Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster near Orting: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
53-3250
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
44621
YOM:
1955
Location:
Orting
Washington
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:
In unknown circumstances, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located five miles from Orting, killing all four crew members who were conducting a flight out from McChord AFB.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-8 in Naples: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1959 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
17241
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Naples – Luqa
MSN:
43343
YOM:
1944
Location:
Naples
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Naples-Capodichino Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a farmland. Three passengers and one worker on the ground were killed while 17 other occupants were injured. US Navy personnel and family members were on their way to Malta.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in Port-au-Prince

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Haiti Air Force - Corps d'Aviation Haïti
Registration:
5878
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16881/34137
YOM:
1945
Location:
Port-au-Prince
West
Country:
Haiti
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a wasteland. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest. All 28 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II at Incirlik AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
51-5201
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
43611
YOM:
1951
Location:
Incirlik AFB (Adana)
Mediterranean Region (Akdeniz Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff at Incirlik AFB, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed. Four crew members were killed while five others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed WV-2 Super Constellation in Argentia NAS

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1959 at 1459 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
141332
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4456
YOM:
1957
Location:
Argentia NAS
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just before touchdown, the aircraft encountered windshear and hit violently the runway surface. On impact, the right main gear was sheared off. The airplane skidded for about 1,500 feet when the right wing was sheared off as well. The aircraft veered to the right and came to rest 400 feet farther. All 21 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on short final due to windshear.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor near Velletri: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
MM61737
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guidonia – Latina
MSN:
6973
YOM:
1944
Location:
Velletri
Lazio
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Guidonia AFB in the morning on a short flight to Latina Airbase located about 50 km south of Guidonia. While approaching Velletri, the crew encountered foggy conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Artemisio and crashed. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while two other passengers were injured.
Crew:
Lt Elio Pertone, pilot, †
1st Lt Pellegrino Di Troia, copilot. †
Passengers:
S/Sgt Matteo Laganà, †
S/Sgt Antonio Calzolaro,
Angelo Della Nova .

Crash of a Consolidated C-10A Catalina near Curralinho: 23 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1959 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
6513
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1888
YOM:
1944
Location:
Curralinho
Pará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the jungle near Curralinho, Pará. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 23 occupants were killed, among them four crew members.
Crew:
Maj Paulo Ribeiro,
Cpt Rubens Rozsa,
Qav Florival Nery de Souza,
Qmr Aguinaldo Martins Favacho.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dibrugarh

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HJ243
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Dibrugarh-Mohanbari
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Brahmapoutre River, few km from the airfield. All occupants from the 11th Squadron were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL near Prado: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1959 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
2070
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Salvador
MSN:
13822
YOM:
1944
Location:
Prado
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
En route from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances near Prado, south Bahia. The aircraft was destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed, among them Major-Brigadier Dionisio Cerqueira de Taunay who was travelling with his wife and both children on behalf of the Ministry of Defense.

Crash of a Boeing B-52B-25-BO Stratofortress at Castle AFB

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
53-0371
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
16850
YOM:
1953
Location:
Castle AFB
California
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:
During the takeoff roll, at high speed, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the B52 overran and came to rest in a field. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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