Crash of a Convair T-29B at Harlingen AFB

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1953 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
51-7905
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Harlingen - Harlingen
MSN:
317
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Harlingen AFB. On final approach at night, the airplane impacted the ground, lost its wings and crashed in an open field located about a mile short of runway threshold. All 10 occupants were rescued, among them three were injured. Those injured were Maj Dorn P. Olmacher, 2nd Lt Lewis H. Sutter and 2nd Lt William Hoffman.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in Ardmore

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-36830
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ardmore - Fort Still
MSN:
4390
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed 75 yards from the runway. All four occupants were injured, one of them seriously.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-26-FA Flying Boxcar in Choisy-le-Roi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
51-2621
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dover – Lajes – Paris – Frankfurt
MSN:
10610
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a ferry flight from Dover, Delaware, to Frankfurt-Main Airbase with intermediate stops in Lajes, Azores Islands, and Paris-Orly. On final approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in Choisy-le-Roi, less than four km from the runway threshold. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control may have been caused by the loss of the rear clam shell door which detached on final approach and struck the horizontal stabilizer, causing the failure of the empennage and the subsequent crash of the airplane.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D off Sirte

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
43-16353
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20819
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the aircraft that crashed into the Mediterranean sea about 24 km northeast of Sirte. There were no casualties but the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Lockheed RC-121C Super Constellation off Hamilton AFB

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1953 at 2130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
51-3838
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
McClellan - Hamilton
MSN:
4114
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from McClellan AFB. On final approach to Hamilton AFB by night, the crew encountered foggy conditions when the four engine airplane hit the water surface and crashed into the San Pablo Bay about two miles southeast of the airbase. All 13 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. USAF headquarter reported that the aircraft suffered a loss of engine power on final.

Crash of a Kaiser-Frazer C-119F-KM Flying Boxcar near Pope AFB: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
51-8163
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pope - Pope
MSN:
166
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Pope Army Airfield with 11 other similar aircraft to take part to a paratroopers dropping exercice. In flight, an engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that left the formation and dove into the ground. During the dive, the aircraft hit ten paratroopers who just bailed out from other aircraft and eventually crashed in a field located few miles from the airport. All five occupants (four crew members and one doctor from Fort Bragg) were killed as well as ten paratroopers.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Grumman G-64A Albatross into the Atlantic Ocean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
51-036
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
G-111
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Atlantic while performing a flight between Iceland and Greenland. No trace of the aircraft nor the five crew members was ever found.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver near College Grove

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
52-6099
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
471
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing following a fuel exhaustion. The airplane crash landed in a field located five miles northwest of College Grove and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot was unhurt.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK near Calhan

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
43-49782
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
15598/27043
YOM:
1945
Location:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances two miles north of Calhan. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Pine Mountain: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1953 at 0930 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-86779
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eglin – Andrews
MSN:
108-47533
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Eglin AFB, Florida, at 0830LT bound for Andrews AFB, Maryland. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane deviated from the prescribed flight plan for unknown reason. About an hour later, while cruising at an altitude of 1,340 feet in rainy conditions, the aircraft crashed in the Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park located southeast of Pine Mountain. A crew member was seriously injured while five others were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor and it was reported that the crew was flying under VFR.
Crew:
Cpt Stephen A. Clisham, pilot, †
Cpt Virgil G. Harris, copilot, †
T/Sgt Othelier B. Hoke, †
A3c Robert W. Davidson, †
A2c Benny J. Shepard, †
Richard K. Schmidt.