Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster near Lula

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-72193
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10298
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, all crew members abandoned the aircraft and bailed out following a fuel exhaustion. All occupants were found alive while the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field.
Source: http://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=83573
Probable cause:
Aircraft abandoned following a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-393 in Birmingham: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC21786
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Guardia – Pittsburgh – Knoxville – Birmingham
MSN:
4131
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
PCA105
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4517
Captain / Total hours on type:
3617.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3401
Copilot / Total hours on type:
773
Aircraft flight hours:
5864
Circumstances:
The approach to runway 18 was completed in marginal weather conditions. On final, the aircraft was well above the glide and with an excessive speed. It landed half way down the runway and after touchdown, was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, went through a fence and down an embankment before coming to rest with the cockpit crushed on the opposite embankment and partially submerged in a drainage ditch. The aircraft was written off and three crew members, among them both pilots, were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in committing himself to a landing from an approach which was too high and too fast.
Final Report:

Crash of a Budd RB-1 Conestoga in Bluefield

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
NC45347
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
003
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Washington DC. Enroute, he encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls and decided to divert to Knoxville Airport. Unfortunately, the pilot was unable to locate the airfield and decided to return to the capital city. While cruising in a snowstorm, the crew decided to make an emergency landing, reduced his altitude and belly landed on a golf course located in Bluefield. All eight occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-201 in La Guardia: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC18123
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jacksonville – Savannah – Columbia – Raleigh – Richmond – Washington DC – Philadelphia – La Guardia
MSN:
1999
YOM:
1937
Flight number:
EA014
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8057
Captain / Total hours on type:
4957.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
967
Copilot / Total hours on type:
215
Aircraft flight hours:
21348
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Philadelphia, the crew started the descent by night to La Guardia Airport in unfavorable weather conditions. A first attempt to land was aborted and during the second one, the aircraft was too high when it passed over the runway threshold. The captain reduced engine power and the initial contact with the runway occurred well down on runway at an airspeed considerably above the stalling speed of the aircraft. The aircraft bounded approximately 20 feet in the air and remained airborne for several hundred feet before again contacting the runway. After another shorter bounce, the aircraft remained on the runway and brakes were applied in an attempt to stop. However, due to the airspeed, which was still relatively high, and the snow and slush which covered the runway, little deceleration was accomplished. The aircraft continued off the end of the runway, demolished a small wooden building which housed the localizer transmitter, and came to rest in the Flushing Bay, approximately 200 feet beyond the field boundary. The aircraft was destroyed, 13 occupants were rescued while a passenger was drowned.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the decision of the pilot in attempting a landing from an approach which was too high and too fast.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper in Jacksonville: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
42-15562
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Augusta - Morrison
MSN:
7357
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Augusta-Bush Field, Georgia, to Morrison AFB in West Palm Beach. Enroute, he encountered engine trouble and the captain elected to divert to Jacksonville Airport. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway. A crewman was killed while the second occupant was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine trouble caused by fuel mismanagement on part of the crew.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Fort Worth: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
46497
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Biloxi – Seattle
MSN:
1861
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While on a ferry flight from CGAS Biloxi to NAS Seattle for overhaul, the pilot reported an oil leak in the right engine. He then reported a single engine operation and requested an emergency clearance to Fort Worth. The aircraft proceeded out the north leg of the Fort Worth range where the other engine stopped due to an unknown cause, and the propeller was feathered. The aircraft emerged from the clouds in a spin to the left and impacted the ground. All seven crew members were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.
Crew:
Lt Vaughn E. Salisbury,
Cpt Ernest C. Lindsey,
Ammc John E. Vallowe,
Arm1 William L. Hickman,
Amm2 George L. Proffitt,
Amm1 Oswald D. Jacobson,
Cpl Marion Higgins.
Probable cause:
Oil leak on the right engine and failure of the left engine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in Billings: 19 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
45-0922
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Minneapolis – Fargo – Billings
MSN:
16925/34183
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Fargo to Billings with 21 veterans on board. In flight, the weather conditions at destination worsened and visibility dropped from 10 miles to half a mile due to heavy snow storm. On final approach to Billings Airport, the aircraft was too low, hit a tree and crashed in flames in a snow covered field, 400 meters short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 17 passengers were killed, four others were seriously injured. Those killed were:
Crew:
Cpt George D. Miller, pilot,
Cpt Vernon Pfannkuch, pilot.
Maj Ray Craft,
S/Sgt Thomas Thomsen,
T/Sgt Glenn Marr,
Sgt Don Haley,
Tec Virgil Kinne,
Tec Warren Parrish,
Lt Anthony Alnsky,
Pfc Clayton Thompson,
Tec Fred Chapman,
Pfc Maceo Hobbs,
Pfc Walter Orchard,
Tec John Marshall,
Sgt Charles Ennen,
Cpl Lorrell Cassell,
Tec Ned Neasham,
Pfc David Gillett,
Tec Adolph Tokie.
Those who survived were:
Tec Emil A. Hasch,
Pfc Raymond Parkins,
Cpl Milford Barnes,
Tec Raymond Emerson.
Probable cause:
According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency, it appears that the pilot descended too rapidly during the last turn to the left and failed to allow for the possibility of a downdraft. At any rate, (the) pilot wound up below the level of the field, still in a turning attitude, (then the) aircraft struck a tree, crashed and burned.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura near Mt Saint Helens: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49459
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Whidbey Island - Clinton
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered unknown technical problems with the engines while cruising in poor weather conditions. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft hit a mountain slope locate about 7 miles east of Mt Saint Helens. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was located by walkers in early 1960.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Auburn: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
43-16374
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Davis Monthan – Palm Springs – McClellan
MSN:
20840
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
115
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Palm Springs in VFR conditions but while approaching the Sacramento area, the crew should continue in IFR mode. While descending to McClellan AFB, pilots were unable to locate the airport and were unaware of their exact position when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on a wooded mountain located three miles northwest of Auburn, about 20 miles northeast of the McClellan AFB. All three crew members and six passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Corpus Christi: 12 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
69113
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training mission and shortly after takeoff from the bay off Corpus Christi NAS, while climbing to a height of 400 feet, the aircraft collided with another Mariner registered 01710 and carrying a crew of 15. This second aircraft was approaching Corpus Christi NAS to land when the collision occurred. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, some 2,5 miles offshore. On the first Mariner, there were no survivor among the 12 occupants. On board the second Mariner, five crew members were rescued while all ten other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The collision was attributed to a lack of discipline and coordination on part of both crew who failed to follow the procedures in place around the Corpus Christi NAS. At the time of the accident, there was no navigation aids and no ATC at the airbase and both crew were trained aware to put full attention to potential traffic. At the time of the collision, both crew were not focused on workload and environmental operations. Although it was dark at the time of the accident, visibility was greater than nine miles and weather conditions were considered as good.