Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-1 Kansan in Barksdale AFB

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
39806
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4447
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL on the Mt Susitna: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
43-15299
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Eielson - Elmendorf
MSN:
19765
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While descending to Elmendorf AFB, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Susitna (4,200 feet high) and located about 34 miles northwest of Anchorage. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-50 LodeStar near Santa Clarita: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N13Y
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Burbank – San Diego
MSN:
18-2180
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was en route from Los Angeles to Burbank with two pilots and one passenger. It was scheduled to make a stop in Burbank to pick up passengers before continuing to San Diego. As the crew did not receive the permission to start the descent to Burbank-Hollywood Airport, he stacked in a holding pattern southwest of Santa Clarita when the aircraft hit the Mt Rocky Peak. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. The airplane was owned by the American Aviator Jacqueline Cochran who was not on board at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 off Midway Island

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
87755
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tokyo - Barbers Point
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ditched due to fuel exhaustion caused by a faulty navigation near Midway Island enroute from Tokyo-Haneda Airport, Japan, to Barbers Point NAS, Hawaii. All crew members were rescued by a Navy ship while the plane sank by gunfire.
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the crew.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-229 in Utica: 16 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N18936
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ithaca – Syracuse – Utica – Newark
MSN:
2011
YOM:
1937
Flight number:
RBS032
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Captain / Total flying hours:
4431
Captain / Total hours on type:
1900.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2273
Aircraft flight hours:
19023
Circumstances:
Prior to takeoff, the engines were given a pre-flight check, following which the takeoff roll was commended. The flaps were in the "full up" position for the takeoff. The aircraft became airborne in a normal manner approximately 1,500 feet down the runway and climbed to an altitude of approximately 50 feet and leveled off. At this time, the landing gear was retracted and the air speed was estimated to be 105 to 110 miles per hour by qualified observers. Approximately 3,000 feet from the point of take-off parts were observed falling from the left engine and the aircraft made a shallow turn to the left. At this time, the left propeller appeared to be fully feathered. The flight continued in a left turn, slowly losing altitude until it struck a grove of trees 1.5 miles southeast of the airport. The elevation of the terrain at this point was 480 feet which is 256 feet below the elevation of the airport. The tree tops were 80 feet above the ground. First impact with the trees was made on a heading of approximately 60 degrees and as the aircraft descended through the trees, it turned anti-clockwise 180 degrees to the original heading. Following impact with the trees, the fuel tanks ruptured causing a fire which consumed the fuselage. Sixteen of the occupants were fatally injured and seven seriously injured. The survivors escaped either through broken windows on the right side, or the right rear escape hatch.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the left engine shortly after take-off, coupled with increased drag due to loss of left engine cowling and reduced power output of the right engine because the right propeller was in the high pitch position.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-15-FA Flying Boxcar near Parsons: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0163
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Smyrna - Smyrna
MSN:
10400
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While completing a local training mission from Smyrna AFB, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a prairie located seven miles northwest of Parsons. Two crewmen were injured while seven others were killed.

Ground accident of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Quonset Point NAS

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48411
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Quonset Point - Quonset Point
MSN:
1773
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ground-looped while taxiing in Quonset Point NAS. There were no casualties but the seaplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas B-26B Invader near George AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-34174
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
George - George
MSN:
27453
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight from George AFB when the twin engine aircraft collided in unknown circumstances with a second USAF Douglas B-26B Invader registered 44-34677. Out of control, both aircraft crashed into the El mirage desert area located about 12 miles northwest of George AFB. One pilot survived while the second crewman was killed. On the second aircraft, both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-26B Invader near George AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-34677
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
George - George
MSN:
29956
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight from George AFB when the twin engine aircraft collided in unknown circumstances with a second USAF Douglas B-26B Invader registered 44-34174. Out of control, both aircraft crashed into the El mirage desert area located about 12 miles northwest of George AFB. Both crew members were killed. On the second aircraft, a crewman survived while the second occupant was killed.