Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Ottawa

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1926 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
112
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Peoria - Chicago
Location:
Ottawa
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:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot Charles Lindbergh was performing a mail flight from Peoria to Chicago. En route, weather conditions worsened and he lost his orientation. Few minutes later, fuel exhausted and he eventually took the decision to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a corn field. While the aircraft was destroyed, the aviator was unhurt.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-134 off Oran

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-13
Operator:
Registration:
F-AHAL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Alicante – Oran
MSN:
34
YOM:
1925
Location:
Oran
Oran
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Oran, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft. While both crew were uninjured, the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
Robert Collet, pilot,
Paul Morvan, radio.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Laird LC-B in Mendota: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Laird LC-B
Operator:
Charles Dickinson
Registration:
NC10
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Chicago
MSN:
155
Location:
Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Minnesota
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 named 'Partridge' was performing this first mail flight (route CAM-9) from Minneapolis to Chicago. This was the inaugural flight. Shortly after takeoff from Minneapolis-World Chamberlain Field, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in Mendota, east of the airport. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed. As result of this accident, the traffic was suspended on the evening of 07JUN1926 and the service started again on 01OCT1926. The aircraft was owned by Charles Dickinson and piloted by Mr. Partridge.

Crash of a Breguet 14T bis in The Channel: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 14
Operator:
Registration:
F-ADAI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
1908
YOM:
1921
Location:
The Channel
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While on a mail flight from Paris to Croydon, the aircraft disappeared in The Channel. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot Xavier R. A. de Masin was found.

Crash of a Breguet 14A.2 in Marseille

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 14
Operator:
Compagnie Française d'Aviation
Registration:
F-AHAP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris – Marseille
MSN:
19
YOM:
1925
Location:
Marseille-Marignane
Bouches-du-Rhône
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Marseille-Marignane Airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Curtiss Carrier Pigeon in Montpelier: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss Carrier Pigeon
Operator:
Registration:
602
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago - Bryan
Location:
Montpelier
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 cruising at low altitude on a mail flight from Chicago to Bryan, the single engine aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area. Sole on board, the pilot Arthur R. Smith was killed.

Crash of a Breguet 14 Torpédo in Perpignan

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 14
Operator:
Registration:
F-AFEF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Toulouse – Perpignan
MSN:
213
YOM:
1923
Location:
Perpignan-La Llabanère
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Perpignan-La Llabanère Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the aircraft impacted the ground short of runway and came to rest, bursting into in flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot Paul Félix was seriously injured (burnt).

Crash of a Farman F.70 in Cateau-Cambrésis

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Farman F.70
Operator:
Registration:
F-AHCV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels - Paris
MSN:
16
YOM:
1925
Location:
Le Cateau-Cambrésis
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Brussels to Paris on a mail flight, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an open field located in Le Cateau-Cambrésis, east of Cambrai. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped with minor injuries.
Subscribe to Postal (mail)