Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Elko: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
67
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Elko – Salt Lake City
Location:
Elko
Nevada
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 Elko Airport, in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole aboard, was killed.
Probable cause:
Poor judgment of pilot making turn.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 Twin in Mendota

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
124
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
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:
0
Circumstances:
Pilot Eversole jumped from the plane with parachute after takeoff from Minneapolis-Wold Chamberlain Field. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in Mendota. The pilot was unhurt and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Investigation proved that the pilot left the ship while it was flying in perfect condition.

Crash of a Breguet 14A.2 off Gibraltar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 14
Operator:
Registration:
F-ALBA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
5220/8220.2
YOM:
1920
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a mail flight to Casablanca when he encountered unfavorable weather conditions while approaching Gibraltar. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Both crew were presumed dead.
Crew:
Henri Mérel, pilot
Maxime Garrigue, mechanic.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Telephone Canyon

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
179
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cheyenne – Salt Lake City
Location:
Telephone Canyon
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:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Cheyenne to Salt Lake City, the oil pressure dropped to 9 or 10. The engine temperature increased to 192° and the revolutions per minute dropped to 1,200. The plane crashed on a mountain side near Telephone Canyon. The pilot was injured.

Crash of a Junkers-Larsen JL-6 in La Crosse: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Junkers-Larsen JL-6 (Junkers F.13)
Operator:
Registration:
301
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lone Rock – La Crosse
MSN:
538
YOM:
1920
Location:
La Crosse
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
A landing was made at Lone Rock, to repair anemometer gear pump. Shortly after taking off from Lone Rock, back firing occurred and a second landing was made. Additionnal work was done on the pump and again, after getting into the air it failed to work. While circling field at La Crosse, the aircraft apparently lost control and made a nose dive. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
William Carroll, pilot
Hiram H. Rowe, pilot
Robert B. Hill, mechanic.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 Twin in Mendota: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
130
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minneapolis – Chicago
Location:
Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Minnesota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Minneapolis-Wold Chamberlain Field, while climbing to an altitude of 2,500 feet, the left engine failed. The pilot made a sharp turn when the airplane side slipped and went into a nose dive. It crashed in Mendota, about 4 km east of the airfield. One occupant was killed and the second was injured. The accident occurred 10 minutes after takeoff.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Hansa Brandenburg C.1 in Trondheim

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Hansa Brandenburg C.1
Operator:
Leif Lier
Registration:
N.19
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
YOM:
1920
Location:
Trondheim
Sør-Trøndelag
Country:
Norway
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a mail flight on behalf of the daily newspaper 'Dagposten'. En route, the engine failed and the aircraft lost height before crashing in the garden of a private house. While the pilot was slightly injured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in San Francisco

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
153
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Marina - Sacramento
Location:
San Francisco
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:
En route from Marina to Sacramento, while flying at an altitude of 2,000 over San Francisco in foggy conditions, the engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing and reduced his altitude when the airplane collided with the trolley wires and crashed in Gough Street, bursting into flames. The pilot escaped uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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