Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax Met.6 in La Línea de la Concepción: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
RG850
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
La Línea de la Concepción
Andalusia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On approach to Gibraltar Airport, one of the left engine failed. The captain elected to make a go around when control was lost. The aircraft stalled and crashed in La Línea de la Concepción, north of the airport. Five crew members were killed while two others, among them the pilot, were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-5-DO Skymaster in Heroldishausen: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1949 at 1659 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
44-9086
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wiesbaden – Berlin
MSN:
27312
YOM:
1945
Location:
Heroldishausen
Thuringia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Wiesbaden-Erbenheim to Berlin-Tempelhof, taking part to the Berlin Airlift, an engine caught fire. The captain ordered his crew and both passengers to bail out. After these four people evacuated the cabin, he reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in a field. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed in flames in a field located in Heroldishausen, northwest of Bad Langensalza. The aircraft was destroyed and the captain was killed. The four other occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that an hydraulic line failed in flight, causing the fluid to flow into the engine and to catch fire while contacting high temperature parts of the engine.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-25-FA Packet in Pará

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Registration:
44-23035
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10079
YOM:
1944
Location:
Brazil
All Brazil
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was eventually forced to abandon the aircraft following a fuel starvation. All occupants bailed out and were rescued while the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in an isolated area located in the State of Pará.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL Skytrain near El Bonito: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16256
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
El paso – San Antonio
MSN:
20722
YOM:
1944
Location:
El Bonito
Coahuila
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and a reduced visibility due to fog. The aircraft went off track and hit a mountain located near El Bonito, about 75 miles southwest of Del Rio. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Cuzco: 22 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1949 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cuzco – Lima
Location:
Cuzco-Alejandro Velasco Astete
Cuzco
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the crew informed ground that the left engine caught fire and elected to return for an emergency landing. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames near the airport. Two crew members and twenty passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It appears that the tire on the left main gear burst after takeoff and set fire to the undercarriage compartment and then to the engine and its nacelle after the gear were raised.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK Skytrain near La Poma: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-1138
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Panama City – Buenos Aires
MSN:
17141/34408
YOM:
1945
Location:
La Poma
Salta
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a diplomatic flight from Panama City to Buenos Aires, carrying a crew of three and five passengers, among them Colonel Gerald Evan Williams, attaché at the Embassy of the United States in Buenos Aires, and his wife. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the aircraft hit the ground and disintegrated in a rocky and desert area located about 20 km west of La Poma. The wreckage was found few hours later and all eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-2 in Oberpfaffenhofen

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
90386
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18372
YOM:
1944
Location:
Oberpfaffenhofen
Bavaria
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft belly landed and skidded for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew did not follow the approach procedures and forgot to lower the undercarriage.

Crash of a Junkers W.34hi in Puerto Boy

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.34
Operator:
Registration:
404
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Puerto Leguizamo – Tres Esquinas
MSN:
2761
YOM:
1934
Location:
Puerto Boy
Putumayo
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing near Puerto Boy, Putumayo. The aircraft was found few hours later and all four occupants (three crew members and a woman passenger) were injured and rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-80-DL Flying Fortress in Offutt AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-83494
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
32135
Location:
Offutt AFB (Bellevue)
Nebraska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed on final approach to Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Four crew members were rescued while seven others were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in Patuxent River NAS: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
66320
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
66320
YOM:
1944
Location:
Patuxent River NAS
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Patuxent River NAS, the aircraft crashed 2 miles short of runway threshold. Two crew members were killed while six others were injured.
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