Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune off Kodiak: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
135566
Survivors:
No
MSN:
726-7022
Location:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kodiak Airport, the airplane crashed into the sea for unknown reason, killing all nine crew members. The airplane was returning to Kodiak following a maritime patrol flight.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar near Uniontown: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1957 at 1655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N80G
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cleveland – Hot Springs – Johnstown
MSN:
2351
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
200
Aircraft flight hours:
4608
Circumstances:
N80G departed Cleveland, Ohio, at approximately 1208LT for Ingalls Field Airport, Hot Springs, Virginia. The crew consisted of Captain Warren F. Noonan and Copilot Theodore O. Krauss. The purpose of the flight was to pick up passengers at Hot Springs, then fly to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for an additional passenger, and return to Cleveland. The flight landed at Ingalls Field Airport sometime between 1300 and 1400 without incident. No records of aircraft arrival times are kept at this airport. N80G departed Hot Springs at approximately 1545LT with four passengers on board. The aircraft was observed to take off on the northeast runway and to climb to an altitude below the clouds. It was then observed to fly in a northwesterly direction for approximately four or five miles. About 1650, over an hour after takeoff and just before the aircraft struck the mountain, it was heard by a number of persons who lived within a radius of 10 miles of the accident scene; none saw it. The airplane hit trees and crashed in a wooded area, killing all six occupants.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in attempting VFR flight under instrument conditions over mountainous terrain. The following findings were reported:
- The crew was probably briefed by the U. S. Weather Bureau for the trip to Hot Springs and return, prior to departure from Cleveland,
- The VFR flight from Cleveland to Hot Springs was routine,
- The weather conditions north and east of Hot Springs at the time of the return required flight in accord with instrument flight rules; this was not done,
- No telephone or aircraft radio contacts wore made by the crew with any CAA communications station, either to file a flight plan or request weather information,
- The aircraft was heard but not seen flying a northeasterly heading in the overcast near the accident site,
- The aircraft was equipped for instrument flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver near Brandon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Governors Island – Burlington
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft left Governors Island, New York, in the morning, bound for Burlington, Vermont. After passing over the Hudson River, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Off course, the plane hit trees and crashed on the east side of the Bloodfoot mountain, about 7 miles east of Brandon. As the aircraft failed to arrive at Burlington, SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was found ten days later only. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants have been killed. It was reported that one of the occupant survived the crash but died from his injuries three days later.
Crew:
Cpt Eual Cathey.
Passengers:
Col David M. Perkins,
Col Emery Hyde,
Lt Col Clinton Merrill.

Crash of a Douglas A-26 Invader in East Dayton: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1957 at 1659 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wright Patterson - Wright Patterson
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight and departed Wright-Patterson AFB in the day. On approach, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames into several houses located in 1843 Tuttle Avenue, East Dayton. At least four houses were destroyed. Both pilots as well as two people on the ground were killed.
Crew:
Maj James Melancon, pilot,
Cpt Wilho R. Heikkinen, copilot.
Both civilians killed were Mildred VanZant and Walter Geisler.
Probable cause:
An investigation determined that a loose engine cowling moved forward into the propeller.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune at Alameda NAS

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
135619
Flight Type:
MSN:
726-7051
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at or near Alameda NAS. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO in New Bedford: 12 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1957 at 2046 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N34417
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boston – Hyannis – Martha’s Vineyard – New Bedford – New York
MSN:
7337
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
NE285
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Captain / Total flying hours:
7079
Captain / Total hours on type:
4348.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2097
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1522
Aircraft flight hours:
35685
Circumstances:
Northeast Airlines Flight 285 is a scheduled passenger operation originating at Boston, Massachusetts, and terminating at New York, New York, with intermediate stops serving Hyannis, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and New Bedford, Massachusetts. On September 15, 1957, the flight originated on schedule, its crew consisting of Captain Vincent L. Pitts, Reserve Captain Roger W. Sweetland, serving as copilot, and Stewardess Nancy J. Lehan. Flight 285 was routine until it reached Martha's Vineyard where it landed at 2007 following a missed approach in poor weather conditions. The flight departed Martha's Vineyard for New Bedford at 2019, about 50 minutes behind schedule, the result of the missed approach, IFR delays, and accumulated minor delays. The flight to New Bedford was in and on top of Instrument weather conditions and was conducted according to an IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) flight plan. The clearance given the flight by ARTC (Air Route Traffic Control) through company radio was as follows. "ATC clears Northeast 285 to the New Bedford middle marker, via direct Otis, Red 94, to maintain 4,000, to make climb to 2,500 at the Martha's Vineyard radio beacon before proceeding on course. Report on course and report the Otis radio beacon." At departure there was sufficient fuel for the flight to New Bedford, and, if necessary to the designated alternate airport, Boston, with the required reserve upon arrival there. Also, at this time, according to the company load manifest, the aircraft was loaded to a gross weight of 22,443 pounds, well under the maximum allowable of 25,346 pounds. The load was distributed within the center of gravity limitations of the aircraft. At 2024 the flight reported to the company radio at Martha's Vineyard that it was over the Martha's Vineyard radio beacon, "2,500 feet on course." At 2029 it again contacted the company at Martha's Vineyard and reported it was then over Otis at 4,000 feet. A few minutes later Flight 285 contacted the New Bedford taper controller and informed him it was unable to give the Otis report to the company at Boston. The controller took the progress report and requested the flight to contact Providence approach control (Providence controls IFR flights in the New Bedford area). The flight immediately contacted Providence approach control and was cleared to maintain 4,000 feet to the compass locater at the New Bedford middle marker and to report over the marker. This was acknowledged. Immediately thereafter Providence cleared Flight 285 for an approach to the New Bedford Airport and requested it to report leaving 4,000 feet and then switch to the New Bedford tower. At 2036 the flight reported leaving 4,000 feet. Flight 285 then contacted the New Bedford tower operator and thereafter, at 2038, according to the controller, stated it was starting an ILS approach. The controller gave the flight the latest weather as follows: Indefinite 200, obscuration; visibility one mile; fog; wind southeast 3; altimeter 30.02. He also cleared the flight to land, ILS approach, straight in to runway 5, and requested that it call the tower when inbound at the outer marker. Following this clearance the captain of another Northeast flight, 275, which had shortly before, at 2031, taken off from runway 23, the reciprocal of 5, gave Flight 285 the following information. "It'll be tight." Flight 285 reported that it had completed the procedure turn and was inbound over the outer marker. The controller acknowledged this report which was the last communication with the flight. He logged the report at 2046, shortly after it was received. The airplane clip trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located 4,000 feet short of runway 05 threshold. Both pilots and ten passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident ins that the pilot, attempted to make a visual approach by descending prematurely in the approach area without adherence to the prescribed ILS approach procedure which was dictated by existing weather conditions. The following findings were reported:
- Flight to the New Bedford area was made in and on top of instrument weather conditions in accordance with an instrument flight rules flight plan,
- Flight 285 reached the New Bedford area and was cleared for an ILS approach,
- Weather conditions at the airport and the surrounding area clearly dictated an ILS approach,
- Airborne and ground equipment necessary to the ILS approach was functioning normally,
- Flight 285 descended prematurely in the approach area without conformity to the ILS procedure,
- Flight 285 descended to a low and unsafe altitude in an attempt to approach the airport visually, assisted by directional instruments,
- The flight did not conform to the ILS glide path,
- From low altitude a descent occurred which was not recognized by the pilots in time for corrective action to be effective,
- The trees struck were located 165 feet to the right of the localizer centerline, nearly 189 feet below the glide path centerline, and about 4,000 feet short of the runway threshold,
- There was no evidence of malfunction of the aircraft, its systems, or powerplants.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II in Binghamton

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1957
Operator:
Registration:
51-5173
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Larson - Binghamton
MSN:
43583
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Binghamton Airport was completed at an insufficient altitude. On short final, the aircraft struck a concrete wall. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft crash landed. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II at Biggs AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1957 at 0145 LT
Operator:
Registration:
52-1021
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hunter - Biggs
MSN:
43930
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The approach to Biggs AAF was completed by night and poor weather conditions. On final, the four engine aircraft was too low and struck the ground and crashed 2,5 miles short of runway. Five occupants were killed while ten others were evacuated.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16E in Floyd Bennett Field: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1957
Operator:
Registration:
1259
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Floyd Bennett Field - Floyd Bennett Field
MSN:
G-106
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight after the aircraft had undergone an intermediate inspection in which the control columns were removed and inspected for fatigue cracks in the bottom casting. The plane was cleared for take-off and instructed to turn right immediately after take-off to avoid other traffic. Take-off was normal but immediately after leaving the runway the plane banked slightly to the left, hesitated, and then banked and then banked very rapidly to the left until it was in a 90° bank. The left wing tip struck the ground and the plane broke in two and crashed. Four crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Those killed were:
Lcdr Claude S. Labaw,
Lt Rolland A. Faucher,
AD3 Matthew R. Ross,
AT3 Gerald R. Fox.
Probable cause:
The Accident Board was not able to determine the cause of this accident but certain items all pointed strongly toward reversed aileron control cable rigging as the most probably cause.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune off Barbers Point NAS: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
128418
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Barbers Point - Barbers Point
MSN:
426-5264
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie out from NAS Barbers Point. On final approach, the airplane lost height and crashed into the sea about 1,1 mile short of runway. The aircraft was lost and all ten crew members were killed.