Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 off Singapore: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valetta
Operator:
Registration:
VX490
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Singapore - Singapore
YOM:
1950
Location:
Singapore-Changi
Singapore
Country:
Singapore
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew (three pilots and four engineers) was conducting a post maintenance test flight. Shortly after takeoff from Singapore-Changi Airport, the pilot requested the permission to climb to 4,000 feet. Few seconds later, the contact was lost when the airplane crashed into the sea about 8 km south of the airfield. Few debris were found in water and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred in poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, lightning and turbulence. It is believed that the aircraft may have been struck by lightning. The crew did not send any distress call prior to the accident.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Valmontone

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
MM61651
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8418
YOM:
1945
Location:
Valmontone
Lazio
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (two pilots and two engineers) were completing a post maintenance test flight. En route, both engines failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in Valmontone. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Buenos Aires: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1953 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
B-036
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Morón - Morón
MSN:
1455
Location:
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires City
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a local test flight when the airplane crashed into the Rio de la Plata about six km off the district of Berazategui, in the suburb of Buenos Aires. Two crew members were rescued while three others were killed, among them the pilot Werner Baumbach and the flight engineer Karl Heinrich.

Crash of a Convair XP5Y-1 Tradewind off Point Loma

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Convair R3Y Tradewind
Operator:
Registration:
121455
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
1
YOM:
1953
Location:
North Island-Halsey Field NAS (San Diego)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight on behalf of the Convair Company. After departure from North Island-Halsey Field NAS, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered control difficulties. All 11 crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the seas and crashed off Point Loma. All 11 occupants were rescued while the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of an elevator torque tube in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Los Angeles: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1953 at 1726 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
N15569
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Los Angeles
MSN:
4887
YOM:
1942
Location:
Los Angeles
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
30793
Circumstances:
The airplane was cleared by the tower at 1723 for takeoff on Runway 25R, for a local VFR flight. On takeoff run at 1725, just when becoming airborne, and near the intersection of Runway 25R with Runway 22-4, it appeared that control of the aircraft had been lost. The right wing dropped and shortly struck the ground. The aircraft was then 15-20 feet high and the right wing remained down and the tail rose. It then veered to the right of the runway cartwheeled over its nose, and came to rest upside down. Fire broke out a few seconds later in the forward portion of the fuselage. Captain Johnson received minor injuries, Copilot Williams was seriously burned, and Company Chief Inspector Stromisky, sitting in the jump seat, was killed. Tower personnel had alerted emergency equipment when the aircraft first appeared to be in trouble, and fire apparatus arrived at the scene within a few minutes and extinguished the fire. The gross weight of the aircraft at the time of takeoff was 21,203 pounds, well below the prescribed maximum of 25,346 pounds, which was distributed within the approved C. G. limits. Weather at the time and place was good, with unlimited ceiling and visibility and a southwest wind at 10 mph.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was reversed installation of aileron control cables and pulleys, and failure of the inspection department to detect this mistake. The following findings were pointed out:
- During overhaul, aileron control cables were improperly connected,
- Inspection, or lack of inspection, failed to detect this error,
- Lateral control was lost during takeoff and the aircraft overturned,
- Weather at the time was good and had no bearing on the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Tupolev TU-95/I in Noginsk: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-95
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
Location:
Noguinsk
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing the 17th test flight on this prototype. In flight, an engine separated from its mount and fell off. The bomber went out of control and into a dive. Nine crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field located in Noguinsk, about 50 km east of Moscow. Three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Physical loss of an engine in flight.

Crash of a Beechcraft UC-45F Expeditor in Chevry-Cossigny: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
295
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brétigny-sur-Orge - Brétigny-sur-Orge
MSN:
8554
YOM:
1945
Location:
Chevry-Cossigny
Seine-et-Marne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a test flight on behalf of the Flight Test Center (CEV-Centre d'essais en vol) based in Brétigny-sur-Orge and was carrying three crew members, one passenger and two experimenters of the CEV. For unknown reasons, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area, killing all six occupants.
Crew:
François Richet, pilot,
Lucien Blanc, mechanic,
Gilbert Lanez , mechanic.
Passengers:
André Romanet, CEV's experimenter,
Jacques Folliex, CEV's experimenter,
Edouard Nassiet.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation in Burbank

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Operator:
Intercontinent Airways
Registration:
N38936
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Burbank - Burbank
MSN:
1962
YOM:
1943
Location:
Burbank
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight. On final approach, during the last segment, the crew inadvertently raised the gears. The four engine aircraft belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. While all five crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
The crew inadvertently raised the undercarriage on final approach.

Crash of a Boeing EB-50A Superfortress off Edgewood: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
46-003
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Phillips - Phillips
MSN:
15723
YOM:
1947
Location:
Edgewood
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight out of the Phillips AAF. In flight, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane after an engine failed. The aircraft crashed into the Bush River off Edgewood and was lost. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Convair B-36D-25-CF Peacemaker off San Diego: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1952 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Operator:
Registration:
49-2661
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Diego - San Diego
MSN:
121
YOM:
1949
Location:
San Diego
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following technical modifications, the crew was engaged in a local test flight out from San Diego Airport. In flight, the engine number five caught fire. The pilot-in-command instructed his crew to bail out and elected to steer the aircraft away from the populated area. Eventually, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 3,5 miles off San Diego. The pilot and a second crew member were killed while six others were found alive.
Crew:
David H. Franks, pilot, †
R. W. Adkins, copilot,
Kenneth Rogers, flight engineer,
W. W. Hoffman, flight engineer, †
W. F. Ashmore,
Roy E. Sommers,
D. R. Maxion,
W. E. Wilson.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.
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