier, about 26 miles southeast of Homer. The wreckage was found a day later and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported the aircraft suffered a double engine failure in flight for unknown reason.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-197B on Mt Holston: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1959 at 2032 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N18941
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nashville – Knoxville – Bristol
MSN:
2007
YOM:
1938
Flight number:
SE308
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
7214
Captain / Total hours on type:
2674.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2367
Copilot / Total hours on type:
432
Aircraft flight hours:
5675
Circumstances:
During a night approach to Bristol-Tr-Cities Airport, the airplane was too low and struck the slope of Mt Holston located 15 miles from runway 27 threshold. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all ten occupants were killed. The evidence indicates Flight 308 departed Nashville, Tennessee, with an inoperative radio compass. Although the flight was cleared by way of low frequency airway Green 5, it does not appear that the facilities defining this airway were used. Upon arriving in the Tri-Cities area the aircraft was east of its intended track and erroneously identified the reporting point from which an ILS approach procedure was to be initiated. During the instrument approach, which was conducted in snow showers, the flight missed the outer marker. The approach was continued under instrument conditions without utilizing the VOR facility which would have been of assistance in confirming the flight's position. Without having clearly established his position, the pilot flew 15 miles beyond the outer marker and descended to an altitude too low to clear high terrain in this area.
Probable cause:
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the pilot to identify Gray intersection properly and his decision to continue an ILS approach contrary to company and regulatory procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-DL Flying Fortress in USA

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1958
Registration:
N5845N
Flight Type:
MSN:
8044
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the USA between August and December 1958. According to another source, the aircraft may have crash landed at Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, on February 1st, 1959.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1856 LearStar near Woonsocket: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1958 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N37500
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Linden – Boston
MSN:
2251
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route to Boston, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with icing. Both carburetors suffered icing in flight and both engines failed. The airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located five miles southwest of Woonsocket. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Alexander Sable, pilot,
Edward Luidcinaitis, copilot.
Passengers:
Nelson A. Bergstend,
Ferdinand Liot,
Stephen Baksal,
Raymond Buese,
Jesse Hackney.
Probable cause:
The pilot's decision to continue on to his destination in freezing weather after total power loss of one engine from induction icing. Contributing causal factors were the serious deficiency in weather briefing and inadequate information in the Airplane Flight Manual for the most effective use of carburetor anti-icing and deicing.

Crash of a Boeing B-52E-85-BO Stratofortress at Altus AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1958 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0633
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Altus - Altus
MSN:
17316
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local night training mission at Altus AFB. After several circuits, the crew started a new GCA approach when the pilot-in-command requested climb to altitude for another jet penetration. Problems with stabilizer trim during overshoot caused the aircraft to lose height and to crash about 4 miles north of the airfield. A crew member bailed out and was rescued while eight other occupants were killed.
Crew (816th Air Division):
Maj Byard F. Baker, pilot,
Cpt Melvin Eckstein, †
Maj Willis E. Brady, †
1st Lt Carl D. Mackall, †
1st Lt Doyle Alexander Salley, †
S/Sgt. Thomas Lowry, †
S/Sgt Clarence R. Leger, †
T/Sgt Norman L. Kohlmeyer, †
S/Sgt Harold J. Funnell. †

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Loring AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1958 at 0727 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3598
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17347
YOM:
17
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off at 0445 on an "Operation Headstart" refueling mission. Headstart was the 42nd Bomb Wing's operation that "proved" the concept of airborne nuclear alert with B-52 aircraft for SAC. Before take-off, the crew was notified of a no-notice Standardization Board evaluation, so in addition to the crew of 4, there was an Instructor Pilot, Instructor Navigator, and Instructor Boom Operator aboard. Upon returning to the Loring AFB area, the aircraft was cleared to make a GCA approach from the south for a touch and go landing. The aircraft touched down about 2500 feet down the runway, applied power and became airborne at about the 7000 foot mark. Because of the aircraft's weight, air temperature and the forces involved in a touch and go landing, the Pilot got the tanker airborne in a condition where there was a 35 knot gap between adequate lift for take-off and adequate airflow over the ailerons for roll authority. The aircraft rolled to the right, striking the Number 4 engine which failed due to fuel control unit damage and jamming the right aileron in a 5 degree up position. The aircraft entered a nose high, right wing low attitude and cartwheeled into the woods about 1000 feet from the runway. It broke into several major sections and burned. The Instructor Navigator and Instructor Boom Operator were able to egress the burning wreckage but the Instructor Navigator died several weeks later as a result of his burns.
Crew (42th Air Refueling Squadron):
Cpt John Eifollla, pilot, †
1st Lt Donald Gladding, copilot, †
Maj John Brown, navigator, †
Cpt Bernard Morgan, instructor pilot, †
Cpt Herman Dosenbach, instructor navigator, †
T/Sgt Ronald Champion, boom operator,
T/Sgt Charles Holsclaw, instructor boom operator.
Source: http://www.mewreckchasers.com/KC1351958.html
Probable cause:
The investigation cited issues with the KC-135A Flight Manual that did not address the "window" in which the aircraft could become airborne in a touch and go without roll control, the Pilot's inability to take proper action to deal with the loss of Number 4 engine thrust, and the Instructor Pilot not occupying a front seat, with access to controls, during a touch and go landing as required by SAC regulations.

Crash of a Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II in Augusta

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
51-0162
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43496
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Bush Field for unknown reason. All 34 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.