United States of America

Schedule:

Westover - Westover

MSN:

43689

YOM:

1953

Location:

Westover AFB

Massachusetts

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Westover AFB, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the aircraft banked left and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 2A in Ketchikan

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

N4272C

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

04351

YOM:

1952

Location:

Ketchikan

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Ketchikan Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Dallas

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

N1697M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Miami – Dallas

MSN:

22573

YOM:

1945

Location:

Dallas-Love Field

Texas

Country:

Region:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Love Field, the aircraft was too low and hit a embankment short of runway threshold. The aircraft crash landed and lost its right wing before coming to rest upside down. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Fairchild R4Q-2 Flying Boxcar in Whiting Field NAS: 44 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

131663

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Corpus Christi – Whiting – Norfolk

MSN:

10830

YOM:

1951

Location:

Whiting Field NAS

Florida

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-50 Superfortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way from Corpus Christi to Norfolk with a fuel stop at Whiting Field NAS, carrying 44 members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Shortly after a night takeoff from Whiting Field NAS, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and eventually crashed in a wooded area located 0,75 mile past the runway end. A crew member and a passenger were rescued while 44 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The copilot was the pilot-in-command at the time of the accident. It is believed he suffered a spatial disorientation immediately after liftoff. Despite a visibility of about 9 miles, experts considered the flight conditions as non satisfying. It was determined that the climb gradient was too low while the flaps and the undercarriages were raised at impact. Thus it is believed that the pilots forgot to deploy the flaps prior to takeoff, which contributed to the loss of lift after rotation and the subsequent crash.

Crash of Boeing B-50A-25-BO Superfortress in the San Juan Mountains: 8 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

46-049

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Williams - Williams

MSN:

15769

YOM:

1947

Location:

Williams AFB (Chandler)

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training flight from Williams AFB. En route, the heavy bomber collided with a second USAF Boeing B-50 registered 47-101. Following the collision, the crew of 47-101 was able to land safely while 46-049 went into a dive. Four crew members parachuted to safety, one was killed in the parachute attempt and seven were unable to bail out and were killed when the plane crashed in the San Juan Mountains, south-east of Chandler. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Convair XP5Y-1 Tradewind off Point Loma

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Convair R3Y Tradewind

Operator:

Registration:

121455

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

North Island-Halsey Field NAS (San Diego)

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

North Island - North Island

MSN:

YOM:

1953

Location:

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local test flight on behalf of the Convair Company. After departure from North Island-Halsey Field NAS, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered control difficulties. All 11 crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the seas and crashed off Point Loma. All 11 occupants were rescued while the airplane was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Failure of an elevator torque tube in flight.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Basin: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Ford 4

Operator:

Registration:

N8400

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

4-AT-062

YOM:

Location:

Basin

Montana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a crop spraying mission against spruce bud worms. While flying at low height, the three engine aircraft hit power cable and crashed in a field. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin P5M-1 Marlin off Cape Henry: 7 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Martin P5M-2 Marlin

Operator:

Registration:

126503

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Norfolk - Norfolk

Location:

Virginia Beach

Virginia

Country:

Region: