Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II in the Pacific Ocean: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1958 at 0133 LT
Operator:
Registration:
50-0107
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hickam – Wake Island – Tokyo
MSN:
43245
YOM:
1950
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising by night, the crew informed ATC about technical issues with the number three and elected to feather the propeller. In the mean time, the captain decided to divert to Hickam Field. Thirteen minutes later, the crew reported he was unable to feather the propeller that was windmilling while the engine number three was losing oil. In such condition, the captain decided to divert to Johnston atoll closer from his position. Unfortunately, shortly later, a propeller detached from the engine number three and struck the ailerons, causing serious control difficulties. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted to ditch the airplane about 200 miles northeast of the Johnston atoll. Rescuers arrived twelve hours later and were able to evacuate three wounded crew members while the aircraft sank and six other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight technical problems with propeller and engine number three.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Westover AFB: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1958 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3599
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Westover – Brize Norton
MSN:
17348
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The aircraft was conducting a special flight from Westover AFB to RAF Brize Norton, near London, carrying a crew of seven and eight american journalists who covered the first transatlantic flight on a KC-135 airplane. Two other similar aircraft left the airbase earlier and 56-3599 was the third of a series of four. At liftoff from runway 23, the airplane encountered serious difficulties to gain height and struck trees with its right wing. It then struck power cables and crashed in a huge explosion on the Massachusetts highway about 1,000 yards past the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 15 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the flaps were deployed at a wrong angle of 40° at takeoff. The combination of a wrong flaps setting with an heavily loaded aircraft and relative high temperature reduced the aircraft performances. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to 2,5 km due to the night and low ceiling. No mechanical failure of any means and no in-flight fire occurred prior to final impact.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 near San Luis

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-98
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
04180
YOM:
1948
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Mendoza, weather conditions deteriorated and the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a field located about 20 km southeast of San Luis. The captain was injured while four other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster in Azerbaijan

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
51-3822
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nicosia – Tehran
MSN:
43569
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Nicosia to Tehran, carrying a load of highly sensitive equipment for the CIA. Maybe following a navigational error, the four engine aircraft penetrated the Soviet Airspace over Armenia and was later attacked by the pilots of two Soviet MiG-17. The pilot of the C-118 was able to attempt an emergency landing in a field located somewhere in Azerbaijan (the exact place remains unclear). While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, all nine crew members were evacuated.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Soviet fighters.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Andapa: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
13487/F-SCID
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
13487
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area located 32 km northwest of Andapa. The wreckage was found two weeks later, on June 15. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed R7V-1 Super Constellation near Taft: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
131652
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ontario - Moffett
MSN:
4153
YOM:
1954
Location:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Ontario (California) to Moffett AFB, the crew decided to perform five consecutive stalls. Doing so, the airplane lost 3,000 feet and suffered severe vibrations that caused structural damages to skin, stringers and bulkheads in the aft portions of the fuselage. The pilot requested permission to divert to Taft Airport for an emergency landing but shortly later, the airplane disintegrated in the air and crashed in a mountainous area located 7 miles east of Taft. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight structural failure of the airframe.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK at RAF Hal Far

Date & Time: May 4, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
44-76412
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wheelus - Alconbury
MSN:
15996/32744
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Wheelus AFB (Tripoli) to RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire, the airplane suffered a double engine failure, forcing the crew to divert to RAF Krendi for an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed and came to rest on runway. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader near Madrid AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1958 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-2512
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Palanquero – Madrid – Apiay
MSN:
27437
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Palanquero Airport at 0730LT. While approaching Madrid AFB near Bogotá, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all three crew members.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 near Corbridge

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TX194
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Turnhouse – Ouston
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to RAF Ouston on a flight from RAF Turnhouse, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following a fuel exhaustion. The airplane crash landed in Stagshaw Bank, about two miles north of Corbridge. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-17-FA Flying Boxcar near Bridgeport: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1958 at 1615 LT
Operator:
Registration:
49-0195
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sheppard - Carswell
MSN:
10432
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Sheppard AFB to Carswell AFB, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft collided with a USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster II. Registered 52-0981, the C-124 was en route from Kelly AFB to Tinker AFB with 15 people on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near Bridgeport. All 18 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the result of an error on part of the C-119's crew who failed to respect the instructions transmitted by ATC, asking them to fly at an altitude of 7,000 feet. For undetermined reason, the crew continue his route at the insufficient altitude of 6,000 feet, crossing the track of the C-124 which was flying at the same level. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered as a contributing factor.