Crash of a Lockheed 18-50 LodeStar near Santa Clarita: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N13Y
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Burbank – San Diego
MSN:
18-2180
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was en route from Los Angeles to Burbank with two pilots and one passenger. It was scheduled to make a stop in Burbank to pick up passengers before continuing to San Diego. As the crew did not receive the permission to start the descent to Burbank-Hollywood Airport, he stacked in a holding pattern southwest of Santa Clarita when the aircraft hit the Mt Rocky Peak. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. The airplane was owned by the American Aviator Jacqueline Cochran who was not on board at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Walla Walla: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NR13352
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Walla Walla - Walla Walla
MSN:
1734
YOM:
1933
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an agricultural mission and while flying at low height, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon near Malibu

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N58514
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Site:
MSN:
1396
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Las Flores Canyon near Malibu. The occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18 in West Mesa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dayton – Albuquerque
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Dayton to Albuquerque with one pilot, two security guards from the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and a load of 22 boxes containing 792 classified HE detonator units. On approach to Albuquerque, the pilot encountered low clouds and poor visibility when the aircraft hit the slope of a hill located 6 miles west of West Mesa. All three occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. The cargo was destroyed but salvaged from the wreckage.
Probable cause:
As there was no evidence of sabotage, and since none of the detonators appeared to be missing, the incident was not reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Crash of a Vultee V-1A near Somerset: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1948 at 0812 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC22077
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Providence – White Plains – Saint-Louis
MSN:
16
YOM:
1935
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
3200
Aircraft flight hours:
3500
Circumstances:
Aircraft NC 22077 departed from Providence, Rhode Island, for White Plains, New York, at about 0730 March 19, 1948. The aircraft carried the pilot, Herman F. Burlingame III, his wife Ruth L. Burlingame, their infant daughter Kathleen, and George H. Armitage, as well as four Chow dogs and personal baggage. Arriving at Westchester Airport, White Plains, one hour and 20 minutes later, aircraft NC22077 was serviced with 118 gallons of fuel. At 0935 the aircraft departed from White Plains, the pilot telling airport officials that he intended to fly either to Hadley Field, New Brunswick, New Jersey, or Solberg-Hunterdon Airport, White House, New Jersey. Two hours and 31 minutes later the aircraft returned to White Plains, Mr. Burlingame telling airport officials that he had not landed at either of the alternative destinations. The aircraft was parked for the night, after being serviced with 85 gallons of fuel. The following morning, March 20, 1948, at 0550 the flight departed from White Plains for St. Louis, Missouri. The aircraft carried an additional four persons who had joined the original group at White Plains. The take-off weight could not be precisely determined, but it was close to the maximum allowable. No flight plan was filed with CAA Airways Traffic Control, and though NC22077 was equipped with two-way radio, no transmissions were received from the flight after its departure from White Plains. Consequently the exact route over which the flight proceeded is not known. Shortly after 0800, witnesses in the vicinity of the west portal of the Laurel Hill Tunnel of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, approximately 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, observed an aircraft flying at a low altitude on a northwesterly heading. It was flying in and out of low-hanging cloud fringes, and therefore, was not continuously visible. However, the aircraft was observed to approach the tunnel, circle in front of the portal, and then disappear into the overcast. After losing sight of the aircraft, some of the witnesses stated that they heard a surge of engine power, followed by the sound of a crash. Others, more distant, noticed that sound from the aircraft ceased abruptly. Since no other aircraft was observed in the vicinity at that time, there is no doubt but what it was NC22077 that these witnesses saw.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure from fatigue of the steel wrap-around plate of the steel attachment lower fitting at the rear spar of the right wing, causing the separation in flight of the right wing outer panel from the center panel.
The following factors were considered as contributory:
- The lower edge of the steel wraparound plate of the steel lug attachment fitting of the rear spar of the outer wing panel failed from fatigue,
- Evidences of fatigue in a wing attaching member would not be disclosed in the course of the usual inspection.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 9D2 Orion in Los Angeles

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC799W
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
208
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties. The accident occurred in November 1947 (exact date unknown). The aircraft was owned by F. H. Stewart and T. M. Gibson.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in Nashville

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC13715
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Richmond – Nashville
MSN:
1241
YOM:
1934
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Nashville-Metropolitan Airport, the aircraft went out of control and crashed onto a house located one mile short of runway. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 16 occupants were injured plus two people in the house.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in El Paso: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC48610
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
210
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot and injuring all three passengers.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Metz

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC5093
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4-AT-020
YOM:
10
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Owned by H. W. Robinson, the three engine aircraft was on its way to be delivered to Star Airlines. En route, the left engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. On final, the aircraft hit a tree and crashed. While the pilot was seriously injured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Stinson SM-8A in Miami: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC235W
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - Miami
MSN:
4062
YOM:
1930
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was engaged in a local demo flight at Miami Municipal Airport, taking part to an airshow (All American Air Meet). While flying in the vicinity of the airfield, the engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with high tension wires and crashed. Three occupants were killed and a fourth was injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.