Northwest Airlines | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

24 minutes after its departure from Hollywood-Burbank Airport, while cruising northeast of Santa Clarita, the crew encountered foggy conditions. While cruising at a height of some 3,300 feet, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Stroh Peak located in the Mint Canyon. Rescuers arrived on scene 36 hours later. The aircraft was totally wrecked and all 9 occupants were killed. Brand new, the aircraft was on its way to Las Vegas to be presented to the President of the company. All occupants were employees of Northwest Airlines or Lockheed Company.
Crew:
Sidney Willey, Lockheed test pilot in charge of the flight,
Fred Whittemore, Northwest Airlines Vice-President and copilot.
Passengers:
Henry Salisbury, Northwest Airlines official, accompanied with his wife and two children, Richard and Judith,
Mrs. Carl B. Squier, wife of Lockheed's Sales Manager,
Liola Totty, Lockheed stenographer,
Evelyn Dingle, Northwest Airlines employee.

Probable cause:

The crew did not follow the published procedures and was cruising at an unsafe altitude to overfly the mountainous area. At the time of impact, the aircraft' speed was 200 mph.

Crash of a Lockheed 14H Electra in Bridger Canyon: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1938 at 1507 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Operator:

Registration:

NC17388

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Seattle – Spokane – Butte – Billings – Chicago

MSN:

1407

YOM:

1937

Flight number:

NW002

Location:

Bozeman

Montana

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet in good weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed on a wooded hill located some 22 km northeast of Bozeman. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Nick B. Mamer, pilot,
Frederick W. West, Jr., copilot.
Passengers:
T. Anderson,
I. E. Stevenson,
G. A. Anderson,
L. Levin,
Walter Ton,
A. Croonquist,
Douglas McKay,
W. E. Borgenheimer.

Probable cause:

It is the opinion of the Investigating Board that the probable cause of this accident was a structural failure of the upper vertical fins and rudders due to flutter which resulted in a loss of control of the aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra near Kellogg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1936 at 0323 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

NC14935

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Chicago – Minneapolis – Missoula – Seattle

MSN:

1024

YOM:

1935

Flight number:

NW001

Location:

Kellogg

Idaho

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a night mail flight from Chicago to Seattle with intermediate stops in Minneapolis and Missoula, carrying two pilots and a load of 500 lbs of mail. While overflying west Idaho in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located in the region of Kellogg. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Joe Livermore, pilot,
Arthur A. Haid, copilot.

Probable cause:

In arriving at a conclusion after an analysis of the evidence, it does not appear that the accident was due to weather, mechanical failure of the aircraft, radio aids or communications, or to any failure of the company to comply with prevailing rules and practices. Full cognizance is taken of the possibility that the magnetic compass may not have been functioning properly during the flight. However, a study of available evidence, this appear improbable. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was faulty navigation in not following the radio range course upon leaving Missoula and failing to ascent to a safe altitude over the course pursued from Elk River.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Milwaukee

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1934 at 2356 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

NC14243

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Minneapolis – Chicago – Milwaukee – Chicago – Minneapolis

MSN:

1002

YOM:

1934

Location:

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to a height of some 20 feet, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and impacted the runway surface. Simultaneously, the left engine restarted and the aircraft climbed to a height of 75 feet. At this moment, the right engine failed and the aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. Quickly on the scene, rescuers were able to evacuate all eight occupants injured while the aircraft was destroyed. Brand new, it was delivered to Northwest Airlines few weeks ago.

Probable cause:

It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable causes of this accident were:
- Failure of the Supervisory Personnel to definitely determine the actual fuel consumption of a new airplane before placing it in scheduled operation,
- Failure of the fuel gauge on the left tank to function accurately,
- Pilot error for failing to attempt to use the right fuel tank after the instrument board warning light had indicated that the task which he was using was about empty. This was his first flight on this type of aircraft as well. At the time of the accident, the crew calculated that the fuel consumption was about 163 liters per hour while the real consumption was about 240 liters per hour.