Crash of a Beechcraft UC-45F Expeditor in Robins AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-47076
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Robins - Wright-Patterson
MSN:
6946
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Robins AFB, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 2 miles east of the airport. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Mt Richter: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48328
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Port Angeles – Medford – Elizabeth City
MSN:
1690
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Port Angeles in the morning on a flight to Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with a first intermediate stop scheduled in Medford, Oregon. The purpose of the flight was to convoy the seaplane for maintenance in Elizabeth City. After four hours into the flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While flying at a height of some 5,000 feet, the left wing hit a peak and was sheared off. The aircraft crashed and burst into flames on the slope of Mt Richter, at the altitude of 4,200 feet. Both passengers were rescued while four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Ralph E. Osterberg, pilot,
Lt John W. MacIntosh Jr., copilot,
Mate Roy Mason, mechanic,
AC1 Ruffin E. Crosby, radio operator.
Passengers:
Mr. Creasy,
Mr. Savage.
Source:
http://www.check-six.com/Coast_Guard/PBY_Mountain_Crash.htm

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Harrington: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Registration:
NC54451
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York – Raleigh
MSN:
13873
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Enroute from New York to Raleigh, the crew contacted ATC and requested to divert to the nearest airport after the right engine lost power. The crew was rerouted to Harrington. On final approach, the aircraft was not properly aligned with the runway centreline and the captain decided to go around. The aircraft flew over the airport at low height and then hit tree tops before crashing in a wooded area. Two crew members were injured while the third occupant was killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that fuel lines and the carburetor on the right engine were contaminated with water, causing the engine to malfunction.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in Patuxent River NAS

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
39079
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10206
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Went out of control after touchdown and collided with trees. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Sand Point NAS

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
43-48936
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Great Falls - McChord
MSN:
14752/26197
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 6,5 miles north of Sand Point NAS while on a flight from Great Falls (Montana) to McChord. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Santa Rosa Island: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08204
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pensacola - Pensacola
MSN:
1098
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While landing off Santa Rosa Island, the seaplane flipped over and crashed. Four crew members were injured while the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Allentown

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the crew informed ground that smoke spread into the cabin. The captain decided to make an emergency landing in a field near Allentown. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire while all three crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas R5D in Oakland NAS: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moffett - Oakland
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The four engine Navy hospital plane was performing a flight from the Moffett AFB located near San Jose, California, to Oakland NAS with 14 patients and a crew of seven on board. The approach to Oakland NAS was completed in low visibility due to foggy conditions, via a GCA guidance system. On final, the aircraft was too low and hit an embankment. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off, the aircraft crash landed, skidded for about 1,000 feet and came to rest in flames. A passenger was killed while 20 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Too low approach in foggy conditions.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon in Miramar NAS: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
37174
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miramar - Miramar
MSN:
15-1140
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a maritime patrol flight. Enroute, the crew informed ground that an engine caught fire and elected to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, at an altitude of 200 feet, the aircraft went out of control and crashed one mile short of runway. Five crew members were killed with two others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.