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Crash of a Douglas A-26C-40-DT Invader on Mt Finestra: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1952 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35652
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
28931
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Finestra
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a combined exercice called 'Passo Lungo'. In flight, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and crashed on the slope of Mt Finestra located west of Cava de' Tirreni. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-22-FA Flying Boxcar on Mt McKinley: 19 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1952 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-2560
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Elmendorf – Big Delta
MSN:
10518
YOM:
1950
Location:
Mt McKinley
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While flying by night at an altitude of 11,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt McKinley located in the Denali State Park. First rescuers arrived on the scene few hours later and all 19 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was not following the assigned route at the time of the accident, probably due to a navigational error on part of the flying crew caused by a faulty interpretation of two different radio stations. It is also reported that the aircraft was not equipped with an ADF system nor a high frequency receiver, which was considered as a contributory factor. Also, ground navigation aids were considered as poor.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-90-BO Superfortress in Great Dunmow: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1952 at 2350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
48-091
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
MSN:
15900
YOM:
1948
Location:
Great Dunmow AFB
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a routine training mission out of RAF Upper Heyford. En route, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located two miles west of Great Dunmow. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 11 crew members were killed. It was later reported that the airplane was carrying a load of ammunition that exploded for several hours, hampering the rescuers' mission.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by gale. Also, the assumption that the pilot-in-command lost his orientation was not ruled out.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL on Fletcher's Ice Island

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15665
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20131
YOM:
1944
Location:
Fletcher's Ice Island
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on the Fletcher's Ice Island (North Pole Ice Station T-3) located in the Arctic region. There were no casualties but the aircraft was abandoned on site. Later, the iced island that was an iceberg detached and drifted away.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11-BH Kansan near Centralia

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Registration:
41-9540
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
966
YOM:
1942
Location:
Centralia
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation, decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous and uninhabited area located six miles east of Centralia. Both pilots were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-45-BN Stratofortress off Kadena: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61751
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
11228
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While approaching Kadena AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea about 14,5 km northwest of the airbase. Intensive SAR operations were conducted and three crew members were rescued while 11 others were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Donald L. Adams, †
2nd Lt Michael Bochnovic, †
1st Lt Gordon N. Froisness, †
Cpt Robert G. Harvey, †
2nd Lt John H. Haun, †
A2c Robert Q. Hopkins, †
1st Lt James E. Knox,
A1c Edward B. Lemaster III,
A2c Harry T. Peoples Jr., †
1st Lt Robert F. Phalen, †
A2c Charles H. Rees,
A1c Jimmy C. Sides, †
M/Sgt Marvin E. Sleppy, †
A2c Donald H. Wilson. †
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by the simultaneous failure of three engine due to a fuel starvation.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor into the Hudson: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
51-11621
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
AF-178
YOM:
1952
Location:
Newburgh-Stewart
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Newburgh-Stewart Airport, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot-in-command elected to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River. The airplane sank rapidly and three occupants were killed while three others were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Ground fire of a Boeing RB-50F Superfortress in Enewetak

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
47-158
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Enewetak - Enewetak
MSN:
15842
YOM:
1947
Location:
Enewetak Atoll
All Marshall Islands
Country:
Marshall Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing to its parking position, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reason. The crew stopped the airplane and all occupants were able to evacuate without any injuries. Unfortunately, the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. It was carrying film material of aerial-mosaic photography taken of the nuclear weapons test site in preparation of the 'Operation Ivy'.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-40-DT Invader in Gimhae: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35589
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
28868
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gimhae
South Gyeongsang (경상남도)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Gimhae, the pilot-in-command decided to attempt a go around when the aircraft went out of control and crashed 6 km northwest of the airbase. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Gary E. Frase,
A1c Joseph S. Gliniak,
1st Lt James N. Valentine.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando off Gangneung: 25 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77538
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gangneung – Pohang
MSN:
32934
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gangneung
Gangwon (강원도)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 08, while in initial climb, the Commando went out of control and crashed into the sea few km off shore. SAR operations were immediately dispatched on the scene but two dead bodies were found two days later and no trace of the aircraft that sank. The exact circumstances and caused of this accident remains unknown. USAF reported that both dead bodies they found were wearing a life jacket.
Crew:
A1c Alfred W. Arrington,
S/Sgt Vincent J. Bevilacqua,
A2c Billy R. Bishop,
Aoan Carnell E. Booth,
1st Lt Robert C. Bowerman,
Lt Fred V. Bryan,
A3c Lemon Butts Jr.,
1st Lt Thomas L. Davidson,
Sgt Robert A. Deeter Jr.,
Ad3 Oliver P. Dehart,
A3c George A. Freeman,
A2c Harry C. Gammage,
Cpt Victor B. Graper,
A3c Norman C. Harmon,
T/Sgt Paul J. Hicks,
Ad3 James P. King,
A3c James A. Kyle,
A2c Daniel G. Ruby Jr.,
1st Lt Richard G. L. Rusk,
A3c Walter K. Rutledge,
T/Sgt Melvin E. Sarkilahti,
A2c John E. Thurman,
A3c Valerian Ulinski,
Ae3 Bobby R. Wilson,
A1c William H. Wimbish.
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