Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-60-CO Liberator near Biggs AAF: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-100002
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
3150
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Biggs AAF, while climbing, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a desert area located some 6 miles northeast of the airbase. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64B Norseman in Elmendorf AFB

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5276
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
267
YOM:
1943
Location:
Elmendorf-Richardson AFB (JBER)
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:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft crashed on take off for unknown reason and was destroyed. The pilot Harry B. Dubuque was injured.

Crash of a Beechcraft UC-45B Expeditor in Grand Island: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
43-35582
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6044
Location:
Grand Island
Nebraska
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:
Crashed on landing at Grand Island Airport, killing all five crew members. The crew was involved in a control flight, prior to delivery to the RAF.

Crash of a Martin B-26C-40-MO Marauder in Del Rio: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-35821
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Del Rio - Del Rio
Location:
Del Rio
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6500
Circumstances:
The crew (two pilots and one instructor) was involved in a training flight. While flying some 4 miles east of Del Rio-Laughlin Field, the twin engine aircraft collided with another Martin B-26 Marauder registered 41-35870. Both aircraft crashed and were destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire.
Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=109108
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of this Board that both airplanes were flying a heading of approximately 80 degrees with airplane B behind and slightly above airplane A. Airplane B was flying faster than airplane A and overtook and collided with airplane A approximately four (4) miles east of Laughlin Field.
The collision was clearly seen by several individuals on this field. All witnesses agree both airplanes were flying contact but since the airplanes collided four to six miles from the various witnesses, there is no clear account of how the collision occurred. The instructor in airplane A had a total of 1,335 hours. The pilot of airplane B had a total of approximately 6,500 hours.
From the evidence found in the wreckage, airplane A exploded and burned while still in the air. Sections of both wings and empennage came off before the aircraft struck the ground. Aircraft B hit the ground relatively intact and was destroyed by fire. The crash was fatal to all personnel.
Any attempt to state what actually caused the accident would be conjecture.
Statement of Responsibility: none
Rocomendations: none

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Fayetteville-Pope: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23866
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fayetteville - Fayetteville
MSN:
9728
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pope AFB (Fayetteville)
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a paratroop exercise involving twelve similar aircraft. Number eight, the pilot started the take off procedure when the aircraft swerved on the runway. The captain decided to take off prematurely and while at a height of some 150 feet, the aircraft banked left and crashed in flames on the left side of the runway. A pilot was killed while all ten other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
According to the investigations, the crew precipitated the rotation because the aircraft swerved on take off and slip from left to right. The course was not straight because the tail wheel was unlocked.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Midway Island: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46500
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Midway Island
United States Minor Outlying Islands
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances off Midway Island. All nine crewmen were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-1-LO LodeStar in Elmira: 6 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-55857
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Huntington - Newark
MSN:
18-2230
Location:
Elmira-Corning
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Huntington on a training mission to Newark. En route, the weather conditions deteriorated, the crew requested ATC assistance and was eventually rerouted to Elmira-Corning Airport, NY. Twice, the crew was forced to abandon the approach due to poor visibility and made a go around. During the third attempt to land, the twin engine aircraft was too low and hit a mountain located some 11 km west of the airport. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Fayetteville-Pope: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23925
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fayetteville - Fayetteville
MSN:
9787
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pope AFB (Fayetteville)
North Carolina
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:
The crew was performing a training flight in the region of the Fayetteville-Pope Airport. En route, the aircraft flew into a cloudy area and the pilot decided to leave the zone and made a 180 turn when, from a height of some 700 to 1,000 feet, he lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground. During the dive, the right elevator failed before the aircraft crashed in a field in a near vertical position. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D Liberator off West Palm Beach: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11889
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Homestead - Homestead
MSN:
385
Location:
West Palm Beach
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:
The crew departed Homestead AFB in the morning for a training exercise along the east coast of Florida. En route, the aircraft collided with a Pennsylvania Central Air Lines DC-3 flying from Miami to Savannah on behalf of the USAAF. Registered NC21788, the DC-3-313 was carrying four people (two crew and two passengers). Both aircraft crashed into the sea, less than one mile from each other, and the wreckage were found some 6 miles southeast of Lake Worth. All eight occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations determined that both aircraft were flying face to face at the altitude of 1,500 feet when the collision occurred. It appears that both crews did not realize the presence of each other because their attention was focused on cockpit duties and workload.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-313 off West Palm Beach: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC21788
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Miami - Savannah
MSN:
2187
YOM:
1940
Location:
West Palm Beach
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Miami Airport bound for Savannah on behalf of the USAAF. After departure, the crew was allowed to climb to 3,000 feet along the east coast of Florida. In the same region was flying a USAAF Consolidated B-24D Liberator registered 41-11889 with a crew of four on board. The crew departed Homestead AFB in the morning for a training exercise. En route, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea, less than one mile from each other. All eight occupants on board both aircraft were killed and the wreckage were found some 6 miles southeast of Lake Worth.
Probable cause:
Investigations determined that both aircraft were flying face to face at the altitude of 1,500 feet when the collision occurred. It appears that both crews did not realize the presence of each other because their attention was focused on cockpit duties and workload.
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