Crash of an Ilyushin II-12P in Moscow: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1951 at 2057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1313
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
30019
YOM:
3
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1278
Circumstances:
The airplane left Moscow-Vnukovo at 1535LT for a local test flight, carrying eight crew members, pilots and engineers. After departure, the crew lost his orientation due to poor weather conditions. At this time, the ceiling was about 100 meters with an horizontal visibility estimated between 2 and 4 km. Despite the situation, the crew continued the flight and flew over the capital city for few hours, completing the test program. Weather conditions worsened during the flight, the visibility dropped to 400 meters with fog and rain. On a night approach to runway 24, the aircraft was misaligned and the pilot in command decided to make a go around. Few minutes later, while on a second approach to land, the aircraft was too low and hit trees located 1,275 meters short of runway 24, stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were seriously injured. The captain, the copilot and the flight engineer died from their injuries few hours later.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew took the decision to carry a test flight while the weather conditions were below minima. Also, a direction finder was out of service when the crew started the flight, which contributed to the loss of orientation after takeoff. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- violation of the operator procedures on part of the flying crew,
- lack of discipline on part of the flying crew,
- poor weather conditions (below minima),
- overconfidence and arrogance on part of the captain,
- violation of the published navigation rules.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-80-BO Superfortress near Edwards AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48-070
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Edwards - Edwards
MSN:
15879
YOM:
1948
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Edwards AFB that day with a crew of six and two engineers of Ryan Aeronautical. After a flight of four hours and a half during which several equipment were tested, the crew started his way back to Edwards AFB. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet in clouds, the airplane crashed in the Shadow mountains located about 25 miles southeast of Edwards AFB. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Alexander Bailey Jr., pilot,
Maj Gordon L. Payne Jr., copilot,
M/Sgt Robert E. Methusa,
M/Sgt Lilburn N. Cate,
T/Sgt James H. Willingham,
T/Sgt Carl A. Milhoan.
Passengers:
Charles A. White,
Wallace J. Christian.

Crash of a Miles M.57 Aerovan IV in Woodley

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AJXK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
HPR.144
YOM:
1950
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Sud-Est SE.2010 Armagnac in Toulouse: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-WAVA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Toulouse - Toulouse
MSN:
01
YOM:
1950
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew consisting of four pilots and seven engineers was involved in a local test flight in Toulouse-Blagnac. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. Two crew members (Mr. Leroy and Mr. Clerc) were killed while nine other occupants were injured. The aircraft, the first prototype, was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was caused by the failure of a leading edge that detached shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Consolidated PBN-1 Catalina in Moscow: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1950 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N488
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
2817
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
1102
Circumstances:
The seaplane was carrying one passenger and five crew members who were completing a post maintenance test flight. The crew was attempting to land in the Khimki Reservoir located northwest of Moscow when the aircraft hit the water surface, nosed down and overturned. Two crew members were killed while three other occupants were injured. The passenger was unhurt and the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot in command. Investigations stated that the approach speed was set at 220 km/h instead of the prescribed 170 km/h, and in a slight nose down attitude. This caused the aircraft to overturn while contacting the water surface that was, at the time of the accident, considered as glassy (mirror effect) due to the position of the sun and a calm water.

Crash of a Lockheed XP2V-1 Neptune in Oyster: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48238
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Patuxent River - Patuxent River
MSN:
26-1002
YOM:
1947
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight on this second XP2V-1 prototype. En route, an engine detached and fell off. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Latécoère 631 off Le Cap Ferret: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1950 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-WANU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Biscarosse - Biscarosse
MSN:
03
YOM:
15
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
1001
Circumstances:
The crew (engineers and pilots) were engaged in a test flight on this third prototype consisting of controls in flight following severe vibrations on the engines. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the six engines seaplane lost a part on the right wing, went out of control and crashed into the sea about one km northwest of Le Cap Ferret. The crew of a trawler and a French Marine boat found some debris floating on water but unfortunately, all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Robert Boissard, Chief Pilot,
Mr. Dumonteil, mechanic,
Kléber Coulé, mechanic,
Henri Faugère, mechanic,
Alexandre Lepêcheur, radio operator,
Mr. Renaud, technical director,
Mr. Remaury, technician,
Adj Grezel,
Mr. Malpot, engineer,
Mr. Bouchery, techincal director,
Mr. Martin, engineer,
Mr. Brolin, engineer.
Probable cause:
The inquiry came to the conclusion that the probable cause of the accident was a fatigue failure of the aileron control couplings resulting from the simultaneous occurrence of several vibratory phenomena: the cruising speed of the propeller with a 7/16 reducing gear in resonance with the critical vibratory frequencies of the wing and the aileron (excitation amplified by the propeller cuffs); and the occurrence of extreme aileron flutter, aerodynamically induced as a result of failure of the linkage between the aileron and the slat. In such conditions, it was impossible for the crew to detect these phenomena before their results became irreparable.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414-08 Hudson IVA in Lae: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BDN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
MSN:
6044
YOM:
1941
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew consisting of two mechanics and one pilot (Captain Gibson-Lee) were involved in a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the left engine failed and the pilot elected to return for a safe landing, but unfortunately, the runway was busy with a DC-3. The pilot was forced to make a go around, overflew the runway but was unable to gain sufficient height. At the end of the runway, the aircraft hit telephone wires and crashed in flames onto a house, killing a young honeymooning couple. The aircraft christened 'Petunia' was destroyed by fire, both mechanics were unhurt while the captain was seriously injured. He died from third degree burns ten days later.
Source & photo:
http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/hudson/vh-bdn.htm
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21 in Cowbridge: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHJJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bristol - Bristol
MSN:
12742
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was an MK.2 version and was recently converted to a 21 version. This flight was the second test one for the certification program. About 34 minutes after it left Bristol-Filton Airport, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Cowbridge, south of Wales. All four occupants (three Bristol's engineers and one pilot) were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a structural failure of the fuselage stern frame to which the fin was attached and must be attributed to the application on the fin and rudder of a load greater than the design ultimate load. Calculations suggested that the cause of this overloading was excessive rudder movement at a speed greater than 120 knots.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Medellín

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1950 at 1525 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-507
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Medellín - Medellín
MSN:
4725
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
A maintenance was performed on the left engine and the aircraft was involved in a post maintenance test flight. With two mechanics and two pilots on board, the airplane left Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport at 1442LT and completed several circuits in the region. At 1524LT, the crew was cleared to land when on approach, the aircraft went through an area of torrential rains with strong winds. Control was lost and the aircraft crashed in a field. The mechanic David Alvarez and the copilot Manuel Carreño French were killed while the captain and the second mechanic were injured.