Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was engaged in a night combat mission. After being pursued by Republican fighters, the crew flew to France when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Le Tech. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a CRDA CANT Z.506B Airone off Cabrera Island

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1939

Type of aircraft:

CRDA CANT Z.506 Airone

Operator:

Registration:

73-4

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:

While on a maritime patrol flight, the right engine suffered a malfunction and the captain was forced to cut it off. The aircraft was ditched in rough sea some 65 km off Cabrera Island. All five crew members were rescued by the crew of the British ship named 'Mirupanu' and disembarked in Oran. The aircraft was later towed but eventually considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine in flight.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111 near Rauschenberg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1939 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

42+A20

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Giessen – Fritzlar

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Giessen to Fritzlar, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls when the twin engine aircraft crashed in the Burgholzer forest located near the village of Rauschenberg. All three crewmen were killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo near Uniontown: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1938 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas B-18 Bolo

Operator:

Registration:

37-21

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1882

YOM:

1937

Location:

Uniontown

Alabama

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered a line squall and lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 8 km southwest of Uniontown. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt James D. Underhill,
Lt John W. Pollard.
Passengers:
2nd Lt John H. Hydle,
Cpt Fred Ruebe Jr.,
Pvt Humberto Narro,
Pvt Ben L. Jones,
Pvt Sheldon S. Johnson.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow I in Owstwick

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Operator:

Registration:

K6954

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Honington – Driffield

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

315

Circumstances:

En route from RAF Honington to RAF Driffield, one of the engine failed due to icing. The captain attempted an emergency landing in an open field located in Owstwick, some 17 km east of Hull. The aircraft slid on the ground for few dozen metres before coming to rest against trees. All five crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight due to icing.

Crash of a Martin 130 WH-1 in Semarang: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1938 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)

Operator:

Registration:

M-512

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Semarang – Bandung

MSN:

675

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Semarang Airport, the engine lost power. The airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, collided with trees and crashed. A crew was killed and two others were injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of engine power upon takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I near RAF Habbaniya: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

K7097

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

MSN:

8050

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a desert area located about 100 km southwest of Habbaniya. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Ldr Percy Kinsey, pilot,
Sgt Vernon Walter Garside killed, pilot,
AC1 Reginald Walter Carpenter,
AC1 Lewis William Cooper,
AC1 Frederick Oscar Gamble,
Capt John Barnett Harvey.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control caused by a carburetor icing.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo in LaGrange: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1938 at 2200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas B-18 Bolo

Operator:

Registration:

37-468

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mitchel - Maxwell

MSN:

2468

YOM:

1937

Location:

LaGrange-Callaway

Georgia

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Mitchel AFB (NY) to Maxwell AFB (AL), the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and heavy turbulences. The twin engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located in LaGrange. Two occupants were seriously injured while six others were killed. Few hours later, both survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Lt Robert K. Black, pilot,
Lt J. D. Madre,
Lt. J. W. Stewart,
Pvt Joseph Nanartowich,
Lt Robert R. McKechnie,
Lt Allen M. Howery,
Sgt Harry T. Jones,
Cpl J. E. Galloway.