Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Povarovo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1934 at 0446 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1502
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscou – Leningrad
MSN:
7322
YOM:
1934
Location:
Povarovo
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
65
Aircraft flight cycles:
20
Circumstances:
The crew departed Moscow Airport at 0420LT on a night mail flight to Leningrad. Few minutes after takeoff, weather conditions deteriorated with low ceiling and intermittent snow falls. While cruising at a height of 100 metres, the airplane entered a right turn, descended to the ground and crashed 2 km from the Poverovo Station. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a loss of control in flight followed by a ground impact with an engine running normally at impact.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor preparation for a night flight in difficult flying conditions due to low ceiling and snow falls;
- The pilot was unfamiliar with the Moscow - Leningrad route;
- Poor flight planning;
- The airspeed indicator only worked intermittently;
- Weather conditions deteriorated significantly during the flight.

Crash of a Latécoère 25-3R in Roses

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 25
Operator:
Registration:
F-AIGI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
617
YOM:
1926
Location:
Roses
Catalonia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a mail flight to France, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in Roses and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew members were uninjured.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213 in Beauvais

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1933 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213
Operator:
Registration:
F-AIFD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Paris – Croydon
MSN:
01
YOM:
1926
Location:
Beauvais
Oise
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 0840LT on a mail flight to Croydon. Twenty minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 1,000 metres, the left engine caught fire. The crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that impacted an electricity pole and the roof of a factory before crashing in an affluent of the Avelon River, bursting into flames. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed. All mail, more than one ton, was also destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire on the left engine.

Crash of a Northrop Delta 1A in Moriarty

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1933 at 0040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Delta
Operator:
Registration:
NC12292
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City – Albuquerque
MSN:
03
YOM:
1933
Location:
Moriarty
New Mexico
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:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Kansas City on a night mail flight to Albuquerque. While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the engine caught fire. The pilot Harlan William Hull decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed near Moriarty, bursting into flames. The pilot was uninjured while the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of an Udet U12a Flamingo in Würzburg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1933 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Udet U12 Flamingo
Operator:
Registration:
D-1243
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
335
YOM:
1928
Location:
Würzburg
Bavaria
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while taking off from Würzburg Airfield. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Hinz, pilot.
Passenger:
Mr. Rähne.

Crash of a Boeing 95A in Leoni: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1933 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC415E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Toledo
MSN:
1061
YOM:
1929
Location:
Leoni
Michigan
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 on a night mail flight from Chicago to Toledo, the pilot encountered stormy weather. He lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a swamp. The pilot Harold Neff was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 9A Orion in Kansas City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1933 at 2125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC12277
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kansas City – Wichita
MSN:
192
YOM:
1933
Location:
Kansas City
Kansas
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Kansas City Airport, while climbing, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the Missouri River. The pilot Earl J. Noe was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Pitcairn PA-7M Mailwing in Upper Zion: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1933 at 0315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-7 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
NC825N
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Richmond - Washington DC
MSN:
60
YOM:
1929
Location:
Upper Zion
Virginia
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 airplane departed Richmond at 0203LT, 23 minutes behind schedule. The pilot William Lawrence "Larry" Jamieson was flying the night mail to Washington DC on a routine flight in ideal weather. Flying fast at a low altitude in an attempt to make up lost time, Jamieson's motor sputtered and conked out. The plane crashed into a ravine in Upper Zion and burst into flames. The pilot was pinned in the wreckage and burned, together with most of the mail cargo. Jamieson has recently completed the design and construction of his own "mystery ship" which he planned to race in the Bendix and Thompson Trophy Races at Los Angeles. Although not a speed flyer Jamieson was a crack airmail pilot, a veteran of the line and considered the most capable pilot of the Eastern Air Transport. Original load of mail 164 pounds. Recovered 1,200 charred letters in badly damaged condition and forwarded from Richmond, Va., June 5th in Postal Penalty. Envelopes with crash cachet reading; "Damaged due to air mail interruption at Upper Zion, Va., June 4, 1933".

Crash of a Pitcairn PA-7M Mailwing in Bedford

Date & Time: May 13, 1933 at 2315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-7 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
NC351V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Washington DC – Pittsburgh
MSN:
140
YOM:
1930
Location:
Bedford
Pennsylvania
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:
The pilot departed Washington DC on a night mail flight to Pittsburgh. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the engine failed. As he was unable to find a suitable terrain for an emergency landing, the pilot bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.
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