Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

32 minutes after its departure from Dover AFB, while cruising east of Maryland coast at an altitude of 17,000 feet, the airplane disappeared from radar screens and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. An empty life raft and a nose wheel were found floating on water some 53 miles east of Ocean City, Maryland, but no trace of the ten occupants was found. Amazingly, no other debris were found as the airplane was carrying 25 tons of various materials consisting of clothes, boxes and bags.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Lockheed WV-2Q Super Constellation in Markt Schwaben: 26 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1962 at 1140 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Operator:

Registration:

131390

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

4310

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Frankfurt-Main on a special flight, carrying a crew of four, 22 passengers and thousands of confidential documents of the US Army. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet, the crew contacted ATC twice, declared an emergency and elected to divert to Munich-Riem Airport. Shortly later, the aircraft exploded and crashed in a field located in Markt Schwaben, 17 km south of Munich Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 26 occupants were killed. Debris and documents were scattered on an area over 65 km2.

Probable cause:

It is believed the airplane suffered a major structural failure in flight, maybe due to fatigue cracks that were not detected during the last maintenance check. The assumption that a fire erupted in the cargo compartment was not ruled out.

Crash of a Beriev BE-10 in Russia

Date & Time: May 22, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Beriev Be-10

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Russia. It is believed the accident was the consequence of a technical problem.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK off Kaimana

Date & Time: May 17, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

T-440

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

12097

YOM:

1943

Location:

Kaimana

Special Region of West Papua

Country:

Indonesia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After dropping paratroopers near Kaimana, the aircraft was intercepted by a Royal Netherlands Navy (MLD) Neptune registered 207 and fires by 20 mm bullets. The crew elected to ditch the aircraft offshore. The aircraft sank and was lost while all seven crew members were rescued.

Probable cause:

Shot down.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules near Nairobi: 13 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

56-0546

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tripoli – Nairobi

MSN:

3154

YOM:

1958

Location:

Nairobi

Nairobi City District

Country:

Kenya

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a flight from Wheelus Airbase in Mitiga to Nairobi, carrying support personnel and equipment for the recovery team of the Aurora 7, the second American manned orbital flight. While descending to Nairobi from the west, after a holding circuit, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds and located 32 km west of the airport of Nairobi-Embakasi. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Möng Pa-liao: 32 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

UB-BG707

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tachilek – Mandalay

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after its takeoff from Tachilek Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located in Möng Pa-liao, some 57 km northeast of Tachilek Airport (coordinates N 20 50' 26" E 100° 20' 51"). The aircraft was destroyed and all 32 occupants were killed, among them 11 civilians.

Probable cause:

It is believed the accident was the consequence of a loss of control caused by an engine failure.

Crash of a Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris I in Mendoza: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris

Operator:

Registration:

E-216

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mendoza - Morón

MSN:

A-4

YOM:

1961

Location:

Mendoza

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed, killing both crew members.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando near Valle de Jamastrán

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

794

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was departing an airstrip at Valle de Jamastrán when it crashed while taking off and came to rest, bursting into flames. All three occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
Cpt Jorge Torres O., pilot,
Lt Oscar Colindrez C., copilot.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Jerez de la Frontera: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

T.3-26

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Jerez de la Frontera - Cadiz

MSN:

20471

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Jerez de la Frontera Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Guadalquivir River, north of the airport. All ten occupants were killed. They were flying back to their base at Cadiz AFB.