Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-10-DO Skymaster near Homestead AFB

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
45-0602
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
36055
YOM:
1945
Location:
Homestead AFB
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 4,7 miles northeast of Homestead AFB, south Florida. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of an Howard 350 in Miami

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Howard Super Ventura (Howard 500)
Operator:
Aviation Equipment Corporation of America
Registration:
N350Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brooksville - Miami
MSN:
5892
YOM:
1943
Location:
Miami-Opa Locka
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7600
Captain / Total hours on type:
211.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful positioning flight from Brooksville-Hernando County Airport, the crew started the approach to Miami-Opa Locka Airport. The twin engine airplane landed on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. Both crew members escaped without injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. The crew reported that the gear was lowered prior to touchdown while the gear handle was found in up position.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing TB-17F Flying Fortress near Dubois: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
N1340N
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cody - Cody
MSN:
42-6107
YOM:
1942
Location:
Dubois
Wyoming
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
105.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Cody in the afternoon in a firefighting mission in the region of Dubois. While completing a pullup from a swath run, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed on the slope of a mountain. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged the altitude and clearance and failed to obtain/maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Downdrafts, updrafts,
- High density altitude (13,000 feet),
- Fire drop down slope side of mountain,
- Downwind run,
- Wind up to 35 mph.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560f in Latham: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Dayton Steel & Metal
Registration:
N560F
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Portsmouth - Dayton
MSN:
560-1034-13
YOM:
1961
Location:
Latham
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2249
Captain / Total hours on type:
750.00
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and elected to divert to the nearest airport. While flying at low height, the airplane struck power cables and tree tops before crashing onto the ground. The wreckage was found in an isolated area three days later. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the engine failure could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Orange: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Yankee Air Club
Registration:
N3443G
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Turners Falls - Orange
MSN:
108-33806
YOM:
1944
Location:
Orange
Massachusetts
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
957
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Turners Falls Airport on a training flight to Orange, Massachusetts. On final approach, with landing gears and flaps down, he decided to make a go around when the airplane banked left, got inverted and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot attempted operation beyond experience and ability level. He failed to obtain/maintain flying speed on approach. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poorly planned approach,
- Failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Second go around with gear and flaps down,
- No time in type aircraft for about 11 years.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Watertown

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
K Airways
Registration:
N8139F
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kenora - International Falls - Milwaukee
Location:
Watertown
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3734
Captain / Total hours on type:
16.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Kenora, Ontario, on a flight to Milwaukee with an intermediate stop at International Falls Airport, carrying eight passengers and a pilot. En route, both engines failed and the pilot was vectored to Watertown Airport for an emergency landing. On approach, he realized we would not make it so he raised the landing gear and completed a belly landing in a field. The airplane slid for dozen yards and came to rest. All nine occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines and wheels-up landing caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Miscalculation of fuel consumption,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Approach completed on closed runway,
- Failed to refuel.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-55-LO Orion near Searchlight: 10 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152159
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Nellis – North Island – Barbers Point
MSN:
185-5129
YOM:
1965
Location:
Searchlight
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nellis AFB in Las Vegas on a flight to Barbers Point NAS, Hawaii, with an intermediate stop at North Island-Halsey Field NAS in San Diego. Few minutes after takeoff, the airplane went through a thunderstorm area and encountered heavy turbulences. The pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a desert area located 10 miles northwest of Searchlight, Nevada. The airplane was totally destroyed and debris scattered on more that half a mile. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew (VP-17):
Lt Timothy D. Bailing,
Lt Norman L. Johnson,
Ltjg Henry J. McGreevey,
Adj1 Ambrose Ordonia,
Adj1 Johnny D. Shelton,
Atn3 Cletus L. Morrison,
Aw3 John D. Maas,
Aw3 John W. Schmitz,
Aw3 Michael A. Silvers,
Aw3 Bruce E. Weaver.
Probable cause:
The Navy concluded that the aircraft was struck by lightning, but Lockheed determined that the breakup of the aircraft in flight was caused by structural overloading of the right wing from a positive high angle of attack condition. Lockheed concluded that it was the uncontrollable flight and the resultant stresses that caused the aircraft to disintegrate in flight.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman in Lakewood

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
N1207
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Skydiving / Paratroopers
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lakewood - Lakewood
MSN:
841
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lakewood
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1520
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was engaged in a local skydiving exercice. While taking off from Lakewood, the engine stopped. The airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured while seven other occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel starvation,
- High obstructions,
- Fuel selector positioned between tanks,
- The left fuel tank was empty while approx 12 galons of fuel remained in the right fuel tank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed KC-130F Hercules at El Toro AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
150685
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3728
YOM:
1962
Location:
El Toro MCAS
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:
After touchdown at El Toro AFB, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames on the apron, less than 50 yards from 'Air Force One'. A crew member was killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Piggott: 6 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
62-1802
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Little Rock-Jacksonville - Little Rock-Jacksonville
MSN:
3756
YOM:
1962
Location:
Piggott
Arkansas
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 Little Rock-Jacksonville AFB for a local training mission when the airplane crashed in flames in a prairie located southwest of Piggott. All six crew members were killed.
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