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Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-17-FA Flying Boxcar near Bridgeport: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1958 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
49-0195
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sheppard - Carswell
MSN:
10432
YOM:
1949
Location:
Bridgeport-Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Sheppard AFB to Carswell AFB, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft collided with a USAF Douglas C-124 Globemaster II. Registered 52-0981, the C-124 was en route from Kelly AFB to Tinker AFB with 15 people on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near Bridgeport. All 18 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the result of an error on part of the C-119's crew who failed to respect the instructions transmitted by ATC, asking them to fly at an altitude of 7,000 feet. For undetermined reason, the crew continue his route at the insufficient altitude of 6,000 feet, crossing the track of the C-124 which was flying at the same level. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II near Bridgeport: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1958 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
52-0981
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kelly - Tinker
MSN:
43890
YOM:
1952
Location:
Bridgeport-Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route from Kelly AFB to Tinker AFB, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the four engine aircraft collided with a USAF Fairchild C-119C-17-FA Flying Boxcar. Registered 49-0195, the Flying Boxcar was en route from Sheppard AFB to Carswell AFB with a crew of three on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near Bridgeport. All 18 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the result of an error on part of the C-119's crew who failed to respect the instructions transmitted by ATC, asking them to fly at an altitude of 7,000 feet. For undetermined reason, the crew continue his route at the insufficient altitude of 6,000 feet, crossing the track of the C-124 which was flying at the same level. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Lockheed RC-121D Super Constellation at McClellan AFB

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1958 at 1118 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
54-2308
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Topographic
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
McClellan - McClellan
MSN:
4390
YOM:
1956
Location:
Sacramento-McClellan
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5613
Captain / Total hours on type:
3583.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1664
Copilot / Total hours on type:
372
Circumstances:
The crew departed McClellan AFB on a topographic and geographical mission off the Californian coast. Shortly after takeoff from runway 16, while climbing to an altitude of 500 feet, the engine number two caught fire. The crew obtained the authorization to return for an emergency landing and the captain completed a 180 turn to intercept the glide. Doing so, the airplane lost 200 feet while flying over a populated area and the speed dropped to 120 knots. On final, the captain told his colleagues he was unable to reach the airport so he attempted an emergency landing in an open field located 1,5 mile short of runway 16. On touchdown, the airplane slid for several yards, lost its right wing and came to rest in flames. All 18 occupants were injured, five of them seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The cause of the fire on engine number two could not be determined. At the time of the accident, ceiling was broken at 2,000 feet and overcast at 4,000 feet with light rain and a wind from the southeast at 10 knots, gusting 22 knots.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47A on Mt Vesuvius: 16 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1958 at 2224 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-93817
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ramstein – Naples – Incirlik
MSN:
13771
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Vesuvius
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its night takeoff from Naples-Capodichino Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Vesuvius (1,281 meters high) located about 14 km south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 16 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-DO Stratofortress at Ellsworth AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
56-0610
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ellsworth - Ellsworth
MSN:
17293
YOM:
1956
Location:
Ellsworth AFB
South Dakota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Ellsworth AFB, while completing a local training sortie, all eight engine lost power. The aircraft stalled and crashed onto a building containing the equipment for the instrument landing approach system and located short of runway. Two crew members were killed while six others were injured. Three people working in the building were killed as well.
Crew:
Cpt Melvin J. Rudd, pilot,
Sgt Richard Gilbert, navigator,
Cpt Verle Rusk, navigator,
1st Lt Leonard R. Scotty, electronic countermeasures officer,
T/Sgt Oscar Orrs, gunner, 1,
Cpt John O'Connell Jr., navigator, †
1st Lt Kenneth B. Kaeppler, radar navigator. †
Those killed on ground were:
A1c Ronald R. Mitchell,
A1 James E. Ferrell,
Mr. Glen M. Allen.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a fuel pump screen iced over, leading to a total power loss on all engines.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster in Norwalk: 42 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1958 at 1913 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
53-3277
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Long Beach – McGuire
MSN:
44648
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
USAF30W/02
Location:
Norwalk
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Captain / Total flying hours:
7819
Captain / Total hours on type:
1448.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
701
Copilot / Total hours on type:
439
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Long Beach Airport at 1908LT bound for McGuire AFB, New Jersey, with 35 passengers and a crew of six on board. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot was cleared to climb to the assigned altitude of 17,000 feet. About five minutes later, while climbing to an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane collided with a USN Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune registered 127723. Carrying eight crew members, the Neptune has taken off from Los Alamitos NAS and was completing a local training mission. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Norwalk. The Liftmaster crashed on several building and a fuel station, killing all 41 occupants and one woman on the ground. The Neptune crashed in a stone-pit located about 2.5 miles north of the C-118 crash site. Six crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured. The accident occurred by night but in good weather conditions with a visibility above 15 miles.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision occurred in an uncontrolled area. Both crews were considered as co-responsible of the accident as they failed to take the appropriate measures to avoid each other and to pay attention to potential traffic. The crew of the C-118 was blamed not giving the priority to the Neptune which was flying to his right.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-25-DL Invader in the Old Dad Mountains: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1958 at 0943 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
41-39310
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
George - Winslow - Phoenix - Blythe - George
MSN:
7023
YOM:
1941
Location:
Old Dad Mountains
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left George AFB in the early morning on a training flight to Winslow, Phoenix, Blythe and return to George, with four other similar aircraft. While cruising, one of the Invader's crew made an error and left his position, causing his aircraft to struck the top of the Invader registered 41-39310. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a desert and mountainous area located in the Old Dad Mountains, in the Mojave National Preserve. Both crew members were killed. The other plane was able to land without further incident but with one engine inoperative.
Crew:
1st Lt Alexander Aros,
A1c Patrick W. Hughes.

Crash of a Boeing C-97A Stratofreighter into the Pacific Ocean: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter
Operator:
Registration:
49-2597
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Travis – Hickam – Wake Island – Tokyo
MSN:
16219
YOM:
1949
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Travis AFB to Tokyo with intermediate stops at Hickam (Hawaii) and Wake Island. On the leg from Hawaii to Wake Island, the airplane crashed into the ocean in unknown circumstances. SAR operations were conducted for several days but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found. The last position of the airplane was reported 375 miles southwest of Honolulu.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DL at Wiesbaden AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23356
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9218
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB
Hesse
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB, the twin engine aircraft struck the ground and crashed 4 km short of runway threshold. Five crew members were killed and a sixth was injured.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress at Fairchild AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1957 at 1602 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
56-0597
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fairchild - Fairchild
MSN:
17280
YOM:
1956
Location:
Fairchild AFB (Spokane)
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 1957, U.S. Air Force B-52D Stratofortress, No. 56-0597, from the 92nd Bombardment Wing, was taking off from Runway 5 at Fairchild Air Force Base (AFB) on a routine training mission. According to eyewitnesses, as the aircraft left the runway, it made an abnormally steep climb to an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet. Fire started coming from the jet engines and pieces of metal began flying off the engine cowlings and mounts. The aircraft stalled, executed an abrupt, right wingover and appeared to level off. But, at an altitude of approximately 500 feet, the plane nose dived and crashed in a stubbled wheat field one mile west of the base. Exploding jet fuel sent a large column of smoke into the sky, attracting scores of curious onlookers. A crew member was injured while eight other occupants were killed:
Crew:
Maj Ralph Romaine Alworth, †
Cpt Douglas Earl Gray, †
1st Lt James Dennis Mann, †
Col Clarence Arthur Neely, †
Cpt Thomas N. Peebles, †
Cpt Douglas Franklin Schwartz, †
Cpt Herbert Henry Spiller Jr., †
1st Lt Jack Joseph Vainisi, †
T/Sgt Gene I. Graye.
Source: http://www.historylink.org/File/9857
Probable cause:
It is believed the loss of control was the consequence of an incorrect wiring of stabilizer trim switch.
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