Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While returning from a tactical mission, the airplane crashed on final approach to Pohang Airport, killing all 13 crew members. It was reported that the crew encountered poor weather conditions at recovery airfield and that the aircraft was low of fuel at the time of the accident.
Crew:
A2c Donald L. Abney,
Lt Col Edward E. Campbell,
A1c Earl A. Davis,
A2c John G. De Lancy,
A2c Edward J. Fleming,
1st Lt Ralph L. Harris,
A1c Percy J. Maples,
Cpt Charles F. McGuire,
1st Lt Robert L. Person,
A1c James C. Thomas,
1st Lt Clayton W. Vandarwarka,
Walker,
A2c Kenneth E. Wright.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45B Expeditor in Fort McCoy: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

43-35565

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

La Crosse – Fort McCoy – Wright-Patterson

Location:

Fort McCoy

Wisconsin

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on a cross-country flight. Following an overnight stop in La Crosse, Wisconsin, due to poor weather, the aircraft departed the next morning for nearby Fort McCoy, to refuel. After refueling, the airplane departed Fort McCoy for Wright-Patterson AFB but during initial climb, the left engine lost power. The pilot-in-command elected to return and completed a turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lcdr LeWayne N. Felts,
Cpt Phillip M. Clinton,
1st Lt Rory G. Jahn,
Cwo Kenneth Ziegler.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine shortly after liftoff.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-30-DT Invader in North Korea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1953 at 0032 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-35355

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

28534

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Last radio contact at 0032LT. The aircraft was shot down by enemy antiaircraft fire and crashed. Three crew members bailed out while the fourth was killed.
Crew:
Cpt Jack V. Allen, †
A1c B. M. Conner,
1st Lt R. W. Killeson,
1st Lt C. R. Lebrun.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy antiaircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-30-DT Invader near Pyongyang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-35210

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

28489

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a night intruder mission.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Campo de Marte AFB

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1953

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Campo de Marte AFB (São Paulo)

São Paulo

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Campo de Marte AFB, an engine failed, forcing the crew to return. On final, the pilot-in-command made a forced landing in a wasteland located few km short of runway. All occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 off Sangley Point

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

RN269

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Sangley Point AFB (Manila)

Metro Manila

Country:

Philippines

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing off Sangley Point, the seaplane hit waves and bounced. During a second landing, it nosed down, plunged into the sea and sank. There were no casualties but the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-15-FA Flying Boxcar off Ashiya AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Operator:

Registration:

49-0161

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

10398

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Ashiya AFB, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, about 24 km northeast of its departure point. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II in Tachikawa AFB: 129 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1953 at 1634 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

Operator:

Registration:

51-0137

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tachikawa – Seoul

MSN:

43471

YOM:

1951

Location:

Tachikawa AFB (Tokyo)

Kantō

Country:

Japan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

122

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

129

Captain / Total flying hours:

6302

Circumstances:

The airplane was on its way back to Seoul, carrying 122 soldiers on leave and a crew of seven. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet, the pilot contacted ground and informed ATC about the failure of the engine number three. The crew received the permission to return for an emergency landing and the pilot-in-command completed a circuit to return. On final, he requested more power and fully extended the flaps when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 5,6 km short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire consumed the wreckage for several hours. None of the 129 occupants survived. To date, this was the deadliest plane crash in History.

Probable cause:

Failure of the engine number three shortly after takeoff for unknown reason. On final, the aircraft stalled due to the combination of a low approach speed, fully extended flaps (wrong approach configuration).