Crash of a Douglas C-54-DO Skymaster in Lookout Rock: 50 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC88842
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chicago-Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Washington DC-Norfolk
MSN:
3112
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
PCA410
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Captain / Total flying hours:
18001
Captain / Total hours on type:
1309.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2513
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1833
Aircraft flight hours:
8038
Circumstances:
The flight departed Pittsburgh at 1724 and at 1753, 29 minutes later, reported over the Flintstone Intersection, 88 miles southeast of Pittsburgh at 7,000 feet. At 1754 the flight received a message from Washington Airway Traffic Control clearing it to the Herndon Fan Marker to maintain 7,000 feet until further advised The flight was also instructed that there would be an indefinite delay at Herndon but that approach clearance could be expected no later than 1920, which was approximately one hour and 10 minutes later than its estimated time of arrival Immediately after receiving this message the flight was given the 1730 hourly weather sequence report for Washington After acknowledging receipt of the Washington weather report, Flight 410 instructed the company station at Washington to request from Airway Traffic Control a clearance to approach Washington in accordance with contact flight rules on the right side of the west leg of the Arcola radio range This request was approved by Airway Traffic Control and at 1803 the flight received a message clearing it to the Washington tower to cross the Arcola radio range station at or below 2,500 feet and in accordance with contact flight rules. The flight was advised that if this were not possible it was to hold at 2,500 feet and to inform Airway Traffic Control. Prior to establishing its descent the flight was instructed to report when leaving each 1,000-foot level In accordance with these instructions Flight 410 reported leaving the 7,000-foot level at 1805 and two minutes later another report was received from the flight indicating it was leaving 6,000 feet. The flight reported its position as "south of Martinsburg" at 1808 and immediately thereafter reported that it was leaving 5,000 feet at that time At 1810 another report was received from the flight, leaving 4,000 feet." Three minutes thereafter the flight again reported its progress and indicated it was leaving 3,000 feet. Approximately 6 minutes later the company station at Washington initiated several calls to the flight but, although these transmissions were continued for several hours, no contact was established.
Probable cause:
The Board finds that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in descending below the minimum enroute altitude under conditions of weather which prevented adequate visual reference to the ground. A contributing cause was the faulty clearance given by Airway Traffic Control, tacitly approved by the company dispatcher, and accepted by Flight 410.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose in Ketchikan

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC86590
MSN:
1028
YOM:
0
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while landing on a lake near Ketchikan. Occupant fate remains unknown. It is reported that the crew forgot to raise the landing gear.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-15-DO Skymaster near Bainbridge: 53 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC88814
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Newark – Miami
MSN:
18380
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
EA605
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
49
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
53
Captain / Total flying hours:
11514
Captain / Total hours on type:
683.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2550
Copilot / Total hours on type:
488
Aircraft flight hours:
3623
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Newark Airport at 1704LT on a flight to Miami. While climbing to an altitude of 4,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 2 miles east of Bainbridge. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 53 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a sudden loss of control, for reasons unknown, resulting in a dive to the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in La Guardia: 43 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC30046
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York – Cleveland
MSN:
18324
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
UA521
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
43
Captain / Total flying hours:
8703
Captain / Total hours on type:
336.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2323
Copilot / Total hours on type:
256
Aircraft flight hours:
5950
Circumstances:
Flight 521 taxied from its parked position, rolled onto Runway 18, and without pause or hesitation accelerated for take-off. The throttles were advanced. Air speed increased to above 90 miles per hour. Captain Baldwin applied back pressure to the control column, but the "feel" of the controls was "heavy," and the aircraft did not respond. As the aircraft raced toward the boundary of the field, Captain Baldwin decided to discontinue his take-off. About 1,000 feet from the south and of the runway he applied brakes, ordering the co-pilot at the same time to cut the engines. A ground-loop was attempted by heavy application of left brake. The aircraft, however, proceeded to roll straight ahead. Then, in the both brakes locked it continued over the remainder of the runway, crashed through the fence at the airport boundary, and half-bounced, half-flew across the Grand Central Parkway. The aircraft finally came to rest immediately east of the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics, a distance of 800 feet from the end of Runway 18 and 1,700 feet from the point at which brakes were first applied. It was almost immediate enveloped in flames. The captain, another crew member and three passengers were rescued while 43 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was either the failure of the pilot to release the gust lock before take-off, or his decision to discontinue the take-off because of apprehension resulting from rapid use of a short runway under a possible calm wind condition.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-29F-100-BW Superfortress in Fort Wainwright AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-21848
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13742
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fort Wainwright AFB (Ladd Field), while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames 3 miles east of the airfield. Nine crew members were rescued while three others were killed.

Crash of a Boeing XC-97 Stratofreighter in Wright-Patterson AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
43-27472
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
8483
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Wright-Patterson AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a field located 5 miles short of runway. Five crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Livingston

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
43-49248
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
15064/26509
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous are located 5 miles southeast of Livingston. Both pilots were found unharmed.

Crash of a DC-3 in Gainesville

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC53011
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4276
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The DC-3 cargo plane landed on a runway which was 4,200 feet long but the pilot made his approach too fast. Brakes were not used until within 300 feet of the end of the runway. The aircraft continued off the runway, down a rough incline and across a dirt road. It was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Source:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19470516-1

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation off Cape May Pount: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
NC86508
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
New Castle - New Castle
MSN:
2029
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
3300
Captain / Total hours on type:
155.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3795
Copilot / Total hours on type:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
2214
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a training mission (pilot transition program). While cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet and completing a turn to the left, the four engine aircraft christened 'Star of Athens' went into a dive and crashed into the Delaware Bay, some 7 miles west off Cape May Pount. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board finds that the probable cause of this accident was loss of control of the aircraft for reasons undetermined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-20-FA Packet near Austin

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-23028
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10072
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to make an emergency belly landing southeast of Bergstrom AFB, near Austin. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.