Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Douglas R5D-2 off San Francisco: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
90385
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Francisco - San Francisco
MSN:
18358
YOM:
1944
Location:
San Francisco
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While performing a training exercise, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the San Francisco Bay. A crew member was killed while all four other occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman on Kiska Island: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5163
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
154
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kiska Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on Kiska Island in unknown circumstances. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo in Watkins: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
39-22
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2670
YOM:
1939
Location:
Watkins
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route from Lowry AFB, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, hail and turbulences. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in hilly terrain near Watkins, east of Denver. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in Memphis: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15598
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Memphis – Chickasha
MSN:
20064
YOM:
1944
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
During takeoff from Memphis Municipal Airport the copilot mistook the captains hand gesture for a command to raise the undercarriage. The engineer immediately tried to pull the landing gear lever to the neutral position, but the airplane already banked left because of the left hand main gear had started to retract. The nr.1 propeller struck the runway, causing one of the blades to separate. The blade cut through the fuselage near the flight deck, causing considerable damage. A fire erupted due to ruptured hydraulic lines and shorted electrical circuits. It came to rest off the side of the runway. All on board, except for the captain, got out safely.
Probable cause:
Misinterpretation and wrong handling on part of the copilot during takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Naper: 28 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23652
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bruning – Pierre
MSN:
9514
YOM:
1943
Location:
Naper
Nebraska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way to Pierre AFB in South Dakota with 24 passengers (all pilot officers) and a crew of four. En route, the pilots encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went out of control and entered into a spin. When it crossed the last cloud layer, it turn on its back and disintegrated before crashing into a ravine. All 28 occupants were killed. According to the USAF, turbulence and lightning strikes may cause the engine to fail and the aircraft to become out of control.

Crash of a Lockheed 5B Vega in Alaska

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC162W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
128
YOM:
1930
Location:
Alaska
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the single engine aircraft crashed in the region of the Kuskokwim River. While the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire, all five occupants, a pilot and four passengers, were injured.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Cape Henry: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46461
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1825
Location:
Virginia Beach
Virginia
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:
The crew was involved in a night maritime patrol flight off the Virginia coast. In unknown circumstances, the seaplane crashed into the sea off Cape Henry, north of Virginia Beach. No trace of the aircraft nor the nine crew members was found.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87-CF Liberator Express in Merriam: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Operator:
Registration:
43-30565
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Lincoln - Lincoln
MSN:
45
Location:
Kansas City
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training flight from Lincoln and the mission consisted in a test of the embarked compass system. While flying in the region of Kansas City, the crew encountered technical problems with the compass and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft hit tree tops, electric and telephone cables before crashing onto a house located in Merriam, in the suburb of Kansas City. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured. Four people on the ground were injured as well.
Probable cause:
Compass failure in flight.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman on Attu Island: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5232
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
223
YOM:
1943
Location:
Attu Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot, sole aboard.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL off North Carolina: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-30664
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
13815
YOM:
1943
Location:
North Carolina
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
A mass flight of 54 Douglas C-47 aircraft was proceeding at an altitude of 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The third squadron consisted of nine aircraft flying in V-formation. Aircraft number 3 of the left element and aircraft 1 and 2 of the right element lost contact with the squadron leader. After running into a rainstorm the squadron leader ordered the aircraft to make a 180-degree turn and reassemble over the coastline. Despite a three day search no trace of the three aircraft (42-100712, 42-92115, 43-30664) was found.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:

Possible causes for the accidents are a mid-air collision, stalling in formation or controlled flight into water while on instruments and under influence of vertigo.
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