Crash of a Fairchild C-119B-12-FA Flying Boxcar in Pittsburgh

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
49-0114
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10351
YOM:
1949
Location:
Pittsburgh-Intl
Pennsylvania
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:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-15-DC Skymaster near Taitung: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
43-17208
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tokyo – Kadena – Hong Kong
MSN:
22158
YOM:
1945
Location:
Taitung
Taitung County (臺東縣)
Country:
Taiwan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Tokyo-Haneda to Hong Kong with an intermediate stop at Kadena AFB, Okinawa. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet over Taiwan in reduced visibility, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 32 km northwest of Taitung. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and all 14 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Clinton

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49549
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
15365/26810
YOM:
1944
Location:
Clinton
Iowa
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in Hagerstown

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-7995
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ardmore - Hagerstown
MSN:
10734
YOM:
1951
Location:
Hagerstown
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Hagerstown-Washington County Airport, the Flying Boxcar was a bit too low and landed few yards short of runway threshold. When it struck the concrete runway, the undercarriage were sheared off. The airplane skidded on the runway, eventually veered off and came to rest in flames. While all 13 crew members evacuated safely, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Too low approach on part of the flying crew.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar off Ashiya AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
52-5886
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Ashiya - Ashiya
MSN:
11053
YOM:
1952
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Ashiya AFB, the right propeller malfunctioned and control was lost. Five crew members were able to bail out before the airplane crashed in the sea some 33 km north of the airfield. Four crew members were rescued by the crew of a Japanese fishing boat while both pilots and a third occupant were killed, among them Robert Sullivan.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following a right propeller malfunction.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-50A-15-BO Superfortress at Holloman AFB

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
46-028
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Eglin - Holloman
MSN:
15748
YOM:
1947
Location:
Holloman AFB (Alamogordo)
New Mexico
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:
Crashed on landing in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Niigata

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48091
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13907/25352
YOM:
1944
Location:
Niigata
Chūbu
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-5-DO Skymaster into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1955 at 1658 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
45-0569
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lajes – Hamilton
MSN:
36022
YOM:
1945
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a transatlantic flight from Lajes to Hamilton, Bermuda. Enroute, the captain informed ground that he was short of fuel and was unable to reach Hamilton. He reduced his altitude and ditched the airplane near the Echo weather station. A USCG crew was able to evacuate all eight crew members while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-50-DT Invader in Georgetown: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35793
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Griffiss - Turner
MSN:
29072
YOM:
1944
Location:
Georgetown
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Griffiss AFB (Rome) to Turner AGB located in Albany. Enroute, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Georgetown, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Lockheed C-28 Hudson in Ilhéus: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
2902
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
414-7178
YOM:
1943
Location:
Ilhéus
Bahia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While conduction a liaison flight from Fortaleza, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Ilhéus, killing all eight occupants.
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