Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Lawrenceville-George AFB

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16144
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20610
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lawrenceville-George AAF
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Lawrenceville-George AFB after completing a glider tow mission. While approaching at an altitude of 2,400 feet, the aircraft collided with a USAAF C-47 registered 42-24101 and carrying a crew of 2. Following the collision, the crew was able to reach the airport and completed a safe belly landing. All seven crew members were unhurt but unfortunately, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. The other C-47 crashed in a field located 3 miles north of the airfield, killing its both pilots.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-45-DL in Lawrenceville-George AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-24101
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lawrenceville-George - Lawrenceville-George
MSN:
9963
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lawrenceville-George AAF
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission at Lawrenceville-George AFB. While descending to the airport at an altitude of 2,400 feet, the aircraft collided with a USAAF C-47 registered 43-16144 and carrying a crew of 7. The first C-47 lost a part of its right wing, went out of control and crashed in a field located 3 miles north of the airfield. Both pilots were killed. The crew of the second C-47 was able to reach the airport and completed a safe belly landing. All seven crew members were unhurt but unfortunately, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew killed were:
2nd Lt Robert Wayne Stroh,
2nd Lt Douglas Cook Woodbury.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-277 near Rural Retreat: 17 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC18142
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New York – Washington DC – Nashville – Los Angeles
MSN:
2138
YOM:
1939
Flight number:
AA009
Location:
Rural Retreat
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Aircraft flight hours:
17296
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Washington DC Airport at 0011LT bound for Nashville, continued to the southwest at an altitude of 4,000 feet. While cruising in poor weather conditions due to turbulence and rain falls, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on the slope of Mt Glade located 5,6 miles southwest of Rural Retreat. Rescue teams arrived on the scene some four hours later. The stewardess and four passengers were seriously injured and evacuated to local hospitals while all 17 other occupants, among them both pilots, were killed.
Crew:
James E. Stroud, pilot, †
Robert E. Brigman, copilot, †
Sarah Worley Padgett, stewardess.
Probable cause:
The Board concludes that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to properly plan the flight and remain at a sage instrument altitude under existing conditions. A contributing cause of the accident was the company's laxity in dispatching and supervising the flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Elizabeth City: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
05007
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Elizabeth City
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Elizabeth City, killing both crew members Ensign Walter D. Huston and Arm1 J. A. Wood.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Oblong: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100996
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lawrenceville-George - Lawrenceville-George
MSN:
19459
YOM:
1944
Location:
Oblong
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Lawrenceville-George AAF in the evening on a night training mission with paratroopers. In flight, the crew encountered engine problems, left the formation (was taking part to an exercise with 20 other USAAF C-47) and eventually lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field located 4 miles east of Oblong. Four crew members were killed. It is believed that the crew misinterpreted the engine problem as a runaway propeller.
Crew:
2nd Lt Alexander Cairney,
2nd Lt Monte R. Hamilton,
Pfc Clarence C. Orr 1.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 off Oakland NAS: 24 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
50765
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
14848/26293
YOM:
1944
Location:
Oakland
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 27, while in initial climb by night and in marginal weather conditions, the pilot made a turn to the right when the right wing tip hit the water surface. The aircraft crashed into the Bay of San Francisco and none of the 24 occupants survived. The cloud ceiling was down to 500 feet at the time of the accident with a good visibility under the cloud layer.
Probable cause:
The crew was unaware of his real position after takeoff due to the malfunction of a gyro. Because the aircraft was flying over the Bay of San Francisco and due to lack of visibility and the absence of ground visual references, the crew lost his bearings during initial climb.

Crash of a Curtiss R5C-1 Commando near Los Angeles: 8 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
39504
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
MSN:
26498
YOM:
1943
Location:
Los Angeles
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances south of Los Angeles, killing all eight crew members. The s/n has not been confirmed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Brookings: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46611
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Francisco – Seattle
Location:
Brookings
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Enroute, the seaplane hit the slope of a mountain near Brookings, killing all nine crew members.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina in the St Johns River: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08411
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Jacksonville - Jacksonville
Location:
Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed while landing in the St Johns River off the Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS. Five crew members were killed while five others were injured.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina into the Escambia Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2378
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pensacola - Pensacola
Location:
Pensacola
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed while landing into the Escambia Bay, off Pensacola. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured.
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