California

Site:

Schedule:

McClellan - McClellan

MSN:

4390

YOM:

1956

Location:

Sacramento-McClellan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5613

Captain / Total hours on type:

3583.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1664

Copilot / Total hours on type:

372

Circumstances:

The crew departed McClellan AFB on a topographic and geographical mission off the Californian coast. Shortly after takeoff from runway 16, while climbing to an altitude of 500 feet, the engine number two caught fire. The crew obtained the authorization to return for an emergency landing and the captain completed a 180 turn to intercept the glide. Doing so, the airplane lost 200 feet while flying over a populated area and the speed dropped to 120 knots. On final, the captain told his colleagues he was unable to reach the airport so he attempted an emergency landing in an open field located 1,5 mile short of runway 16. On touchdown, the airplane slid for several yards, lost its right wing and came to rest in flames. All 18 occupants were injured, five of them seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The cause of the fire on engine number two could not be determined. At the time of the accident, ceiling was broken at 2,000 feet and overcast at 4,000 feet with light rain and a wind from the southeast at 10 knots, gusting 22 knots.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7B at Long Beach

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-7

Operator:

Registration:

N846D

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Long Beach - Long Beach

MSN:

45452

YOM:

1958

Location:

Long Beach

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Long Beach Airport while performing a test flight prior to its delivery to Eastern Airlines. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-1 in Palm Springs

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1958 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-240

Operator:

Registration:

N8405H

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Las Vegas – Palm Springs – San Diego

MSN:

YOM:

1948

Flight number:

WA019

Location:

Palm Springs

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9845

Captain / Total hours on type:

3547.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

5240

Copilot / Total hours on type:

785

Aircraft flight hours:

22516

Circumstances:

About 1342 Flight 19 took off from runway 31. The takeoff appeared normal, and the aircraft climbed to approximately 500 feet above the ground. At this time several ground witnesses saw two or more silvery pieces separate from the aircraft. Most witnesses said the pieces seemingly separated from the area of the right wing. Almost simultaneously the aircraft was observed to nose down sharply and descend at a steep angle. As it neared the ground it leveled off considerably but continued to descend. It contacted the ground raising a large cloud of dust and then disappeared from the view of the observers behind intervening higher terrain. Seconds later large columns of smoke were seen rising from the accident site. During the ground roll the aircraft struck large boulders in its path and fire occurred which consumed the major portion of the aircraft. There were no fatalities but serious injuries resulted to 5 of the 18 passengers and minor injuries to most of the others. The crew of three received minor or slight injuries.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of a mechanic to secure properly the right wing leading edge section as a result of which the unit separated in flight. This improper installation was undetected because of inadequate inspection. The following findings were reported:
- During the departure from Palm Springs the right wing leading edge separated in flight,
- Separation of the component resulted in severe control difficulty and buffeting of the aircraft,
- A gear-down emergency landing was made in the boulder-strewn desert about four miles north-northwest of the airport,
- During the ground roll impacts with the boulders caused severe damage and breakup of the aircraft, and a fire in the left wing spread rapidly and destroyed the aircraft,
- N8405H received a No. 3, areas 1 and 3, heavy maintenance check about two hours of flying time before the accident,
- During the maintenance a mechanic assigned to close and secure the right leading edge forgot to install the retaining screws,
- The gap straps were properly installed,
- An inadequate inspection of the aircraft by the lead mechanic resulted in his failure to detect the omission,
- The gap straps held the leading edge in place until the Palm Springs departure when they failed from loads beyond their design strength.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune in Norwalk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1958 at 1913 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Operator:

Registration:

127723

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Los Alamitos - Los Alamitos

MSN:

426-5054

Location:

Norwalk

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Los Alamitos AAF for a local training flight with eight crew members on board. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane collided with a USAF Douglas C-118A Liftmaster. Registered 53-3277, it left Long Beach Airport five minutes earlier bound for McGuire AFB, New Jersey, with 35 passengers and a crew of six on board. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Norwalk. The Liftmaster crashed on several building and a fuel station, killing all 41 occupants and one woman on the ground. The Neptune crashed in a stone-pit located about 2.5 miles north of the C-118 crash site. Six crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured. The accident occurred by night but in good weather conditions with a visibility above 15 miles.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the collision occurred in an uncontrolled area. Both crews were considered as co-responsible of the accident as they failed to take the appropriate measures to avoid each other and to pay attention to potential traffic. The crew of the C-118 was blamed not giving the priority to the Neptune which was flying to his right.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster in Norwalk: 42 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1958 at 1913 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-118 Liftmaster

Operator:

Registration:

53-3277

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Long Beach – McGuire

MSN:

44648

YOM:

1955

Flight number:

USAF30W/02

Location:

Norwalk

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7819

Captain / Total hours on type:

1448.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

701

Copilot / Total hours on type:

439

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft departed Long Beach Airport at 1908LT bound for McGuire AFB, New Jersey, with 35 passengers and a crew of six on board. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot was cleared to climb to the assigned altitude of 17,000 feet. About five minutes later, while climbing to an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane collided with a USN Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune registered 127723. Carrying eight crew members, the Neptune has taken off from Los Alamitos NAS and was completing a local training mission. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Norwalk. The Liftmaster crashed on several building and a fuel station, killing all 41 occupants and one woman on the ground. The Neptune crashed in a stone-pit located about 2.5 miles north of the C-118 crash site. Six crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured. The accident occurred by night but in good weather conditions with a visibility above 15 miles.

Probable cause:

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-25-DL Invader in the Old Dad Mountains: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1958 at 0943 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

41-39310

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

George - Winslow - Phoenix - Blythe - George

MSN:

7023

YOM:

1941

Location:

Old Dad Mountains

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left George AFB in the early morning on a training flight to Winslow, Phoenix, Blythe and return to George, with four other similar aircraft. While cruising, one of the Invader's crew made an error and left his position, causing his aircraft to struck the top of the Invader registered 41-39310. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a desert and mountainous area located in the Old Dad Mountains, in the Mojave National Preserve. Both crew members were killed. The other plane was able to land without further incident but with one engine inoperative.
Crew:
1st Lt Alexander Aros,
A1c Patrick W. Hughes.

Crash of a Convair R3Y-2 Tradewind off Alameda NAS

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Convair R3Y Tradewind

Operator:

Registration:

128446

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Honolulu - Alameda

Location:

Alameda NAS (Oakland)

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On a flight from Honolulu (Keehi lagoon) to Alameda NAS, the propeller detached from the engine number one and struck the fuselage, causing vibrations. The crew continued the flight to Alameda NAS and while landing on breakwater, the airplane crash landed and sank. All 21 occupants were rescued but the aircraft was lost.

Probable cause:

Loss of a propeller blade in flight.

Crash of a Boeing B-52B-30-BO Stratofortress at Castle AFB

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

53-0382

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Castle - Castle

MSN:

16861

YOM:

1953

Location:

Castle AFB

Country:

Region: