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Crash of a Douglas B-23 Dragon near Beaumont: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-23 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
39-42
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Albuquerque - March
MSN:
2728
YOM:
1939
Location:
Beaumont
California
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:
The airplane was returning to its base at March AFB on a flight from Albuquerque, carrying seven people. While cruising in poor visibility due to fog and rain falls, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located about 10 km northeast of Beaumont. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
John E. Overstreet +6.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc in Riverside

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL763
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Riverside
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:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Lubbock while on a delivery flight to the Royal Air Force. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas RD-4 Dolphin off Farallon Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1941 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas Dolphin
Operator:
Registration:
V126
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1269
Location:
Farallon Islands
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight off California. While cruising at low height in poor visibility due to fog, the floatplane names 'Mizar' hit a rock near the Farallon Island and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
AMM1 Leonard L. Stonerock,
RM1 John C. Gill,
AMM1 Fleet D. Hancock.
Source & photo: http://www.jacksjoint.com/Farallons_Tragedy.htm
Probable cause:
Initial investigation concluded that the probable cause of the crash was that the plane, while flying low to avoid the fog, struck a rock pinnacle on the southeast Farallon causing the aircraft to burst into flames.

Crash of a Douglas RA-20A in Madera

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
40-83
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Madera
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered a fuel exhaustion and was abandoned by the crew who bailed out. All three crew members were uninjured while the airplane crashed and was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc in Madera

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
40-107
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Madera
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to make an emergency landing following a fuel exhaustion. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the crew escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator II off North Island NAS: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated LB-30 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AL503
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
1
YOM:
1941
Location:
North Island-Halsey Field NAS (San Diego)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local test flight on this first example to be delivered to the Royal Air Force. After takeoff from North Island-Halsey Field NAS, while climbing to a height of about 500 feet, the airplane nosed up and stalled from the tail, entered a dive and crashed into the bay. Four crew members were killed and a fifth was seriously injured.
Crew:
William Wheatley, pilot, †
Allen T. Austin, pilot, †
Bruce K. Craig, engineer, †
William H. Reiser, †
Lewis M. McCannon, mechanic.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a malfunction of the elevator system.

Crash of a Travel Air 4000 in Willows: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Travel Air 4000
Operator:
Walter Raymond Nolta
Registration:
NC396M
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Willows - Willows
MSN:
1315
YOM:
1928
Location:
Willows
California
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 pilot departed Willows on a local solo flight. While making a sharp turn at a height of about 100 feet, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-4 Catalina off North Island NAS: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
1244
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
1244
YOM:
1941
Location:
North Island-Halsey Field NAS (San Diego)
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:
1
Circumstances:
The floatplane was engaged in a local training flight at NAS North Island-Halsey Field. On behalf of the 'Project Baker', the floatplane was experimented with a new instrument landing equipment. Upon landing, it water looped and crashed. A crew member was killed and six others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas R2D-1 on Mother Grundy Peak: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1941 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
9622
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Webb AFB - North Island NAS
MSN:
1327
YOM:
1934
Location:
Mother Grundy Peak
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Webb AFB in Big Spring, Texas, on a flight to North Island-Halsey Field NAS in San Diego, carrying seven passengers and a crew of four. While cruising at night, the crew encountered poor visibility when the airplane impacted the slope of the Mother Grundy Peak (3,068 feet high) located 45 km southeast of North Island NAS. The wreckage was found about 20 feet below the summit and all 11 occupants were killed, among them four crew members from the USN Catalina registered 2291 that crashed near Lamesa on January 2.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing Y1B-17 Flying Fortress near Idyllwild: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
36-157
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
March AFB - March AFB
MSN:
1981
YOM:
1936
Location:
Idyllwild
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:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising over the San Jacinto Mountain Range, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located 3,5 miles northwest of Idyllwild. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt John H. Turner, pilot,
2nd Lt Vernon Mathew McCauley +4.
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