Crash of a Douglas A-26C-40-DT Invader on Mt Finestra: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1952 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35652
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
28931
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Finestra
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a combined exercice called 'Passo Lungo'. In flight, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and crashed on the slope of Mt Finestra located west of Cava de' Tirreni. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-22-FA Flying Boxcar on Mt McKinley: 19 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1952 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-2560
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Elmendorf – Big Delta
MSN:
10518
YOM:
1950
Location:
Mt McKinley
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While flying by night at an altitude of 11,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt McKinley located in the Denali State Park. First rescuers arrived on the scene few hours later and all 19 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was not following the assigned route at the time of the accident, probably due to a navigational error on part of the flying crew caused by a faulty interpretation of two different radio stations. It is also reported that the aircraft was not equipped with an ADF system nor a high frequency receiver, which was considered as a contributory factor. Also, ground navigation aids were considered as poor.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Petrópolis: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1952 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Registration:
2830
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Belo Horizonte – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
A-125
YOM:
1946
Location:
Petropólis
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While descending to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Petrópolis, north of Rio. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL on Fletcher's Ice Island

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15665
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20131
YOM:
1944
Location:
Fletcher's Ice Island
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on the Fletcher's Ice Island (North Pole Ice Station T-3) located in the Arctic region. There were no casualties but the aircraft was abandoned on site. Later, the iced island that was an iceberg detached and drifted away.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11-BH Kansan near Centralia

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Registration:
41-9540
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
966
YOM:
1942
Location:
Centralia
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation, decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous and uninhabited area located six miles east of Centralia. Both pilots were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-45-BN Stratofortress off Kadena: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61751
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
11228
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While approaching Kadena AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea about 14,5 km northwest of the airbase. Intensive SAR operations were conducted and three crew members were rescued while 11 others were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Donald L. Adams, †
2nd Lt Michael Bochnovic, †
1st Lt Gordon N. Froisness, †
Cpt Robert G. Harvey, †
2nd Lt John H. Haun, †
A2c Robert Q. Hopkins, †
1st Lt James E. Knox,
A1c Edward B. Lemaster III,
A2c Harry T. Peoples Jr., †
1st Lt Robert F. Phalen, †
A2c Charles H. Rees,
A1c Jimmy C. Sides, †
M/Sgt Marvin E. Sleppy, †
A2c Donald H. Wilson. †
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by the simultaneous failure of three engine due to a fuel starvation.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor into the Hudson: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
51-11621
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
AF-178
YOM:
1952
Location:
Newburgh-Stewart
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Newburgh-Stewart Airport, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot-in-command elected to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River. The airplane sank rapidly and three occupants were killed while three others were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 615 Viking 1B in Morón

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
T-64
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
El Palomar - Morón
MSN:
194
YOM:
1948
Location:
Morón AFB
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Morón Airbase, an engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed in a field short of runway threshold, lost its undercarriage and its right propeller before coming to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Ground fire of a Boeing RB-50F Superfortress in Enewetak

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
47-158
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Enewetak - Enewetak
MSN:
15842
YOM:
1947
Location:
Enewetak Atoll
All Marshall Islands
Country:
Marshall Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing to its parking position, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reason. The crew stopped the airplane and all occupants were able to evacuate without any injuries. Unfortunately, the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. It was carrying film material of aerial-mosaic photography taken of the nuclear weapons test site in preparation of the 'Operation Ivy'.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-40-DT Invader in Gimhae: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35589
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
28868
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gimhae
South Gyeongsang (경상남도)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Gimhae, the pilot-in-command decided to attempt a go around when the aircraft went out of control and crashed 6 km northwest of the airbase. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Gary E. Frase,
A1c Joseph S. Gliniak,
1st Lt James N. Valentine.
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