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Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in Flagstaff: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
05051
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4555
YOM:
1942
Location:
Flagstaff
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
In flight, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Fremont Peak located 7 miles north of Flagstaff. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator near Tucson: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11887
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
383
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tucson
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
En route, the four-engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain located south of Tucson. SAR operations were conducted but suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Eventually, the wreckage was found two months later on a mountainous and isolated area located south of Tucson. All 11 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The official cause of the accident was attributed to a pilot error, although the accident report indicated that the tail section was not found in the wreckage. The tail was found many years later several miles away. Thus, speculation is that in flight structural failure may have caused the crash.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan near Florence: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Registration:
41-27620
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
1465
YOM:
1942
Location:
Florence-Peretola
Arizona
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 twin engine aircraft crashed 9 miles southeast of Florence following an in flight collision due to a pilot error. All four crew members were killed.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Davis Monthan AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11851
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
347
YOM:
1941
Location:
Davis-Monthan AFB
Arizona
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Davis Monthan AFB. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress near Tucson: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
38-214
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2007
YOM:
1938
Location:
Tucson
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route, an engine caught fire and exploded. The captain attempted an emergency landing but the aircraft eventually crashed in the Santa Catalina Islands, northeast of Tucson. Six crew members were killed while two others were able to bail out and were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator in Tucson

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated LB-30 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AL621
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
119
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tucson
Arizona
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:
The airplane crashed in Tucson following a fuel exhaustion. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Clyde B. Kelsay.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc II in Mohawk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL882
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Desert
Location:
Mohawk
Arizona
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Mohawk. At least one crew member was killed, Ivan J. May.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc II near Welton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL880
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Desert
Location:
Welton
Arizona
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 22 miles south of Welton. At least one crew member was killed, Lawrence A. Barrett Jr.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo near Flagstaff: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-515
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2515
YOM:
1937
Location:
Flagstaff
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions (stormy conditions), the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a huge explosion north of Flagstaff. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Donald Gladney Boyd,
2nd Lt R. H. Conway,
2nd Lt William Wesley Crim,
Cpl Leo E. Gillem,
1st Lt Arnold T. King,
Pfc Lawrence T. Morfeld.

Crash of a Martin RB-10BM at Luke Field

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-78
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6009
YOM:
1934
Location:
Luke AFB
Arizona
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:
The airplane ground looped while taking off from Luke Field and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
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