Crash of a Lockheed 2 Vega in Chicago: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1931 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 2 Vega
Operator:
Chicago-Detroit Airways
Registration:
NC606
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Detroit – Chicago
MSN:
56
YOM:
1929
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
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 Chicago Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. He lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in Lake Calumet. The pilot Albert Malvick was killed.

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

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1931 at 0220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
NC94W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saint Louis – Evansville
MSN:
146
YOM:
1930
Location:
Centralia
Illinois
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 Saint Louis to Evansville, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. He attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field located in Centralia. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Stearman C-3B in Fredericksburg

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Stearman C-3
Operator:
Southern Transcontinental Airways
Registration:
NC8838
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
242
YOM:
1928
Location:
Fredericksburg
Texas
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Lockheed DL-1B Vega in Chicago: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC8497
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Detroit
MSN:
154
YOM:
1930
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Chicago Airport, while climbing to a height of 700 feet, the engine failed. The crew elected to return and initiated a turn to the right when the airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Boeing 95 on Mt Nittany: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1931 at 2230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC397E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New York – Bellefonte – Cleveland
MSN:
1057
YOM:
1929
Location:
Mt Nittany
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:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed New York on a mail flight to Cleveland. While approaching Bellefonte from the east at night, he encountered icing conditions. The airplane lost height and descended until it impacted the slope of Mt Nittany located about 5 km southeast of Tylersville. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing in Unionvale

Date & Time: May 13, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
G-CAWF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
16
YOM:
1929
Location:
Unionvale
Prince Edward Island
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Unionvale. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Farman F.60 Goliath in Marden

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Farman F.60 Goliath
Operator:
Registration:
F-ADDT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris – Croydon
MSN:
228
YOM:
1920
Location:
Marden
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Marden, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field located in Widehurst Farm. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Junkers A.50ce on the Mosquitos Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Junkers A.50
Operator:
Registration:
P-BAAE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rio Grande – Porto Alegre
MSN:
3534
YOM:
1931
Location:
Mosquitos Island
Rio Grande do Sul
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rio Grande Airport, en route to Porto Alegre, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to fog. While attempting an emergency landing, the aircraft crashed in a marshy field located on the Mosquitos Island, some 13 km north of the airfield. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.66 Hercules in Kupang

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.66 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBMW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
London – Batavia – Kupang – Sydney
MSN:
236
YOM:
1925
Location:
Kupang
East Nusa Tenggara
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Kupang, all three engine stopped. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a prairie located 16 km from the airport. After touchdown, the aircraft impacted rocks, lost its main landing gear and came to rest. Both crew members escaped uninjured and the aircraft named 'City of Cairo' was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing in Laurel

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
NC681E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
31
YOM:
1929
Location:
Laurel
Maryland
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:
En route, the pilot encountered icing conditions and the control of the aircraft became hard. The pilot eventually decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture. The airplane was destroyed while the pilot was unhurt.
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