Crash of a Supermarine Channel I off Horten

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Channel I/II
Operator:
Royal Norwegian Navy (Marinens Flyvevesen)
Registration:
F.38
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Horten - Oslo
Location:
Horten
Vestfold og Telemark
Country:
Norway
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from the Horten Bay, the aircraft stalled while turning at low height and crashed in the sea. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank. The crew was performing the first mail flight from Horten to Kristiana, Oslo. According to Norwegian authorities, high winds blew at the time of the accident.
Crew:
Lt Sven Brun.
Passengers:
Mr. Hiorth, postman,
Leif Sinding, journalist at the Norwegian newspaper 'Morgenbladet'.

Crash of a Curtiss JN-4D in Havana: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss JN-4
Operator:
Cuban Air Force - Cuerpo de Aviación del Ejército de Cuba (1918-1952)
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Havana – Jagüey Grande
Location:
Havana
La Habana
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from a field located in Havana-Luyano, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed, killing both occupants. Pilot was Lt Jaime González Crocier.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 in Pleasantville

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
80
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Pleasantville
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft made a bad landing and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot escaped unhurt.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

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

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
204
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cleveland – Chicago
Location:
Cleveland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Cleveland Airport, while climbing to a height of about 300 feet, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Two occupants were seriously injured and the mechanic N. C. Montis was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 near Girard

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
60
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Girard
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing due to lack of fuel. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was uninjured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 in Cleveland

Date & Time: May 25, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
88
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Site:
City
Location:
Cleveland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a pilot error, the aircraft collided with a wireless pole over the Glenn L. Martin factory and crashed. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 in Newark

Date & Time: May 15, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
103
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Newark
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft stalled on final approach. Crew fate unknown.

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

Date & Time: May 12, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
79
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Omaha – Iowa City – Chicago
Location:
Oskaloosa
Iowa
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Omaha to Iowa City, weather conditions worsened with thick fog. The pilot lost his orientation and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field. While the pilot was seriously injured, the passenger was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Burton

Date & Time: May 4, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
95
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – Cleveland
Location:
Burton
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:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. Just before landing, the pilot lost control of the airplane while manoeuvering to avoid a telephone line. The airplane crashed and was destroyed. The pilot was injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
Subscribe to Postal (mail)