United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While in cruising altitude about 98 miles northwest of Juneau, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt La Pérouse (10,740 feet high). The wreckage was found about 1,000 feet below the summit and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-50-DT Invader off Langley AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-35806

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Langley - Langley

MSN:

29085

YOM:

1944

Location:

Langley AFB (Hampton)

Virginia

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight out of Langley AFB. While cruising over the Bay of Chesapeake, the twin engine aircraft collided with a second USAF Douglas A-26 Invader registered 44-34111 and carrying another crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft went into a dive and crashed into the bay, about ten miles east of Langley AFB. Both aircraft were lost and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Robert MacCombs,
1st Lt Otis Jones,
M/Sgt Harley Brunner,
T/Sgt Samuel Sartain,
Cad Thomas Miller,
Cad John Harker.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-50-DL Invader near Chongju: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-34234

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

27513

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying in the region of Chongju, the twin engine aircraft was hit by antiaircraft fire and one engine was inoperative. Shortly later, the aircraft crashed on a mountain slope near Chongju, killing all three crew members.

Probable cause:

Shot down by antiaircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-45-DL Invader off Langley AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-34111

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Langley - Langley

MSN:

27390

YOM:

1944

Location:

Langley AFB (Hampton)

Virginia

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash of a Douglas C-47D off Oshima Island: 25 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1950 at 0430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

44-76439

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Tokyo – Kagoshima – Okinawa

MSN:

16023/32771

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Twenty minutes after its departure from Tokyo-Haneda Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 3,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, went into a dive and crashed into the sea about 10 miles south of the Oshima Island. A passenger was rescued while all 25 other occupants were killed when the aircraft sank to a depth of 1,500 meters. According to the testimony of the only survivor, the aircraft encountered turbulences while flying into adverse weather conditions and thunderstorm activity. Several electrical problems occurred with the light coming on and off in the cabin shortly before the aircraft became out of control.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-15-DC Skymaster in Kadena AFB

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

43-17221

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

22171

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On landing, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Myrtle Beach: 39 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1950 at 1022 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

44-77577

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Myrtle Beach – Nashville

MSN:

32973

YOM:

1944

Location:

Myrtle Beach

South Carolina

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 takeoff, while climbing to a height between 1,000 and 2,000 feet, the aircraft became unstable, lost height and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located two miles from the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 39 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Several eye-witnesses reported that the aircraft lost some pieces before it came down. Investigations determined that following the failure of a part of the right aileron, it detached from the wing, causing severe vibrations. The crew tried to maintain a flat attitude but the aircraft banked left and right and then went into a spin when both wings separated due to aerodynamic forces that exceeded their certification. In such conditions, control was impossible.