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Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in San Jose

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
N14938
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1027
YOM:
1935
Location:
San José
California
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 in unknown circumstances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D on Mt San Gorgonio: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-1124
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Offutt - March
MSN:
17127/34394
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt San Gorgonio
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions on a flight from Offutt AFB to March AFB, the airplane hit the slope of Mt San Gorgonio located about 29 miles northeast of March AFB. The wreckage was spotted few hours later and all 13 occupants have been killed. Four days later, a US Marine Corps' Sikorsky crashed in the same area while taking part to the rescue operations, killing two of its three crew members.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Convair B-36D-25-CF Peacemaker off San Diego: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1952 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Operator:
Registration:
49-2661
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Diego - San Diego
MSN:
121
YOM:
1949
Location:
San Diego
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following technical modifications, the crew was engaged in a local test flight out from San Diego Airport. In flight, the engine number five caught fire. The pilot-in-command instructed his crew to bail out and elected to steer the aircraft away from the populated area. Eventually, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 3,5 miles off San Diego. The pilot and a second crew member were killed while six others were found alive.
Crew:
David H. Franks, pilot, †
R. W. Adkins, copilot,
Kenneth Rogers, flight engineer,
W. W. Hoffman, flight engineer, †
W. F. Ashmore,
Roy E. Sommers,
D. R. Maxion,
W. E. Wilson.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Pasadena: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48723
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
El Paso – Van Nuys
MSN:
14539/25984
YOM:
1944
Location:
San Gabriel Mountains
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While flying in limited visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Wilson located in the San Gabriel Mountain range, about 7 miles northeast of Pasadena. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 247D off Long Beach

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Scott Aero Service
Registration:
N41813
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Clemente - Long Beach
MSN:
1725
YOM:
1933
Location:
Long Beach
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from San Clemente Island to Long Beach. While approaching Long Beach, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Long Beach. Both pilots were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-65-BN Superfortress off Oceanside: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-62119
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
March - March
MSN:
11596
YOM:
1944
Location:
Oceanside
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training sortie from March AFB when the heavy bomber collided in unclear circumstances with a USN Vought F4U-4 Corsair registered 81218 from VMA-251 flying out from MCAS El Toro. The 4 plane Corsair formation was on a GCI and Camera Gunnery flight. Apparently they were asked by the B-29s to make head on gunnery passes. The first three Corsairs did so, but the fourth, piloted by 2nd Lt Joe K. Jensen did not. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles west of Oceanside. The pilot of the Corsair was killed as well as 11 crew members from the Superfortress, six other have been rescued.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Whittier: 29 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1952 at 0334 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N8404C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New York – Chicago – Kansas City – Phoenix – Hollywood
MSN:
22466
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
RBN416W
Location:
Whittier
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Captain / Total flying hours:
7913
Captain / Total hours on type:
600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
495
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Hollywood-Burbank Airport at night and in marginal weather conditions (low clouds) when he was instructed by ATC to divert to Los Angeles for a safe ILS approach. While descending in dark conditions, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Puente located two miles east of Whittier. The wreckage was found few hours later. All 29 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in voluntarily descending below the minimum altitude for which he was cleared, and attempting an approach at an altitude too low to clear the terrain. The following findings were pointed out:
- Captain Lewis R. Powell served as command pilot on this flight and on previous ones, contrary to the limitation imposed by his medical certificate, although he was fully aware that this limitation restricted his flying activities to company check pilot duties only,
- Copilot Charles K. Waldron was properly certificated for the flight involved, but during this flight exceeded the flight time limitations prescribed under Section 42.48 of the Civil Air Regulations,
- The flight was not conducted in accordance with the ARTC approach clearance, in that it descended considerably lower than the minimum altitude prescribed between Riverside range and Downey fan marker,
- The flight was in clear weather until reaching the Puente Hills, which were clear on the east slope but in fog to the west,
- Weather conditions at Los Angeles International Airport were satisfactory for the ILS approach for which the flight had been cleared, but were not satisfactory for a visual approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 on Mt Loma Prieta: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
17207
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
13107
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Loma Prieta
California
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 hit power cables and crashed on the slope of Mt Loma Prieta (3,786 feet high) located about 15 miles south of San José. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress in McClellan AFB: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-87756
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Meteorological / Weather
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
McClellan - McClellan
MSN:
12559
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sacramento-McClellan
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base at McClellan AFB after a 19 hours mission consisting of weather reports. On final approach, a propeller went into reverse. The airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion about three miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Bruce Acebedo,
S/Sgt Carlton J. Fose,
M/Sgt Edwin M. Fultz,
Cpt Guilford A. Hopkins,
S/Sgt. Elbert E. King,
Cpt Robert L. Kizer,
2nd Lt August I. Lam,
S/Sgt Hayden C. Schulz,
T/Sgt George R. Shook,
Cpt Leonard B. Winstead.
Probable cause:
Failure of a propeller which went into reverse on final approach.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16A Albatross in the Dolomite Canyon

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1952 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
51-001
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mountain Home - San Diego
MSN:
G-74
YOM:
1951
Location:
Panamint Springs
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, to San Diego. While cruising by night at an altitude of 11,000 feet, one of the engine failed. All six crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed on the slope of the Towne Peak (7,287 feet high) located in the Dolomite canyon, in the Death Valley, about seven miles northeast of Panamint Springs. All six occupants were found unarmed while the aircraft was destroyed. It was later reported that the remaining engine was running normally at impact.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.
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