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Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV on Mt Pinos: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN345
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Biggs - Sacramento
MSN:
15913/32661
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lebec
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Biggs AFB, El Paso, to Sacramento, California. While cruising by night in stormy weather, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on the Mt Pinos located some 14 miles west of Lebec. All five occupants were killed. The wreckage was found by walkers on 13MAY1945 only.
Crew:
Peter Antrobus, pilot
Floyd E. George, copilot
Frank S. Holmes, navigator
Edward Watkins, radio operator
Passenger:
Max K. Nelson.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 off Oakland NAS: 24 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1945 at 0630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
50765
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
14848/26293
YOM:
1944
Location:
Oakland
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 27, while in initial climb by night and in marginal weather conditions, the pilot made a turn to the right when the right wing tip hit the water surface. The aircraft crashed into the Bay of San Francisco and none of the 24 occupants survived. The cloud ceiling was down to 500 feet at the time of the accident with a good visibility under the cloud layer.
Probable cause:
The crew was unaware of his real position after takeoff due to the malfunction of a gyro. Because the aircraft was flying over the Bay of San Francisco and due to lack of visibility and the absence of ground visual references, the crew lost his bearings during initial climb.

Crash of a Curtiss R5C-1 Commando near Los Angeles: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
39504
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
MSN:
26498
YOM:
1943
Location:
Los Angeles
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:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances south of Los Angeles, killing all eight crew members. The s/n has not been confirmed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-277B near Burbank: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1945 at 0410 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC25684
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New York – Washington DC – Cincinnati – Memphis – Dallas – El Paso – Phoenix – Burbank
MSN:
2215
YOM:
1940
Flight number:
AA6001
Location:
Burbank
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
6315
Captain / Total hours on type:
4660.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2113
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1792
Aircraft flight hours:
14888
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from El Paso, the crew started the approach to Burbank-Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal at night. Due to low visibility caused by poor weather conditions, the pilot was unable to localize the airport and decided to proceed to the alternate airfield, Palmdale. Few minutes later, as it was flying at a too low altitude, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill located in the Verdigo mountains, some 4 miles northeast of the Burbank Airport. All 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The possibility of an accident became a potentiality when the company ground personnel failed to obtain and transmit important weather to the pilot. Failure to obtain and transmit this information to the pilot constitutes negligence on the part of the company. This, however, did not relieve the pilot of his responsibility to conduct a safe flight although it did place him in a disadvantageous position. Had no properly execution the "missed-approach" procedure it is unlikely that the accident would have occurred. The Board, therefore, determines that the probable cause of this accident was "the pilot's attempt to use the standard 'missed-approach' procedure after having followed another course up to a point there it was impossible to apply this procedure safely."
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-1-LO LodeStar in Mt Bear: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1944 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-32197
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hondo – Fresno
MSN:
2287
Location:
Bakersfield
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Hondo AAF, the crew started the descent to Fresno by night when at the altitude of 4,300 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Bear located some 18 miles southeast of Bakersfield. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew and passengers:
Clarence W. DeGroff,
1st Lt Hobert D. Simpson Jr.,
2nd Lt James F. Applewhite,
2nd Lt Jimmie E. Hoch,
2nd Lt Louis J. Hoekstra,
F/O Otto F. Illias,
F/O Michel D. Pavich,
Sgt Ira R. Ratliff,
Pfc Walter H. Denk.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-209 in Burbank: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1944 at 0258 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC17322
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco – Burbank – New York
MSN:
1968
YOM:
1937
Flight number:
TW018
Location:
Burbank
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
5400
Captain / Total hours on type:
4315.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1084
Copilot / Total hours on type:
136
Aircraft flight hours:
22180
Circumstances:
The flight was cleared to Burbank Airport for a standard instrument approach. During the approach the plane descended under instrument conditions to such a low altitude as to clip the tree tops and strike a power line pole and then crash at a point approximately 6 1/2 miles short of the Burbank Airport. In a normal approach the plane would have flown over this point at an altitude of about 1650 feet above the ground. The specific reasons for the plane's descent below the minimums for instrument approach were not determinable, nor was it possible to tell whether the deviation was a voluntary one. Investigation did reveal, however, that a number of divisions were made from the company's standard Civil Aeronautics Administration approved procedures during this flight. Both pilots and six passengers were killed.
Crew:
John Pollard Snowden, pilot, †
Thomas Leo Bamberger, copilot, †
Donna Elizabeth Marr, hostess.
Probable cause:
On the basis of the evidence available the Board finds that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot's deviation from the standard instrument approach procedure then he descended below the established safe minimum altitude. A contributing factor was the company's failure to enforce adherence to company procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner on Mt Tamalpais: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1944 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
45415
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alameda - Honolulu
MSN:
45415
Location:
San Rafael
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:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
1500
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Alameda NAS, while approaching the Golden Gate at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The captain decided to return to his departure point and started a turn to the right while penetrating a cloudy area. By night, the seaplane hit the slope of Mt Tamalpais located some 5 miles southwest of San Rafael. The wreckage was spotted a day later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Joseph L. Resley,
Lt Thomas W. Oliver,
Ens Chapin B. Miller,
ACMM Harry L. Holland,
AMM2 Rodney Jeffers,
ARM2 Thomas J. Joyce,
ARM3 John R. Kelly,
AOM2 Wayne D. Paxson.
Photos: http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/pbm5bu.htm
Probable cause:
According to investigations, the sky was broken at the time of the accident, with scattered showers. Due to an insufficient visibility, it was concluded that weather conditions were unsuitable for such transpacific flight. The crew was unable to detect the mountain because it was shrouded by clouds and the visibility was low due to night.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Alameda NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
45422
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Alameda NAS - Alameda NAS
MSN:
45422
Location:
Alameda NAS (Oakland)
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:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Alameda NAS following a training mission, the seaplane caught fire and crashed in the San Francisco Bay. Three crew members were killed while all five other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Mt Strawberry: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1944 at 2017 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16143
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Rafael – Bakersfield – Los Angeles
MSN:
20609
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Strawberry
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Los Angeles-Mines Field, the aircraft hit a mountain slope located 2 miles northeast of Mt Strawberry, some 10 miles north of Altadena. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew received erroneous data relating to the wind component and direction prior to departure from Bakersfield-Meadows Field. This resulted in a deviation from the prescribed flight path and the crew started the descent while steel above the mountainous terrain north of Altadena. In low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain northeast of Mt Strawberry and was destroyed. Thus, the accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-454 in Hanford: 24 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1944 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC28310
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Francisco – Burbank - New York
MSN:
4992
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
TW008
Location:
Hanford
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
13167
Circumstances:
Flight 8 took off at 1600 and proceeded according to plan to a cruising altitude of 10,000 feet for Burbank on an instrument clearance. It reported over Fresno on schedule cruising at 10,000 feet and estimated Bakersfield at 1735. At 1712 the crew was last contacted by the company and given a routine message which was acknowledged. Thereafter, at intervals of a few minutes, numerous unsuccessful attempts were made to contact the flight. At no time did the captain report any difficulty with the airplane or comment on the weather. While cruising in poor weather conditions (thunderstorm and severe turbulence), the aircraft went out of control, got inverted and dove into the ground prior to crash in a field. All 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
On the basis of all the evidence available the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the airplane's structure as a result of severe turbulence, in important contributing cause was the fact that the airplane was undoubtedly in an abnormal attitude of flight, i.e., inverted, at the instant of structural failure. The cause of the airplane becoming inverted has not been determined.
Final Report:
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