Postal (mail) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after take off from Regina Airport, while climbing at night, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. Both pilots were killed. They were performing a mail flight from Winnipeg to Vancouver with an intermediate stop in Regina.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP on Mt Yafush: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1938 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-A626

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tavildara – Jirgatal

MSN:

7747

YOM:

1936

Location:

Mt Yafush

Districts of Republican Subordination

Country:

Tajikistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

726

Aircraft flight cycles:

960

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Tavildara at 1347LT on a mail flight to Jirgatal with one pilot and a load of 110 kg of mail on board. After departure, the pilot deviated from the prescribed route and entered a narrow valley. After 10 km, he decided to return but while making a sharp turn to the left at a height of 25-30 metres, the airplane stalled and crashed on the slope of Mt Yafush. the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to follow the published procedures and entered a narrow valley instead following the normal route to Jirgatal.

Crash of a Caudron C.440 Goéland in Nikki: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Caudron C.440 Goéland

Operator:

Registration:

F-AOMT

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Paris - Nikki

MSN:

4/7269

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Nikki Airport, one of the engine caught fire and exploded. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed on runway, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Engine explosion upon landing.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Urganch

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-A512

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

5926

YOM:

1934

Location:

Urganch

Xorazm Province (Xorazm viloyati)

Country:

Uzbekistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff, the pilot elected to make some low passes over the post office. From a height between 50 and 80 metres, he completed several circuits and turns when the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in a garden. The passenger was killed and the pilot was injured.

Probable cause:

Carelessness on part of the pilot who completed hazardous manoeuvres at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Lake Onega: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1779

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Pudozh - Petrozavodsk

MSN:

7615

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2040

Aircraft flight cycles:

1537

Circumstances:

Due to poor weather conditions in Pudozh on April 4, the pilot was forced to pass the overnight in Pudozh and postponed his departure to Petrozavodsk to April 5. He departed Pudozh in the morning with two passengers. After passing over Shala Pristan, the airplane entered over Lake Onega when weather conditions deteriorated with heavy snow falls. Unable to fix his position, the pilot decided to return when he lost control of the airplane that crashed on the iced Lake Onega. The wreckage was found four hours later. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the following:
- The pilot decided to takeoff from Pudozh without any weather briefing;
- Poor flight preparation and assistance;
- After entering Lake Onega, weather conditions worsened and the pilot continued rather than returning to Pudozh;
- The pilot lost his bearings in poor visibility and lost control of the airplane;
- Overconfidence on part of the pilot.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Yerevan

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1950

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Yerevan - Abaryan

MSN:

4609

YOM:

1932

Location:

Yerevan

Country:

Armenia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane was completing a mail flight from Yerevan to Abaryan, carrying one mechanic, one pilot and a load of 119 kg of mail. Ten minutes after takeoff, while flying at an insufficient height, the airplane impacted the snow covered ground, overturned and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued the flight at an unsafe altitude, due to poor judgment of the distance between the aircraft and the ground.

Crash of a Junkers W.34hi on Mt Chimborazo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Junkers W.34

Operator:

Registration:

D-OJIL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Quito – Guayaquil

MSN:

486

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was performing a mail flight from Quito to Guayaquil. En route, the single engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Chimborazo located southwest of Ambato. The pilot, the German pioneer Fritz Hammer, founder of this Ecuadorian Operator, was killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Châtenay-en-France: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1938 at 0445 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

D-APAR

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Berlin – Cologne – Paris

MSN:

4040

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a night mail flight from Berlin to Paris with an intermediate stop in Cologne. The aircraft named 'Otto Parschau' departed Cologne at 0241LT. Two hours later, while approaching Paris, the pilot was unable to localize the airfield due to foggy conditions. On approach, the three engine aircraft crashed in the garden of a castle located in Châtenay-en-France, some 11 km north of Le Bourget Airport. All three crewmen were killed.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-Z near Karataly: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-Z

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2398

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Karaganda – Balkhash

MSN:

2846

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

149

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Karaganda Airport at 0850LT on a mail flight to Balkhash. En route, he encountered thick fog when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain. The wreckage was found on 8 March 1938 some 20 km southeast of the village of Karataly. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The accident is the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the pilot lost his orientation in fog.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor visibility due to thick fog;
- The pilot decided to continue the flight in such conditions rather than returning to his departure point;
- The airplane impacted terrain at a speed of 350 - 400 km/h.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-42B into the Pacific Ocean: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1938 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Sikorsky S-42

Operator:

Registration:

NC16734

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Oakland – Honolulu – Kingman Reef – Pago Pago – Auckland

MSN:

4207

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a mail flight from Oakland, California, to Auckland, New Zealand, with intermediate stops in Honolulu, Kingman Reef and Pago Pago. One hour after his departure from Pago Pago, in the early hours, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to dump the fuel. Apparently, an oil leak occurred on the engine n°4 that was shut down. The captain decided to return to Pago Pago but the seaplane named 'Samoan Clipper' crashed into the sea some 120 km south of Pago Pago. Few debris were found floating on water and all seven occupants were killed, among them Captain Edwin C. Musick, first official Captain by Pan Am.
Crew:
Edwin C. Musick, pilot,
Cecil G. Sellers, pilot,
P. S. Brunk, copilot,
F. J. MacLean, navigator,
J. W. Stickrod, flight engineer,
J. A. Brooks, machanic,
T. D. Findley, radio operator.

Probable cause:

It was theorized that gasoline vapors had become trapped by a wing flap when it was extended after the crew began dumping fuel in preparation for landing, causing an in-flight fire and/or explosion.

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