Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK near Whitehorse

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-1015
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
17018/34282
YOM:
1945
Location:
Whitehorse
Yukon
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a SAR mission after a USAF C-54 was missing since January 26. En route, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft crash landed 32 km southwest of Whitehorse and was damaged beyond repair. All six crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Consolidated PB2B-1 Canso B off Muntok: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated Canso
Operator:
Bataafse Petroleum Maatschappij - BPM
Registration:
PK-AKC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
22009
YOM:
1943
Location:
Muntok
Bangka-Belitung
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The seaplane was involved in a survey flight on behalf of the Bataafse Petroleum Maatschappij, the Oil Company of Batavia. Following an uneventful mission, the aircraft crashed while landing in the Bay off Muntok and sank. Four crew members and two passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.
Crew:
Mr. Meyer, pilot,
Mr. Ward, copilot, †
Mr. Kenney, copilot, †
Mr. Geeve, radio operator, †
Mr. Winkelaar, radio operator. †
Passengers:
Mr. De Braber, †
Mr. Brinkgreve, †,
Mr. Fray,
Mr. Happee,
Mr. Van Polanen Petel,
Mr. Reiniers.

Crash of a Boeing RB-29A-90-BW Superfortress off Saint George: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-87750
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hamilton - Hamilton
MSN:
12553
YOM:
1944
Location:
Saint George's
All Bermuda
Country:
Bermuda
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a reconnaissance mission from Hamilton-Kindley Field. While flying about 25 miles west of St George's Island, the aircraft christened 'Hurricane Hattie' suffered an engine failure. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea, killing all 11 crew members.
Crew (373rd Reconnaissance Squadron):
Maj Roy H. Bruns
Cpt Cleo S. Maddox,
Cpt John C. Mays,
1st Lt James E. Shewey,
1st Lt Andrew J. Rooks,
T/Sgt Clarence J. Hyatt,
S/Sgt Harry N. Barker,
S/Sgt Preston S. Treadway,
Sgt James A. Sapp,
Cpl Harry N. Carden,
Cpl Robert D. Myrman.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated A-10B Catalina off Jaqué: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
45-57840
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Jaqué
Darién
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The seaplane left Albrook AFB in Panama City that day on a maritime patrol mission. Cruising along the Panamanian coast, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances few dozen km off Jaqué. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Dakar: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
ML851
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Dakar
Dakar Region
Country:
Senegal
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Dakar-Yoff Airport, the seaplane registered ML851 (7.F-1) went out of control and crashed into the sea off the suburb of Les Almadies. All ten crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota C.4 near Ipoh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN536
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
16359/33107
YOM:
1945
Location:
Ipoh
Perak
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a reconnaissance mission after a RAF Spitfire was missing. After the aircraft went into a narrow valley, the captain applied full power and elected to gain height when the base of the empennage hit trees. The aircraft stalled and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill and was destroyed. All three crew members from the 52nd Squadron were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged the aircraft performances and failed to prepare the flight properly. Following this accident, recommandations were published by the RAF to avoid missions at low height in such flight conditions.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 1A near Morón AFB

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Registration:
T-39
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12768
YOM:
1946
Location:
Morón AFB
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Morón AFB, while climbing, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The captain decided to make an emergency by the highway #7 when the aircraft hit buildings with its wings and crashed inverted. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5S Mariner off North Island NAS: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
84770
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
North Island-Halsey Field NAS (San Diego)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was apparently involved in a maritime patrol flight from North Island-Halsey Field NAS, San Diego. Shortly after takeoff, the seaplane encountered strong winds, causing a wing to drop and hit the water surface. The aircraft went out of control and crashed, killing all ten crew members.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Agadir: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1949 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46564
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Agadir - Agadir
MSN:
1928
YOM:
1944
Location:
Agadir
Souss-Massa-Drâa
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Based in Agadir Airport, the crew was performing a survey mission over the Ghir Cape, the Oued Souss and the Moroccan coast on behalf of the French Navy (Aéronavale). The seaplane left Agadir Airport at 1930LT with a return time scheduled at 2200LT. En route, the crew maintained several radio contacts with the base when a fire ball was spotted on water off Agadir at 2055LT. The crew of the french submarine christened 'Astrée' arrived on the scene (some 7 NM west of Agadir) within twenty minutes and met on site the Spanish trawler christened 'Javier Cloret' which was cruising in the vicinity when the accident occurred. The nose wheel was found during the following night but no trace of the 17 occupants who were considered as deceased. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as fine with sky clear and no turbulences. All 17 occupants were killed and all 8 passengers were officers from the cruiser christened 'Jeanne d'Arc'. The aircraft was registered 46564 (22.S-3).
Crew:
BRETON Robert, radio operator,
FEVRE Jean,
GROSMAITRE Roland, engineer,
HUIBAN René, pilot,
LE BOT Gabriel, engineer,
MOY Louis, engineer,
RAIGNE Jean,
ROUVIERE Michel,
TOUZET Pierre, pilot.
Passengers:
AUBRON Daniel,
AUDIC Louis,
COUËTOUX Jean,
DAUTRY Louis,
GALOUZEAU de VILLEPIN Gonzague,
JAFFRÈS Claude,
NOÉ Michel,
ROBERT André.
Probable cause:
The French Navy concluded that no evidence could be made to explain the accident which was not caused by a pilot error in flight or a technical failure. Experts believes in the following assumptions: or the crew was trying to land or he did not sea the water surface while cruising by night.

Ground accident of a Lockheed P2V-2 Neptune in Roosevelt Roads NAS

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
39323
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Roosevelt Roads - Roosevelt Roads
MSN:
126-1023
YOM:
1947
Location:
Roosevelt Roads NAS (Ceiba)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing at high speed, the aircraft suffered a nose gear collapse. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest, damaged beyond repair. All eight crew members were unhurt.
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