Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Syrt: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1935 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1890
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Kuybyshev – Orenburg – Tashkent
MSN:
9480
YOM:
1935
Location:
Syrt
Orenburg oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
167
Aircraft flight cycles:
113
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Moscow on a postal flight to Tashkent with intermediate stops in Kuybyshev and Orenburg. On the leg to Orenburg, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. He decided to continue, descended to an altitude of about 400-500 metres when control was lost. The aircraft crashed in a wheat field located 4 km south of the village of Syrt, some 40 km northwest of Orenburg Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control while flying in stormy weather and turbulences.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor flight preparation as the pilot departed Kuybyshev Airport without any information about weather conditions at destination,
- Decision of the pilot to continue in unfavorable weather conditions rather than to return to Kuybyshev or to land asap.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Tokmok: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1905
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Karakol – Frunze
MSN:
9467
YOM:
1935
Location:
Tokmok
Chuy Province
Country:
Kyrgyzstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
170
Aircraft flight cycles:
83
Circumstances:
In the morning, the pilot successfully completed a flight from Frunze to Karakol with two passengers and mail. In the early afternoon, he wanted to return to Frunze but weather conditions en route were not good. Hurry to return, he departed Karakol at 1300LT but the airplane failed to arrive in Frunze. The wreckage was found 35 km southeast of Tokmok, at an altitude of 2,800 metres, in the valley of Chon-Almaly. It was determined that the visibility was poor due to ceiling down to 1,000 metres and rain falls.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following the decision of the pilot to continue the flight in unfavorable weather conditions and restricted visibility. Instead of returning to Karakol, the pilot decided to find a route in the clouds until the airplane impacted ground. Poor flight organization was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 on Mt Kazbek: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1935 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1734
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mineralnye Vody – Tiflis
MSN:
9502
YOM:
1935
Location:
Mt Kazbek
Mtskheta-Mtianeti
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
184
Aircraft flight cycles:
143
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Mineralnye Vody on a mail flight to Tiflis, Georgia, with two crew members on board. After passing the Krestovy Pass, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The pilot elected to return to Mineralnye Vody and initiated a turn. Shortly later, he lost his orientation and thinking he already passed the highest mountain, he initiated the descent when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain part of the Mt Kazbek, about 7 km southeast of the summit (5,047 metres). The wreckage was found at an altitude of 4,000 metres and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot got lost while cruising in reduced visibility due to foggy conditions and rain.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000B in Nilwood: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1935 at 2226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC10894
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Springfield – Saint Louis – Memphis – Jackson – New Orleans
MSN:
5050
YOM:
1931
Location:
Nilwood
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Springfield Airport at 2200LT on a mail flight to New Orleans, carrying one passenger and one pilot. Twenty-six minutes into the flight, while approaching a wooded area, the pilot realized he was too low and initiated a right turn to avoid the trees when the tip of the right wing impacted the ground. The aircraft went out of control and crashed some 6 km northwest of Nilwood. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an unintentional collision with the ground while flying at too law altitude at night.

Crash of a Boeing 221A Monomail near Glendo: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1935 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 221 Monomail
Operator:
Registration:
NC725W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Billings – Sheridan – Casper – Cheyenne
MSN:
1153
YOM:
1930
Location:
Glendo
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a mail flight from Billings to Cheyenne with intermediate stops in Sheridan and Casper. While cruising in poor weather conditions, he reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground. While following Route 185 to Cheyenne, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane impacted a hill located 21 kilometers south from Glendo. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an accidental collision with the ground while flying low due to severe local conditions.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Rattlesnake Butte: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1935 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC891E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pueblo – El Paso
MSN:
73
YOM:
1929
Location:
Rattlesnake Butte
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Rattlesnake Butte at a height of 150 feet, the pilot decided to overfly the school of the village to drop a letter for the children. While completing a sharp turn to the right, the aircraft lost altitude, causing the right wing to hit the ground. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Nothing was found to indicate that either plane or engine were not functioning normally. A letter found in the wreckage, evidently written by the pilot, requested the school children of Rattlesnake Butte to write him and let him know how close to the door of the school he had dropped the letter. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an accidental collision with the ground while doing low flying in violation of the Air Commerce Regulations.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Glendale

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC994Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
17
YOM:
1931
Location:
Glendale
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon takeoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed in a pond. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Caudron C.282/8 Phalène in Parakou

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.280 Phalène
Operator:
Registration:
F-AMVD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Algiers – Colomb-Béchar – Bidon V – Gao – Cotonou
MSN:
6889.60
YOM:
1934
Location:
Parakou
Borgou
Country:
Benin
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a mail flight from Algiers to Cotonou with intermediate stops in Colomb-Béchar, Bidon 5 and Gao. On the last leg from Gao to Cotonou, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a sandstorm. In low visibility, he reduced his altitude when the aircraft impacted the ground and crashed. While both occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.

Crash of a Lockheed 9D Orion in Sunbright: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1934 at 0345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC12286
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cleveland – Columbus – Louisville – Nashville – Memphis – Little Rock – Dallas
MSN:
198
YOM:
1933
Location:
Sunbright
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Twelve minutes after departure from Louisville Airport, Kentucky, the pilot reported his position to ATC, 32 km southwest from his departure point, flying at 6,000 feet over clouds. Shortly later, the single engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the accident Board that the lack of evidence makes any definite conclusions as to the probably cause of this accident a matter of conjecture. The most logical assumption appears to be that the battery-generator system failed, thus causing an error in the ship's compass and probably affecting other essential navigation instruments. The lack of visibility caused by night and clouds should be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Boeing 247 in Western Springs

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1934 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13328
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Chicago – Omaha
MSN:
1709
YOM:
1933
Location:
Western Springs
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Fifteen minutes after takeoff from Chicago, the copilot informed ATC about problems with the right engine and elected to return. Shortly later, the left engine lost power as well and the crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field. On final, the aircraft impacted trees and came to rest in a vertical position against trees, near houses. The stewardess and the passenger (an employee of the operator) were slightly injured while both pilots were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was ice forming in the carburetors of both engines which resulted in loss of power.
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