Crash of a Consolidated 16 Commodore off Miami: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC668M
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12
YOM:
1930
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a test flight when the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances off Miami. A crewmen was killed.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle in RAF Hucclecote: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
V1708
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hucclecote - Hucclecote
Region:
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 production series. 45 minutes after departure, the crew informed ground about oil pressure problem on the left engine that was feathered. On a single engine approach to RAF Hucclecote, while at a height of 100 feet in marginal weather conditions (rain falls and gusty winds), the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. All four crew members were killed.
Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=141412

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando near Homestead AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1943 at 1958 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-12343
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Homestead - Homestead
MSN:
26470
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed eight minutes after its take off from Homestead AFB while on a test flight. During initial climb, the left engine caught fire and exploded. A passenger was able to bail out while the rest of crew attempted to return to the airbase for an emergency landing. Few seconds later, the aircraft exploded, dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field located near the airport. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Hewitt F. Mitchell,
2nd Lt Banford L. Russell,
Pvt Harry Luberoff.
Probable cause:
It appeared that a leaking or broken fuel line in or adjacent to the wheel well permitted the accumulation of gasoline and fumes within the left wheel well, left center section and left wing. The fumes were ignited by the engine exhaust.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford in Waterhouses: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
R6271
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ashbourne - Ashbourne
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Ashbourne for a short test flight with one pilot and two passengers on board. En route, while cruising at a very low height, the twin engine aircraft hit power cables and crashed onto a small hill. All three occupants were killed.
Crew (42nd OTU):
F/O Archibald Douglas Vincent Forsyth, pilot.
Passengers:
Cpl Harry Garnet Sylvester,
LAC Harry Charles Halestrap.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Perm: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1943 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3931
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Perm - Perm
MSN:
184 14 01
YOM:
22
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a test flight after one of the engine was changed. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, both engines flamed out simultaneously. The captain decided to return for an emergency landing but the aircraft lost height, hit the roofs of two wooded houses and crashed few km from the airport. A crew member was killed while four other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It appears that the flight mechanic made a mistake in handling the fuel management system after liftoff, causing both engines to stop.

Crash of a Curtiss-Wright YC-76-CK Caravan in Louisville: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1943 at 1729 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-86918
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Louisville - Louisville
MSN:
1
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After take off from Louisville Airport, while climbing, the aircraft (a CW-27 model) went out of control and crashed in a field located in Okolona, southeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. They were performing a test flight when the tail detached, causing the aircraft to crash.
Probable cause:
Structural failure of the tail caused by fixing bolts missing.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-CU Commando in Buffalo

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-5176
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
26378
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crew was engaged in a test flight. En route, unknown technical problems forced the crew to divert to Buffalo Airport. On landing, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While both occupants were injured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Boeing XB-29 Super Fortress in Seattle: 34 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1943 at 1226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-003
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Seattle - Seattle
MSN:
2482
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight on this second prototype. Ten minutes after departure from Seattle-Boeing Field, the crew informed ATC that engine number one caught fire and attempted to return. At an altitude of 2,400 feet, pilot feathered the propeller and notified ATC that the fire was spreading quickly. One minute later, as it was about to land, the bomber struck a power line and crashed on an industrial butchery. Extensive emergency resources were dispatched to the scene where rescuers did not find any survivors among the debris scattered over a wide area. The building was destroyed as well and 34 dead bodies were found: all 11 occupants on board the airplane and 23 people on ground. Thirty others people were injured as well.
Crew:
Eddie Allen, Chief test pilot by Boeing,
Bob Dansfield, captain.
Probable cause:
A fire on engine number one was likely due to the rupture of a supply fuel line. When fuel contacted the engine nacelle and several other components whose temperature was high, a fire erupted that quickly spread across the wing. On final approach, a violent explosion occurred on the left wing when fire contacted the valves of the wing defrost system which was mainly composed of magnesium. In addition, air flowing under the leading edge slats boosted flames significantly, which was considered as a contributory factor. Following this tragedy, Boeing technicians were forced to modify the engine fuel system as well as some others points.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.95 Flamingo in Asmara: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
G-AFYE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Asmara - Asmara
MSN:
95007
YOM:
1940
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a test flight following maintenance. On final approach to Asmara Airport, at an altitude of 800 feet, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Fiat G.18 in Milan

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-ETNA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Milan - Milan
MSN:
3
YOM:
1936
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While performing a test flight in the Milan area, the crew encountered fuel problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft was wrecked while all occupants escaped unhurt.