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Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK near Nagoya: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1950 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49915
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Iwakuni – Komaki
MSN:
15731/27176
YOM:
1945
Location:
Nagoya-Komaki
Chūbu
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was approaching Komaki AFB in Nagoya after a training sortie. While cruising by night, the aircraft crashed in a mountain area located 42 km southeast of the airbase. A crew member was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-85-DL near Roswell

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15557
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20023
YOM:
1943
Location:
Roswell
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed en route, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a desert area located 6 miles southwest of Roswell. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK near Rockcliffe AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-1065
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rockcliffe – Washington DC
MSN:
17068/34335
YOM:
1945
Location:
Rockcliffe AFB (Ottawa)
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rockcliffe AFB in Ottawa, while in initial climb, the right engine caught fire. A crew member was able to bail out and was later found alive. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field located in Ramsayville. All four occupants were killed, among them Laurence A. Steinhardt, US Ambassador to Canada.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Stephenville

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-77292
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16876/33624
YOM:
1945
Location:
Stephenville
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. All seven crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Boeing B-50A-10-BO Superfortress near Hyder: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1950 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
46-020
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Davis-Monthan - Davis-Monthan
MSN:
15740
YOM:
1947
Location:
Hyder
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The heavy bomber departed Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson at 0615LT for a routine training mission that involved navigation, aerial refueling and camera gunnery training. After transferring 870 gallons of fuel to a KB-29 over Yuma, the crew pressurized the cabin and began to climb to 20,000 feet. While climbing through 17,000 feet, at about 0815LT, the master fire warning light suddenly illuminated on the pilot's instrument panel as the right scanner simultaneously reported a fire streaming from Number 3 engine. There were three successive minor explosions that rolled the bomber onto a 45 degree angle right bank. With the right wing engulfed in flames, the ship then fell into a steep right turn and began to disintegrate. As the bomber broke apart in the sky, only two men of the crew of fourteen were able to escape, the copilot Lt William Gentry and the bombardier, Captain John Lee. The wreckage was spread over a two-mile area of remote desert terrain.
Source: http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com/b50superfortress.html
Probable cause:
The investigation disclosed that Engine Number 3 had been replaced the prior day. It was determined that the cause of the fire was from the exhaust clamp that failed on Engine Number 3, and allowed hot exhaust gas to ignite fuel which had seeped past the fire seal into the engine section. The source of the fuel was likely from the loose-fitting main fuel line at the inlet side of the engine-driven fuel pump.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Griffiss AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48940
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14756/26201
YOM:
1944
Location:
Griffiss AFB (Rome)
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The flight was attempted in heavy snow falls. Shortly after takeoff from Griffiss AFB, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed. Two crew members were killed while three others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK near Hope: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48464
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14280/25725
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hope
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route, a fire broke out. The crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located five miles southwest of Hope. Three crew members were unhurt while the fourth occupant was killed, apparently because the parachute failed to open properly.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Milwaukee

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
44-87112
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8371
YOM:
1945
Location:
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Harrisburg

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-107320
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
27007
YOM:
1944
Location:
Harrisburg
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown in Harrisburg-Olmsted AFB, the aircraft 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 Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor near Charlotte

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
44-86919
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
MSN:
8178
YOM:
1945
Location:
Charlotte
North Carolina
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:
Apparently, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a prairie. After landing, the aircraft rolled for few dozen yards and eventually crashed in a farmhouse located 6 miles south of Charlotte. The aircraft was destroyed and the farmhouse was seriously damaged. The crew escaped uninjured.
Thanks to Sam R. Stewart for his contribution and images.
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