Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11-BH Kansan near Centralia

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-9540
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
966
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation, decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous and uninhabited area located six miles east of Centralia. Both pilots were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor into the Hudson: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
51-11621
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
AF-178
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Newburgh-Stewart Airport, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot-in-command elected to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River. The airplane sank rapidly and three occupants were killed while three others were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-75-BN Stratofortress in Wilsonville: 11 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62320
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Travis - Travis
MSN:
11797
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew left Travis AFB on a special mission consisting of an aerial attack of the city of Portland. Two pilots on board a Lockheed F-94 Starfire registered 49-2574 left McChord AFB to assist the bomber in this mission. In flight, while engaged in a gunnery mission, both aircraft collided. It is believed that during one of the mock passes at the bomber, the fighter struck the outer wing of the B-29. While the crew of the Starfire was able to complete an emergency landing at Aurora Airport, the heavy bomber went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Billy Edward Butler,
Cpt William E. Cullen,
A1c Glen P. Daily,
Cpt Parker A. Goodall,
Maj Robert W. Head,
Lt Orval L. Huffman,
Maj Robert Cleveland Jobe,
S/Sgt Clarence Krohn,
A2c Charles E. Wovries 2.

Crash of a Douglas EC-47D in Philadelphia-Northeast: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
43-48870
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Niagara Falls - Mitchel
MSN:
14686/26131
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route to Mitchel AFB in Long Island, the crew was forced to divert to LaGuardia Airport due to poor weather conditions. A landing in LaGuardia was also impossible due to foggy conditions so the captain decided to divert to the Philadelphia-Northeast Airfield. During a night approach, the airplane crashed in a swampy area located one mile short of runway. While all three passengers were rescued, all three crew members were killed.

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

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1515V
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
York - Nantucket
MSN:
04336
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from York Airport, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest, bursting into flames. All six occupants were injured.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor off Oswego

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bedford - Griffiss
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Bedford, Massachusetts, to the Griffiss AFB in Rome, New York. En route, an engine failed, forcing all five occupants to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. On automatic pilot, the airplane continued to fly for about an hour before crashing into the Lake Ontario off Oswego. All five occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was written off and later recovered in 2014.
Crew:
Lt Col Charles A. Callahan, pilot,
Lt Sam Sharff.
Passengers:
Lt Col G. S. Lambert,
William P. Bethke,
Joseph M. Eannario.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-70-BN Stratofortress in Philipsburg

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62299
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
11776
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed en route, forcing the crew to bail out. The airplane crashed in a mountainous area located about four miles northeast of Philipsburg and was destroyed upon impact. All 12 occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing DB-17G Flying Fortress near Eglin AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
44-83680
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eglin - Eglin
MSN:
32321
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a USAF North American F-86D Sabre registered 50-469 while performing a local training flight. Crashed in a prairie, killing four crew members and injuring four others.
Probable cause:
Shot down by error.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Ellington AFB

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
44-76273
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ellington - Ellington
MSN:
15857/32605
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-61-DL Invader in Plum Tree Island: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-34599
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Langley - Langley
MSN:
27878
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie from Langley AFB when a structural failure occurred in flight. The airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in the Plum Tree Island Reserve. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Structural failure in flight.