Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Burley

Date & Time: May 17, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
43-49267
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
15083/26528
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training mission when an engine failed in flight. The pilot in command elected to make an emergency landing and reduced his altitude when the aircraft hit power lines and crashed in a pasture. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Lowry AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
43-49496
Flight Type:
MSN:
15312/26757
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in Lowry AFB while landing in poor weather conditions. At least one crew member was killed in the accident.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Minneapolis

Date & Time: May 5, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-77692
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
33088
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Minneapolis-St Paul-Wold-Chamberlain Field Airport, while climbing in poor weather conditions, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest with the left engine on fire. All 31 occupants were able to vacate the cabin and there were no injuries. The aircraft christened 'The Haylift Express' was damaged beyond repair. All passengers were members of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) of the University of Minnesota.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Hartsville

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1950 at 1155 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-72597
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10702
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An in flight fire forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a field located in Hartsville, slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. All four crew members escaped without injuries while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in Leon Springs: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
45-0954
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kelly - Kelly
MSN:
16957/34217
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Control was lost in flight following a structural failure. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 2.5 miles east of Leon Springs. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Structural failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster on the Mt Hirugatake: 35 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1950 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-72704
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Clark – Kadena – Tachikawa
MSN:
10809
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Clark AFB in Manila to Tachikawa AFB in Tokyo with an intermediate stop in Kadena AFB, Okinawa. On the second leg, while approaching Tachikawa AFB by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain falls. While descending to an altitude of 5,000 feet, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Hirugatake (1,279 meters high) located 34 km southwest of the Tachikawa AFB. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 35 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
While approaching Tachikawa AFB, the crew reported his position over the O-Shama radio range station at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Probably due to a navigation error, the aircraft was in reality 40 km more south of this position.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-50-DT Invader in Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-35824
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
29103
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-5-DO Skymaster in Resolute Bay

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-9066
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27292
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-100-BW Superfortress near Kirtland AFB: 13 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1950 at 2141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-21854
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kirtland - Kirtland
MSN:
13748
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Three minutes after takeoff from runway 08 at Kirtland AFB, while in initial climb, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion on a mountain slope located near Sandia, about 5,7 miles east of the airbase. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 13 crew members were killed. Detonators were installed in the bomb on board the aircraft. The bomb case was demolished ans some high explosive (HE) material burned in the gasoline fire. Other pieces of unburned HE were scattered throughout the wreckage. Four spare detonators in their carrying case were recovered undamaged. There were no contamination or recovery problems. The recovered components of the weapon were returned to the Atomic Energy Commission. Both the weapon and the capsule of nuclear material were on board the aircraft but the capsule was not inserted for safety reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Fairfax Field

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
43-48102
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13918/25363
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an engine fire or explosion in flight, the crew was forced to divert to Fairfax Field for an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no casualties.