United States of America

Shortly after takeoff from runway 17 at Plattsburgh Airport, while climbing, the airplane lost height, stalled and crashed into Lake Champlin. Three crew members were rescued while five others were killed.

At King Salmon on the morning of July 10, 1957, about 0615, following two weeks in Alaska on a combined business and pleasure trip, Mr. C. R. Vose and party boarded N 45376 as its passengers. The flight crew of the executive Lodestar was Pilot Edward Coligny and Mechanic-Fight Engineer Ralph L. Hughes. The Vose party contemplated a flight to Anchorage, Alaska, the first segment of its return trip to Seattle, Washington. Earlier that morning Mr. Hughes had filed a VFR flight plan to Anchorage which proposed a departure time of 0630 and a routing to Anchorage over Airway Green 8 at an altitude of 6,000 feet. The flight plan also showed that the flight duration would be 1 hour and 40 minutes at a cruising speed of 170 knots and that there was sufficient fuel on board for 6 hours and 30 minutes. At 0638, following a period of engine rump on the parking ramp, the flight called the King Salmon tower for taxi and takeoff information. The duty controller cleared it to runway 11 and furnished the latest wind and altimeter conditions: “Wind east-northeast 8; altimeter 29.90.” There being no other traffic, N 45378 was cleared directly onto runway 11 where several persons saw it pause one to two minutes and heard its propellers run through one or two times. The takeoff was started at 0642 and it seemed entirely normal as the aircraft left the runway surface and climbed to between 75 and 100 feet. The landing gear, however, remained extended. The climb continued normally although somewhat steeper to between 150 and 200 feet, at which time the climb of the aircraft steepened rapidly but smoothly until it was nearly vertical. At the peak of the climb the aircraft pivoted counterclockwise, plunged to the group, and exploded. An intense fuel-fed fire followed. The airport traffic controller alerted the U. S. A. F. emergency equipment located on the base and the fire was quickly extinguished; however, not before the aircraft was nearly destroyed. All six occupants were killed.

The Super Constellation was struck by an Eastern Airlines DC-7 while parked at Miami-Intl Airport. Following an uneventful training flight, the DC-7 landed at Miami-Intl Airport, exit via a taxiway and was taxiing to the maintenance hangar when control was lost. It collided with the Super Constellation and both aircraft caught fire and were destroyed. The exact circumstances and causes of the collision remains unclear. As the aircraft was empty, there were no injuries.

Following an uneventful training flight, the DC-7 landed at Miami-Intl Airport, exit via a taxiway and was taxiing to the maintenance hangar when control was lost. It collided with a parked Eastern Airlines Super Constellation registered N6212C. On impact, both aircraft caught fire and the crew was able to evacuate the DC-7 before both aircraft would be destroyed by fire. The exact circumstances and causes of the collision remains unclear.

Training flight H-3 was scheduled by Capital (Capital Airlines) flight training department for Captain Carl R. Burke, instructor, and two Copilots, Henry A. Podgurski and Robert K. Thomas. This was the second of a series of six flights being made for the purpose of giving Messrs. Podgurski and Thomas flight instruction to prepare them for upgrading from copilot to captain. The flight was dispatched in accordance with visual flight rules to operate in an area northwest, north, and northeast of Washington, D. C. This area was used by Capital as its local practice area for training flights. The aircraft was fully serviced with 820 gallons of fuel. Its gross takeoff weight was less than the max allowable and the center of gravity was within allowable limits. The weather was clear and was not a factor in thin accident. Takeoff was made at 0625. At 0631 the flight advised the company by radio of the trip number, time of takeoff, fuel aboard, and flight duration. There were no other radio contacts with the flight. At approximately 0745, N88835 was observed in the vicinity of Clarksburg, Maryland, by many people who saw it during several tea of flight and in its plunge to the ground.

Engine lost power in flight so the crew decided to divert to McGrath Airport. On final, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. Two passengers were killed while seven other occupants were rescued.

The crew was completing a local training sortie out from NAS Quonset Point. On approach, the airplane crashed into the Narragansett Bay about 500 feet short of runway 19. All six crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crashed into the Salem Harbor while performing a JATO system demo flight. Two crew members were killed while four others were rescued. The aircraft was destroyed.
Those killed were:
LCDR Albert P. Hartt Jr.,
AO2 William J. Tarker Jr.

The crew was forced to ditch the airplane in the San Francisco bay following an engine failure in flight. There were no casualties but the aircraft sank and was lost. §

The DC-4 was on a simulated ILS approach to Pittsburgh when the copilot established visual reference with the runway. The approach was continued visually but the rate of descent was excessive. The captain applied power, but before recovery was complete, the right main gear struck an embankment short of runway. Full power was applied and a go-around was carried out. Severe buffeting and a number three engine fire were experienced as the DC-4 circled for another approach. The landing was carried out safely and all 55 occupants were evacuated. The aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.