Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL near Rascafría: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1956
Operator:
Registration:
43-15130
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
19596
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the airplane struck a hill located 8 km south of Rascafría. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker in West Palm Beach: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1956 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Palm Beach - West Palm Beach
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed West Palm Beach at 1345LT for a local training mission. After completing several maneuvers, the crew was returning to his base when, on final approach, at a speed of 142 knots, the four engine aircraft struck a 42-foot high light pole. It continued for 660 feet, lost its both wings, broken in two and eventually crashed in a field. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Andrew B. Smernis, pilot,
Cpt Earl Wellington Meredith, Jr., copilot,
2nd Lt Thomas Dee McLeod, copilot,
T/Sgt William Edward McDeid, flight engineer,
M/Sgt John Harold James, panel engineer.
Probable cause:
The investigation would conclude the fault lay not with the crew. It was an in-flight fire; not in an engine, but in the area of the left wing's leading edge.

Crash of a Boeing B-52B-30-BO Stratofortress in Tracy: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
53-0384
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
16863
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission out from Castle AFB when a fire broke out apparently on the leading edge of the right wing. It appears that four crew members were able to bail out and were found alive while four others were killed when the aircraft crashed in Tracy.
Crew:
Maj Edward L. Stefanski, pilot, †
Maj Michael Shay, copilot,
Maj Albert K. Brown, pilot, †
Col Patrick D. Fleming, instructor pilot, †
Cpt James Fredrickson, navigator, †
Maj Harold F. Korger, radar observer,
Maj Billie M. Beardsley, radio operator,
M/Sgt Williard Milo Lucy, tail gunner.
Probable cause:
It is believed that a fire broke out following an explosion that occurred in an electrical power panel located on the alternator deck blowing off the cover. This caused the cover to jam the regulator valve of the left hand forward alternator disabling the over speed protection and resulting in an over speed failure.

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in Toronto: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1956 at 1538 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-3252
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Toronto - Toronto
MSN:
92
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft just came out from the De Havilland manufacture and has to be delivered to the US Army. With four crew members on board, the aircraft took off from Toronto-Downsview Airport at 1521LT for a local check flight. While cruising in the vicinity of the airfield, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive, disintegrated and eventually crashed near Keele Street. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by wake turbulences coming from another aircraft that could not be identified.

Crash of a Convair B-36B-5-CF Peacemaker at Biggs AFB

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-92041
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
38
YOM:
1946
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Considered as damaged beyond repair following a hard landing at Biggs AFB. No injuries.

Crash of a Convair RB-36H-60-CF Peacemaker at Ellsworth AFB

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
52-1387
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ellsworth - Ellsworth
MSN:
339
YOM:
1952
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 mission at Ellsworth AFB. On touchdown, the six engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire. It is believed that the loss of control was caused by an uneven power reduction during landing.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-13-FA Flying Boxcar in Sparrevohn

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
49-0128
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10365
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. All eight crew members were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-54M Skymaster near Ketama: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-9094
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tripoli – Kenitra
MSN:
27320
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 8 km southeast of Ketama. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in Spartanburg

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
53-3214
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11230
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed. No casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in Kagoshima

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
52-5881
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11048
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed in flight. As the crew was unable to feather the propeller, they decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Kagoshima. All five crew members were found uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.