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Crash of a Douglas DC-3-393 in Birmingham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1946 at 0359 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC21786
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Guardia – Pittsburgh – Knoxville – Birmingham
MSN:
4131
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
PCA105
Location:
Birmingham
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4517
Captain / Total hours on type:
3617.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3401
Copilot / Total hours on type:
773
Aircraft flight hours:
5864
Circumstances:
The approach to runway 18 was completed in marginal weather conditions. On final, the aircraft was well above the glide and with an excessive speed. It landed half way down the runway and after touchdown, was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, went through a fence and down an embankment before coming to rest with the cockpit crushed on the opposite embankment and partially submerged in a drainage ditch. The aircraft was written off and three crew members, among them both pilots, were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in committing himself to a landing from an approach which was too high and too fast.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Birmingham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1945 at 1506 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-38636
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Maxton – Birmingham – Lubbock
MSN:
4739
YOM:
1942
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Maxton AAF to Lubbock, Texas, with an intermediate stop in Birmingham, towing to Waco CG-4A gliders. On approach to Birmingham, the crew was vectored to the NE-SW runway but for unknown reason, the captain decided to land on the north-south runway. After both gliders landed without problems, the crew of the C-47 started to take off when shortly after rotation, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
T/Sgt E. M. Bechtold,
1st Lt Fred T. Heise,
2nd Lt John N. Ricker,
Avc Lawrence W. Schloss.

Crash of a Martin B-26C Marauder near Falkville: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1944 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-35142
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Falkville
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising in a stormy weather, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All eight crew were killed. According to eye-witnesses, the accident occurred while the airplane was flying into adverse weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina into the Mobile Bay: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08324
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pensacola - Pensacola
Location:
Mobile
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Mobile Bay, off Mobile, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Brookley AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-15534
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Mobile - Fort Benning
MSN:
7329
YOM:
1942
Location:
Brookley AFB (Mobile)
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Brookley AFB, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the Mobile Bay. Three crew were killed while two others were rescued. The crew was performing a training mission to Fort Benning.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Maxwell AFB: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18494
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4586
YOM:
1942
Location:
Maxwell AFB (Montgomery)
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 5 km south of Maxwell AFB, Montgomery. All 12 occupants were killed.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III near Florence: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23317
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
414-6134
YOM:
1941
Location:
Florence
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances three miles east of Florence while on a delivery flight to the Royal Canadian Air Force. At least one crew member was killed. Should be registered BW455 by RCAF.
Crew:
Norris W. Browne.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo near Uniontown: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1938 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-21
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1882
YOM:
1937
Location:
Uniontown
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered a line squall and lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 8 km southwest of Uniontown. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt James D. Underhill,
Lt John W. Pollard.
Passengers:
2nd Lt John H. Hydle,
Cpt Fred Ruebe Jr.,
Pvt Humberto Narro,
Pvt Ben L. Jones,
Pvt Sheldon S. Johnson.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in Montgomery

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1938 at 2244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC13735
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Antonio – Houston – New Orleans – Mobile – Montgomery – Atlanta – Spartanburg – Charlotte – Greensboro – Richmond – Washington DC – Baltimore – Camden – Newark
MSN:
1261
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
EA002
Location:
Montgomery
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2546.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1400
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1092
Circumstances:
After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet, the pilot retracted the landing gear when he felt several vibrations coming from the right engine. A fire erupted on the right engine and the crew decided to return to Montgomery. Because the situation deteriorated rapidly, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located near the airport. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before the right wing was partially torn off while contacting a tree. All occupants escaped uninjured, except the captain who was slightly burned. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Fire in the right engine nacelle, resulting from progressive failure of engine parts, which increased in area and intensity to such an extent as to make it impossible to continue the aircraft in flight. The fire on the right engine was caused by the failure of the sixth cylinder.

Crash of a Curtiss YC-30 Condor II at Maxwell AFB

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss T-32 Condor II
Operator:
Registration:
33-321
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Maxwell - Maxwell
MSN:
27
YOM:
1933
Location:
Maxwell AFB (Montgomery)
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reasons upon landing, veered off runway and collided with another aircraft. There were no casualties.
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