Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-9-FA Provider in Wilmington: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0672
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wilmington - Wilmington
MSN:
20121
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to an airshow at Wilmington-New Hanover County Airport with six skydivers on board. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Three passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Newhall: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1961 at 2126 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-16002
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Oxnard – Palmdale – George – Oxnard
MSN:
20468
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
3013
Captain / Total hours on type:
2307.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2791
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1312
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission on behalf of the 28th Squadron based in Oxnard. Following several touch-and-go maneuvers at Palmdale Airport, the crew continued to George Airbase in Victorville. While returning to Oxnard, the captain contacted ATC and received the permission to divert to Ventura Airport to perform few instruments approaches. While descending under VFR mode by night, the captain was informed about the presence of two successives cloud layers at 5,000 feet and 3,000 feet and instructed to report while over the last marker. Five minutes later, the airplane struck trees and crashed about 7 miles southwest of Newhall. Three crew members were killed instantly while three others walked away for all night to find help the next morning at 0630LT.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains undetermined but it is believed the pilot-in-command was descending at a too low altitude maybe to maintain a visual contact with the ground.

Crash of an Aero Commander RL-26D at Mackall AAF: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
58-5512
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
680-529-199
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mackall AAF, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed three miles south of the airfield. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-133A-35-DL Cargomaster into the Pacific Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-1614
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
45511
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Thirty-three minutes after its departure from Tachikawa AFB, the airplane crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the Japanese coasts. Few debris were found floating on water and all eight crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause was determined to be structural damage resulting from a number three engine nose case failure with aircraft components striking number four engine and causing it to separate from the aircraft. Subsequent severe structural damage to wing and fuselage probably caused loss of aircraft control and electrical power.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules at Ramstein AFB

Date & Time: May 27, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-1534
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ramstein - Ramstein
MSN:
3570
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Ramstein AFB. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway to the left and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II at McChord AFB: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1961 at 0222 LT
Operator:
Registration:
51-0174
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
McChord - Lawton
MSN:
43508
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft christened 'Old Shakey' was involved in a flight from McChord AFB to Lawton, Oklahoma, carrying a truck, several jeeps, two trailers and soldiers from Fort Sill who had been taking part in Exercise Lava Plains at the Yakima Firing Center. After a night takeoff, while climbing to a height of 500 feet, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in a wooded area located two miles south of the airport. 18 people were killed while four others were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Crew:
Cpt Warren J. Fair, pilot, †
Cpt Alvin W. Hill, copilot, †
Sgt Robert Wayne Cummins, †
M/Sgt Arnold R. Neldens, †
M/Sgt Raymond E. Overby, †
S/Sgt Ernest T. Landrum,
A2c James M. Smallwood. †
Passengers:
Pvt James Aldrich,
M/Sgt Llewellyn Morris Chilson,
P1c Jimmie R. Hunter,
P1c C. L. Buchanan, †
P1c T. E. Pulliam, †
P1c D. F. Radcliff, †
P1c D. J. Smith, †
P1c O. M. Wellings, †
P1c David Hoskins, †
P1c R. R. Kubik, †
S4c W. M. Gordon, †
S4c W. T. Kelly, †
S4c Joseph Lee, †
Sgt A. G. Neria, †
Sgt Lawrence Harrison. †
Probable cause:
It was determined the accident was probably caused by a ruptured fuel line resulting in engine failure during takeoff. It was also confirmed that the total weight of the aircraft was below the MTOW at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas SC-47A in Wiesbaden: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
43-15277
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
19743
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK on Mt Parker: 14 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1961 at 1810 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-49014
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Taipei
MSN:
26275/14830
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport, while climbing in foggy conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Parker located 4 km south of the airfield. A passenger was injured while 14 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was on its way to Taiwan with US soldiers joining their base following a permission period.

Crash of a Boeing B-52B-30-BO Stratofortress on Mt Taylor: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
53-0380
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
16859
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Ciudad Juarez' departed Biggs AAF on a training mission with two F-100A Super Sabre. After five simulated missile passes followed by tail-chase gun "attacks" van Scyoc, the 188th's Safety Officer, hauled his fighter round for a final Sidewinder practice. He was closing with the bomber when his No. 2 AIM-9B suddenly left its rail, homed on to the B-52's left inboard engine pod and exploded, severing the wing. The B52 went out of control and entered a dive. Three crew members were able to bail out before the airplane crashed on Mt Taylor and was destroyed, killing five other crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Donald C. Blodgett, pilot,
Cpt Ray C. Obel, copilot,
Cpt Peter J. Gineris, navigator, †
Cpt Stephen Carter, bombardier, †
Cpt George D. Jackson, ECM,
2nd Lt Glenn Bair, ECM student, †
S/Sgt Ray A. Singleton, gunner,
S/Sgt Manuel L. Mieras, maintenance controller.
More info on:
http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/images/Shootdown.html

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-125-BW Stratofortress in Silver Hill: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1961 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-2576
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dow - Dow
MSN:
464339
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
Judy 24
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
233
Circumstances:
The crew departed Dow AFB for a training and refueling mission. At an altitude of 30,000 feet, while preparing to refuel with a USAF KC-125, the pilot-in-command reduce the speed too much, causing the airplane to stall and to enter a dive. Two crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion near Silver Hill. Six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Donald McCullen, pilot, †
Cpt William Woody Farmer, copilot, †
Cpt Robert Marsh Morgenroth, radar navigator, †
Cpt George William Beale, observer, †
S/Sgt James Howard Fults, gunner instructor, †
A1C Robert Nathaniel Gaskey, gunner student, †
Maj Wilbur Fred Minnich, navigator,
1st Lt Glen Charles Farnham, EWO.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.