Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Loddington Hall. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU near Kunming

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-3588

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26721

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, crew was forced to make an emergency landing following an engine failure. Aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. No casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Edinburgh

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1944

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Registration:

R5928

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Abbotsinch - Edinburgh

MSN:

6465

YOM:

1939

Location:

Edinburgh

Midlothian (County of Edinburgh)

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on approach to Edinburgh in snow falls, crew made an emergency landing on the Carrick Knowe Golf course located in Corstorphine, less than 2 km from runway threshold. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II in Wressle: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1944 at 1710 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II

Operator:

Registration:

JD386

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wombleton - Wombleton

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying over North Lincolnshire, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a prairie for unknown reason. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Grumman OA-14 in Butler Lake

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-44 Widgeon

Operator:

Registration:

42-38220

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

1234

Location:

Lake Butler

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing in Butler Lake. No casualties.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1944

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

N5-191

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, crew was forced to ditch the aircraft into the Pacific Ocean. A crew was rescued while all three others were killed. The reason of the occurrence is unknown.

Crash of Boeing B-17G-15-VE in Headcorn

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-97458

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

6822

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Aircraft was returning to its base following a mission over Augsburg, Germany. Due to technical failure, crew elected to make an emergency landing in a field in Headcorn. On landing, aircraft hit a tree, lost a part of its right wing and came to rest, broken in two. All crew escaped safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Unknown technical failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V in Croft AFB

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax V

Operator:

Registration:

LK907

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Croft AFB, in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds that hit the windshield. Both pilots were injured and attempted to make an emergency landing. They reduced their altitude and landed in an open field. Aircraft skidded few hundred yards before coming to rest. All crew were rescued and evacuated while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew was from 434th Squadron.

Probable cause:

Bird strike after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Caltagirone: 24 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-7725

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Catane - Ouargla

MSN:

4203

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Catania Airport, aircraft hit a mountain slope located near Caltagirone. All 24 occupants were killed. Crew was on its way to Ouargla, Algeria.