Crash of a Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing in Waycross

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing
Operator:
Registration:
NC5677
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26
YOM:
1928
Location:
Waycross
Georgia
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:
While performing a mail flight, the pilot encountered foggy conditions and decided to reduce his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground. The aircraft hit the ground, crashed and was destroyed. The pilot was seriously injured.

Crash of a Latécoère 25.3R in Malgrat de Mar

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1928 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 25
Operator:
Registration:
F-AIUU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Casablanca – Alicante – Barcelone – Perpignan – Toulouse
MSN:
713
YOM:
1928
Location:
Malgrat de Mar
Catalonia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot encountered technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. After touchdown, the airplane caught fire and was destroyed. The pilot was unhurt.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical failure en route.

Crash of a Travel Air 4000 in Lebanon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Travel Air 4000
Operator:
Registration:
NC5436
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
525
Location:
Lebanon
Ohio
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 completing a mail flight, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls when the aircraft crashed in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Douglas M-3 in Bristolville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Douglas M-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC792
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
650
Location:
Bristolville
Ohio
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 mail flight, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with reduced visibility due to heavy snow falls. While attempting an emergency landing, the aircraft crashed and burned. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Douglas M-3 in Brookville

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Douglas M-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC1002
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
621
Location:
Brookville
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:
En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to heavy snow falls. He decided to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed. It was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Latécoère 32 in Palma: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1928 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 32
Operator:
Registration:
F-AISN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Marseille – Palma de Mallorca – Algiers
MSN:
80
YOM:
1928
Location:
Palma de Mallorca
Balearic Islands
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Palma, the seaplane was too low and hit a lightning mast. It stalled and crashed onto several houses in the city. While the radio navigator was killed, both other crew members were injured.
Crew:
Étienne Simon, pilot,
Fernand Royère, mechanic,
Fernand Girard, radio navigator.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the crew who continued the approach at a too low altitude.

Crash of a Loening C-W Air Yacht off San Juan

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Loening C-W Air Yacht
Operator:
Registration:
NC8042
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
210
YOM:
1928
Location:
San Juan
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from the bay in Puerto Rico, the seaplane hit an embankment and came to rest. Both crew members were rescued and the aircraft sank.

Crash of a Latécoère 32 off Majorca

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 32
Operator:
Registration:
F-AISO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Marseille – Algiers
MSN:
81
YOM:
1928
Location:
Palma de Mallorca
Balearic Islands
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising south of Majorca Island, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft. Wind was very strong (force 9) and the sea was rough. After 12 hours, the four occupants were eventually rescued by the crew of the Spanish boat named 'El Biar' while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
Henri Vallin, pilot,
Mr. Le Roux, radio,
Juan Munar, radio,
André Dupont, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas M-3 near Franklin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Douglas M-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC1064
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cleveland – New York
MSN:
658
Location:
Franklin
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 William Hopson was performing a mail flight from Cleveland to New York. En route, weather conditions worsened and the visibility was poor due to heavy rain falls. While cruising at low altitude, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in wooded and hilly terrain. The wreckage was found a day later and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Latécoère 25.3R off Morocco

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 25
Operator:
Registration:
F-AIUK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
705
YOM:
1928
Location:
Morocco
All Morocco
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Atlantic Ocean off the Moroccan coast. Occupant fate unknown.
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