Crash of a Handley Page H.P.95 Hastings C.3 in Darwin

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings
Operator:
Registration:
NZ5804
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Darwin – Singapore
MSN:
150
YOM:
1953
Location:
Darwin
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Darwin Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft suffered a bird strike. As an engine lost power, the aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. All 25 occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a bird strike after takeoff.

Crash of a Kaiser-Frazer C-119J Flying Boxcar in Alexandria: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-8142
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
145
YOM:
1952
Location:
Alexandria
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed 3 miles north of Alexandria Airport. Three crew members were killed and three others were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II at Kirtland AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
50-0097
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kirtland - March
MSN:
43235
YOM:
1950
Location:
Kirtland AFB
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
60
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The takeoff was attempted in strong cross winds. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft deviated from the runway centerline. Despite corrections on part of the flying crew, the four engine aircraft veered off runway and came to rest. A passenger was killed while few others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47D in Skwentna: 12 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-0893
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Elmendorf – Nome
MSN:
16896/34153
YOM:
1945
Location:
Skwentna
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Enroute from Elmendorf AFB to Nome, the crew encountered engine problems and decided to divert to Skwentna Airport for an emergency landing. On short final, the airplane went out of control and crashed one mile short of runway. All 12 occupants were killed in the crash.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16 Albatross in Lajes: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1955 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Argentia – Lajes
Location:
Lajes
Azores Islands
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
After an uneventful flight from Argentia NAS, Newfoundland, the crew started the descent to Lajes Airbase. On final, the seaplane hit the slope of the Negrão Peak located about 7 km from the airfield. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver near Safford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1955
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
52-6100
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
473
YOM:
1953
Location:
Safford
Arizona
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
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located about 13 miles north of Safford. The pilot Wilfred P. Champlain, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver in Lohr am Main: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1955
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vilseck – Frankfurt
Location:
Lohr am Main
Bavaria
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in flames in a wooded area located 4 km north of Lohr am Main while completing a flight from Vilseck to Main Airbase in Frankfurt. The wreckage was found two days later and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Douglas SC-47A near Hawthorne: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-108944
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Reno - Reno
MSN:
13288
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hawthorne
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left Reno-Stead Airport on a classified mission with six other similar aircraft. While cruising in limited visibility at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located in the Gillis Mountain Range, about 12 miles northeast of Hawthorne. The wreckage was found few feet below the summit and all seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK into the Mediterranean Sea

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48213
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tripoli – Athens
MSN:
14029/25474
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mediterranean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute from Tripoli to Athens, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to ditch the aircraft 145 km north of the Libyan coast. About 15 minutes after the emergency landing, the crew of a USN SA-16 Albatross was able to evacuate all 18 occupants safely. Later, the C-47 sank and was lost. The crew was performing a flight from Mitiga Airfield to Hassani Airport in Athens.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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