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Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in San Giorgio

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1957 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
55-3326
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
198
YOM:
1957
Location:
San Giorgio (Brunico)
Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a local exercice on behalf of the Southern European Task Force (SETAF) based in Verona. Just after takeoff, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located in San Giorgio, two km north of Brunico. All seven occupants were injured, three of them seriously, while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97G-28-BO Stratotanker off Plattsburgh: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
52-2737
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
16768
YOM:
1952
Location:
Plattsburgh
New York
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:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 17 at Plattsburgh Airport, while climbing, the airplane lost height, stalled and crashed into Lake Champlin. Three crew members were rescued while five others were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a loss of power on two engines simultaneously.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Hsinchu: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15867
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
20333
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hsinchu
Hsinchu City (新竹市)
Country:
Taiwan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Crashed in Hsinchu while performing a flight from Clark AFB, Philippines. All 16 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in McGrath: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1957 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15995
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20461
YOM:
1944
Location:
McGrath
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Engine lost power in flight so the crew decided to divert to McGrath Airport. On final, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. Two passengers were killed while seven other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on engine.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver on Mt Hoher Ochsenkopf: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1957
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Mt Hoher Ochsenkopf
Baden-Württemberg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft lost height following the engine failure and crashed on the wooded Mt Hoher Ochsenkopf (1,054 meters high) located about 5 km west of Raumünzach. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97F-55-BO Stratotanker in Lajes

Date & Time: May 10, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
51-0254
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16321
YOM:
1651
Location:
Lajes
Azores Islands
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Lajes Airport, one of the engine failed. The takeoff procedure was interrupted and an emergency braking procedure was attempted. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in flames. All seven crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97F-55-BO Stratotanker into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: May 9, 1957 at 0616 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
51-0258
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sidi Slimane - Lajes
MSN:
16325
YOM:
1951
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising about 550 km southeast of the Azores Islands, the crew contacted ground and informed ATC about a double engine failure. The radio operator was able to give his exact position before the aircraft was ditched into the ocean. All seven crew members were evacuated safely and the aircraft floated for ten days before it was sunk by the crew of USS Wisconsin.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar near Ashiya AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1957 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Ashiya AFB
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Ashiya AFB in poor weather conditions (rain and fog), the airplane hit the slope of Mt Hobashirayama located about 11 km short of runway 30. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II in Cambridge Bay

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
51-5176
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
43586
YOM:
1951
Location:
Cambridge Bay
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the airplane was too low and hit a gravel bank and crashed. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing C-97C-35-BO Stratofreighter into the Pacific Ocean: 67 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1957 at 0037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter
Operator:
Registration:
50-0702
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Travis – Honolulu – Wake Island – Yokota
MSN:
16246
YOM:
1950
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
67
Circumstances:
En route from Wake Island to Yokota AFB, Tokyo, while cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the crew informed ground about his position 320 km off the Japanese coast and that all was ok on board. Shortly later, the airplane disappeared and the crew was unable to send any distress call. SAR operations were conducted for eight days but no trace of the airplane nor the 67 occupants was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it was reported that weather conditions were not so good with clouds between 1,500 and 3,000 meters with turbulences and icing conditions.
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