Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner in Corpus Christi NAS: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
85145
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Seattle
MSN:
85145
Location:
Corpus Christi NAS
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Corpus Christi NAS, while in initial climb, the seaplane stalled and crashed, killing all five crew members. They were performing a ferry flight to Seattle.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK Dakota III in Gander

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
967
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13086
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gander
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
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 near Gander. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK Dakota IV in Hong Kong: 19 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1946 at 0931 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN414
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Singapore
MSN:
16091/32839
YOM:
1945
Location:
Hong Kong-Kai Tak
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 31, while climbing to a height of some 700-800 feet, the aircraft stalled, went into a dive and crashed 3 km northwest of the airfield. All 19 occupants were killed.
Crew (110th Squadron):
W/O Alastair Christie, pilot,
W/O Rex Neville Blackmore, copilot,
F/Sgt John Kendall Hazeldine, pilot,
F/Sgt John Wilfred Holden, navigator,
F/Sgt Richard Samuel Bond, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
It is possible that the loss of control in initial climb may have been caused by katabatic winds from the local mountains.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in Udine

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
PH653
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Udine
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, a tyre burst. The aircraft swung and went out of control, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-1 Kansan near Texcoco de Mora: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mexico City – Veracruz
Location:
Texcoco de Mora
Federal District of Mexico City
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mexico City Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Texcoco de Mora, east of the Capital City. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota IV in Miho

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN529
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16331/33079
YOM:
1945
Location:
Miho
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered control problems and was forced to divert to Miho Airfield. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and hit the ground few hundred yards short of runway threshold. On impact, undercarriage were sheared off and the aircraft slid on its belly before coming to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It appears that the elevator were still locked, forcing the crew to divert for an emergency landing.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster VII near Khoms: 25 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
NX690
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Saint Mawgan – Cairo
Location:
Khoms
Murqub (المرقب)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
While flying over Tripolitan on a flight from St Mawgan to Cairo, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed about 10 km west of Khoms. All 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft was hit by lightning while flying in a thunderstorm area.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK Dakota III in Estevan: 21 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1946 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
962
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minot - Estevan
MSN:
12544
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Boxtop62
Location:
Estevan
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
On final approach to Estevan Airport, the captain decided to make a go around for unknown reason. The undercarriage were raised and the aircraft quickly adopted a nose up attitude. Suddenly, it stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 21 occupants were killed. All passengers were returning to Estevan after delivering Fairchild PT-19 Cornell planes to the USAAF based in Minot AFB.
Crew (124th Communications Squadron):
F/Lt Harry H. Cowan,
F/Lt James Stewart Lees,
F/Lt Edward Chester Stewart,
F/O Ned Jordan,
F/O William Albert Perry,
F/O Robert James McIntyre,
LAC Vitantes Luke Kirko,
F/O Raymond Avard Brandser,
F/O Max Thomas,
F/O Leonard Edgar Turtle,
F/O Stephen Pond,
F/Lt Stanley Wright Proctor,
F/Lt Louis Eric John Murphy,
F/Lt Morris Crosby Cuthbert,
F/Lt James Pyle Jesse,
F/Lt Clifford Sommerville Coppin,
F/Lt Lawrence Victor Kirsch,
F/Lt William Jacob Louis Weicker,
F/Lt Robert Cowan McRoberts,
F/Lt Joseph Alphonse Camille Bouchard,
F/Lt William Murdock Jackson.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was caused by a control lock on the starboard elevator that has not been removed before takeoff from Minot AFB.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Granite Falls: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
63999
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sand Point - Whidbey Island
MSN:
2069
Location:
Granite Falls
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While flying at low altitude, the seaplane (VP-53) hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area located on Mt Dolberg, near Granite Falls. All seven crew members were killed.
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