Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On short final, the ailerons were blocked for unknown reason. The airplane landed hard, lost its undercarriage, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster at McGuire AFB

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-118 Liftmaster

Operator:

Registration:

53-3230

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

44601

YOM:

1954

Location:

McGuire AFB (Fort Dix)

New Jersey

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Vickers 668 Varsity T.1 in Colyton

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Varsity

Operator:

Registration:

WJ888

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

615

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

An engine caught fire in flight when the second engine lost power shortly later. The crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Colyton and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine fire and loss of power in flight.

Crash of a Douglas R6D-1 on Mt Waianae: 66 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1955 at 0203 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

131612

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tokyo – Hickam – Travis

MSN:

43715

YOM:

1953

Location:

Mt Waianae

Hawaii

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft was completing a personnel transfer flight from Tokyo to Travis AFB, California, with an intermediate stop at Hickam AFB, Honolulu. Few minutes after his departure from Hickam Field, the pilot informed ground he encountered technical issues with the high frequency transmission system and elected to return for a safe landing. Approaching by night from the northwest, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Waianae located about 18 miles from the airfield. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 66 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Harold M. Oleary, pilot,
Lt Cdr Mark M. Teague, copilot,
Lt Lee A. Thoroux, navigator,
Ad1 Charles L. Osborne,
At3 Charles M. Preston,
An James B. Quinn Jr.
Passengers:
US Air Force Personnel:
T/Sgt Albert E. Dawsey
T/Sgt John T. Powell,
T/Sgt Roland B. Wilhelm,
S/Sgt Samuel J. Alvarado,
S/Sgt William F. Britt,
S/Sgt Carlyle J. Hummel,
S/Sgt Eugene L. Lofton,
S/Sgt Thaddeus F. Shyda,
A1c Willie G. Harrell,
A1c Milton O. Matthews,
A1c Aubrey G. Morgan,
A1c Earl G. Sisson,
A1c Alvin Alxander,
A2c John D. Anthony,
A2c David L. Boyle,
A2c Stanley B. Horton,
A3c Daniel K. Eaton.
US Army:
Cpl Donald B. Anderson,
Pfc Paul B. Bayer,
Cpl Dean C. Bullen,
Pvt Robert E. Delhager,
Sgt Raymond L. Smith,
Sgt Robert L. Thompson,
Sgt Rexie L. Dewesse,
Sgt Larry P. Dieuolo,
Pfc Robert G. Duncan,
Cpl Edward J. Halvey Jr.,
Cpl William B. Hendon,
Pfc Robert E. Hill,
Cpl Kenneth G. Hoffman,
Cpl David A. Horne,
Pvt Charles J. Combs,
Sgt Warren R. Huler,
Pfc John R. Irwin Jr.,
Pvt Charles M. Johnson,
Pfc Bernard J. Kuras,
Pvt Louis F. Montanez,
Pvt John R. Panetti,
Sgt James L. White.
US Marine Corps:
M/Sgt Frederick L. Williamson,
M/Sgt Eugene E. Bennett,
Cpl Richard C. Harrison,
Lt Col C. G. Edwards,
M/Sgt Gordon B. Murray,
S/Sgt Morgan L. Ogden,
Cpl Walter W. Chase,
Cpl Dale L. Lake,
Cpl Michael J. Meszaros,
Cpl Almeron Freeman,
Cpl Cecil A. Brittain,
Cpl Richard R. Brooks.
US Navy:
An Charles Wayne Enloe,
Na William Richard Rimer,
Sa Gerald Joseph Robichaux,
Ae3 Alfred Dewey Schroeder,
Charles Edward Sheehan,
Te1 Nathan Webb,
Mrs. Rita Laverne Webb and her daughter,
Gerald Dean White.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft was off course about 8 miles at the time of the accident, apparently due to a navigation error on part of the flying crew who failed to adhere to the approach procedures. Low visibility caused by night, clouds and rain falls was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Valparaiso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

101

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

A-1017

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances three km from Valparaíso Airport, killing both pilots.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO in Nairobi

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

MM61769

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Nairobi-Eastleigh (Moi Air Base)

Nairobi City District

Country:

Kenya

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Nairobi-Eastleigh Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine that lost power. The captain decided to return for a safe landing but on approach, realized he could not make it. So he attempted an emergency landing when the airplane hit a tree and crashed in flames three km from the airfield. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of power on left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Casa 352 at Rota NAS: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1955 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Casa 352

Operator:

Registration:

T.2B-226

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

117

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed just after liftoff at Rota NAS for unknown reason. The mechanic was killed while seven other crew members were injured, the pilot seriously.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell on Mt Timpanogos: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1955 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

44-30050

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Malmstrom - Hill - March

MSN:

108-33325

YOM:

1944

Location:

Mt Timpanogos

Utah

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from Malmstrom AFB (Great Falls) to March AFB (Riverside) with an intermediate stop at Hill AFB in Ogden. After takeoff from Ogden-Hill AFB, bound for the south, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (stormy weather) and low visibility when the aircraft hit the east side of Mt Timpanogos (11,751 feet high) located about 28 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. As the aircraft failed to arrive at March AFB, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found three days later about 300 feet below the summit. All five occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Maj Daniel C. Howley, pilot,
2nd Lt Howard E. St John Jr., copilot,
A2c Doyle Dempsey, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Donald R. Cubbage,
Maurice McNulty.