Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner on Mt Tamalpais: 8 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
45415
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alameda - Honolulu
MSN:
45415
Location:
San Rafael
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
1500
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Alameda NAS, while approaching the Golden Gate at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The captain decided to return to his departure point and started a turn to the right while penetrating a cloudy area. By night, the seaplane hit the slope of Mt Tamalpais located some 5 miles southwest of San Rafael. The wreckage was spotted a day later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Joseph L. Resley,
Lt Thomas W. Oliver,
Ens Chapin B. Miller,
ACMM Harry L. Holland,
AMM2 Rodney Jeffers,
ARM2 Thomas J. Joyce,
ARM3 John R. Kelly,
AOM2 Wayne D. Paxson.
Photos: http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/pbm5bu.htm
Probable cause:
According to investigations, the sky was broken at the time of the accident, with scattered showers. Due to an insufficient visibility, it was concluded that weather conditions were unsuitable for such transpacific flight. The crew was unable to detect the mountain because it was shrouded by clouds and the visibility was low due to night.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-10-FO Liberator in Nottingham: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
44-49669
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Manchester – Gander
MSN:
4524
Location:
Nottingham
New Hampshire
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:
Few minutes after take off from Grenier Field AFB in Manchester, en route to Gander, the aircraft went out of control, nosed down and crashed in the Pawtuckaway State Forest in Nottingham, some 16 miles northeast of Manchester. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Robert Hunter Wells,
2nd Lt Paul E. Hackstock,
2nd Lt Wilbur C. Stephensen,
F/O Russell L. Jones,
Cpl Calvin R. Rickenbach,
Cpl Thomas L. McDougall,
Cpl William L. Swarmer Jr.,
Cpl Preston K. Smith,
Cpl Kenneth J. Young.
Probable cause:
It appears the loss of control occurred when a tail surface hinge failed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Blue Mounds: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16407
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chicago – Minneapolis
MSN:
20873
YOM:
1944
Location:
Blue Mounds
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising by night bound for Minneapolis, the crew encountered poor weather and icing conditions. Unable to maintain a sage height, the captain decided to descend at 2,000 feet and elected to return to Chicago when the aircraft hit a mountain slope (1,716 feet high) located in Blue Mounds. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Alameda NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
45422
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Alameda NAS - Alameda NAS
MSN:
45422
Location:
Alameda NAS (Oakland)
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:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Alameda NAS following a training mission, the seaplane caught fire and crashed in the San Francisco Bay. Three crew members were killed while all five other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Lawrenceville-George AAF: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7804
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lawrenceville - Lawrenceville
MSN:
4296
YOM:
1942
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:
Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces. It appears the crew was engaged in a circular night training mission and just after rotation, the crew encountered undetermined technical problems with the undercarriage. Probably distracted by this event, pilots did not realize that the power lever moved rearward, away from their takeoff position.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK near Placitas: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49365
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Wichita – Long Beach – Los Angeles
MSN:
26626/15181
YOM:
1944
Location:
Placitas
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route to Long Beach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was instructed to divert to Albuquerque. Shortly later, strong vertical wind and snow falls forced the crew to reduce his altitude in an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground. The aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed 5 miles south of Placitas. SAR arrived on site three days later and five men seriously injured were evacuated while all seven other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Casper: 11 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7834
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Casper - Casper
MSN:
4333
YOM:
1942
Location:
Casper
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from runway 25 at Casper Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 3 miles northwest of the airfield. All eleven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Mt Strawberry: 11 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16143
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Rafael – Bakersfield – Los Angeles
MSN:
20609
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Strawberry
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Los Angeles-Mines Field, the aircraft hit a mountain slope located 2 miles northeast of Mt Strawberry, some 10 miles north of Altadena. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew received erroneous data relating to the wind component and direction prior to departure from Bakersfield-Meadows Field. This resulted in a deviation from the prescribed flight path and the crew started the descent while steel above the mountainous terrain north of Altadena. In low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain northeast of Mt Strawberry and was destroyed. Thus, the accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster off Marathon: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-107438
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
7457
YOM:
1943
Location:
Marathon
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night take off from runway 07, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea some 3 miles off shore. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off Jacksonville NAS: 17 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
39063
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
9941
Location:
Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was approaching Jacksonville-Towers Field when it collided with a US Navy Goodyear FG-1A Corsair registered 13334. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Saint Johns River, some 1,5 mile off the airfield. All 17 occupants on board the R4D-5 and the pilot of the Corsair were killed. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unknown.
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