Crash of a Beechcraft C18S Expeditor in Guezalguaque

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C18S
Operator:
Registration:
496
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
6335
YOM:
1944
Location:
Quezalguaque
León
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was forced to make an emergency landing in a cotton field. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while the pilot Cpt Reyes was unhurt.

Crash of a Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard near Aïn Defla: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard
Operator:
Registration:
068
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Colomb-Béchar – Algiers
MSN:
114
YOM:
1958
Location:
Aïn Defla
Aïn Defla
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route from Colomb-Béchar to Algiers, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the Djebel Doui, south of Aïn Defla. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. The flight was operated on behalf of the Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre (ALAT).

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor off Aden: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Berbera – Aden
Location:
Aden-Khormaksar
'Adan (عدن)
Country:
Yemen
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was on its way from Berbera, Somalia, to Aden-Khormaksar, carrying six officers and two crew members. While approaching Aden, it is believed the airplane crashed into the Gulf of Aden. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants was found.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan near Villa Juárez: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Registration:
BHB-1512
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
3965
YOM:
1943
Location:
Villa Juárez
San Luis Potosí
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 5 km southeast of Villa Juárez, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in Orinda: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1960
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
58-1698
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Monterey - Presidio
MSN:
312
YOM:
1959
Location:
Orinda
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was on its way from Monterey, California, to Presidio-Crissy Field AFB in San Francisco, carrying four US Army officers and two crew members who should take part to a football game. While cruising at an altitude of 1,300 feet, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions when the airplane struck a water tower located on the top of a hill. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed into a ravine. All six occupants were killed. The Fort Ord Training Center commander and his deputy were killed in the crash.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 into the Pacific Ocean: 29 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1960 at 1410 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
56541
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Atsugi - Subic Bay
MSN:
22191
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
En route from Atsugi to Subic Bay (Cubi Point NAS, Philippines), the crew informed ATC that engine number three caught fire and elected to divert to Naha Airport, Okinawa. Few minutes after 1400LT, the captain informed ATC about his position and maintained the altitude of 6,500 feet with 339° heading and requested maritime assistance in case of ditching. This was the last message. Shortly later, the four engine aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean some 290 km southeast from Okinawa Island. No trace of the 29 occupants was found but only 350 kilos of debris floating on water.
Probable cause:
Fire of the engine number three in flight for unknown reason.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in San Juan de Arama: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1960
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-109
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Apiay - San Juan de Arama
MSN:
429
YOM:
1953
Location:
San Juan de Arama
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed while approaching San Juan de Arama while on a flight from Apiay Airbase. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-13-FA Provider near Empire: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1960 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
55-4539
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pope - Lowry - Hill - Hamilton
MSN:
20200
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
USAF998
Location:
Empire
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Pope AFB to Hamilton AFB with intermediate stops at Lowry AFB and Ogden-Hill AFB. The aircraft departed Lowry AFB at 0801LT. The crew completed to successives turns to the left then to the right and continued heading 270°. Few minutes later, the airplane entered a box canyon and was unable to gain sufficient height when it struck the slope of Mt Vasquez Peak (3,414 meters high). The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of wrong decision on part of the pilot who violated paragraph 12A (4), AF Reg 60-16 and entered a box canyon with insufficient altitude and lateral clearance from which to effect a safe recovery. The following contributing factors were reported:
- A breach of air discipline, in that the pilot operated his aircraft for a distance of thirty-two miles at altitudes ranging from 500 feet down to 50 feet above the immediate terrain, in violation of Para 12A (3) AF regs 60-16,
- Weather conditions may have been a contributing factor in that the forecast winds and turbulence indicate a probable adverse mountain wave effect on the aircraft immediately prior to impact.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor near Monteflavio: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
MM61684
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Vigna di Valle – Guidonia
MSN:
8023
YOM:
1944
Location:
Monteflavio
Lazio
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching Guidonia Airbase from the northeast, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Pellecchia located near Monteflavio, about 15 km northeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Lorio Barbisan, pilot,
Mar Elio Pizzari,
M/Sgt Alfio Lorenzi,
Sgt Luciano Locatelli.
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