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Crash of a Grumman OA-9 Goose in Clear Lake

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Registration:
38-577
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1043
YOM:
1939
Location:
Lakeport
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 floatplane crashed upon landing on Clear Lake off Lakeport, overturned and sank. There were no casualties. Pilot Arthur V. Jones.

Crash of a Douglas R3D-1 in El Segundo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-5
Operator:
Registration:
1901
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Los Angeles
MSN:
606
YOM:
1940
Location:
El Segundo
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:
Two pilots and two engineers from the Douglas Aircraft Company were completing a test flight on this model that should be delivered to the United States Navy. After takeoff, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft crashed in El Segundo, near the airport. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo at Edwards AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-509
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
March - Edwards
MSN:
2509
YOM:
1937
Location:
Edwards AFB
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:
6
Circumstances:
On final approach to Edwards AFB (Muroc AAF), the twin engine aircraft crashed in the Muroc dry lake, few hundred yards short of runway. A passenger was seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo near Pidgeon Pass: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-520
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Monterrey – March
MSN:
2520
YOM:
1937
Location:
Riverside
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching March AFB, flying over the Tehachapi Mountain Range, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with high winds, sleet, snow, rain and icing. The pilot informed ground about his situation and requested rescue teams to stand by. Shortly later, the captain instructed the occupant to bail out when the airplane crashed into a hillside located near Pidgeon Pass, some 12 km north of March AFB and three km northeast of Riverside. Two passengers were found alive while four other occupants were killed in the crash.
Crew:
Lt Raymond M. Sumi, pilot, †
Lt Benjamin G. Holloway, copilot, †
Sgt Gerald D. Wilcox, †
Pvt Leonard E. Riley, †
Sgt Cecil Purvis,
Pvt Frank Carroll.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-191 off Point Reyes: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1938 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC16066
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Seattle – Portland – Medford – Sacramento – Oakland – San Francisco – Fresno – Bakersfield – Los Angeles – San Diego
MSN:
1906
YOM:
1937
Flight number:
UA006
Location:
Point Reyes
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
8649
Captain / Total hours on type:
442.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3284
Copilot / Total hours on type:
291
Circumstances:
While flying at night, the crew failed to realize that he was following the wrong track to Oakland and was now over the sea. Both engines failed in flight, forcing the pilot to ditch the airplane off Point Reyes. Five occupants were killed, among them two crew members. The captain and a passenger survived.
Crew:
Charles B. Stead, pilot,
Lloyd E. Jones, copilot, †
Frona B. Clay, stewardess. †
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to definitely establish the position of the aircraft through standard orientation procedures within a reasonable time after intersecting a leg of the Oakland radio range at 0317LT, and of company flight dispatchers, charged with the responsibilities of directing the operation of the trip, to properly safeguard the flight, resulting in forced landing of the aircraft at sea due to exhausted fuel supply.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas OA-4C Dolphin at Hamilton AFB

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Douglas Dolphin
Operator:
Registration:
32-408
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1133
YOM:
1932
Location:
Hamilton AFB (Novato)
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 on takeoff for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-3 into the San Diego Bay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
0896
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Diego - San Diego
MSN:
55
YOM:
1937
Location:
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 practicing night landings when the float plane collided with a second USN Catalina registered 0896 and also carrying a crew of five. Both planes crashed into the San Diego Bay and were lost. On board 0895, one crew member was killed and four others were injured. On board 0896, four were killed and a fifth occupants was injured.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-3 into the San Diego Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
0895
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Diego - San Diego
MSN:
54
YOM:
1937
Location:
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:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was practicing night landings when the float plane collided with a second USN Catalina registered 0896 and also carrying a crew of five. Both planes crashed into the San Diego Bay and were lost. On board 0895, one crew member was killed and four others were injured. On board 0896, four were killed and a fifth occupants was injured.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra on Stroh Peak: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1938 at 1407 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
NC17394
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Burbank – Las Vegas – Minneapolis – Chicago
MSN:
1439
YOM:
1938
Location:
Stroh Peak
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
24 minutes after its departure from Hollywood-Burbank Airport, while cruising northeast of Santa Clarita, the crew encountered foggy conditions. While cruising at a height of some 3,300 feet, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Stroh Peak located in the Mint Canyon. Rescuers arrived on scene 36 hours later. The aircraft was totally wrecked and all 9 occupants were killed. Brand new, the aircraft was on its way to Las Vegas to be presented to the President of the company. All occupants were employees of Northwest Airlines or Lockheed Company.
Crew:
Sidney Willey, Lockheed test pilot in charge of the flight,
Fred Whittemore, Northwest Airlines Vice-President and copilot.
Passengers:
Henry Salisbury, Northwest Airlines official, accompanied with his wife and two children, Richard and Judith,
Mrs. Carl B. Squier, wife of Lockheed's Sales Manager,
Liola Totty, Lockheed stenographer,
Evelyn Dingle, Northwest Airlines employee.
Probable cause:
The crew did not follow the published procedures and was cruising at an unsafe altitude to overfly the mountainous area. At the time of impact, the aircraft' speed was 200 mph.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 near Wanona: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1938 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC13789
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Francisco – Winslow
MSN:
1299
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
TW008
Location:
Wawona
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
6878
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1621
Circumstances:
The airplane departed San Francisco Airport around 1930LT in good weather conditions. Two hours later, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew requested to ATC to divert to Los Angeles. At this time, storm activity and icing conditions were reported by the crew. Two minutes later, the aircraft crashed on Mt Buena Vista located in the Yosemite National Park, near Wawona. SAR operations were quickly initiated but later suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the nine occupants was found. Walkers found the wreckage on 12 June 1938.
Crew:
John D. Graves, pilot,
Clyde W. Wallace, copilot,
Martha Mae Wilson, stewardess.
Passengers:
Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Walts,
Victor Krause,
Tracy Dirlam,
Mary Louise Dirlam,
N. N. Salisbury.
Probable cause:
According to the US Bureau of Air Commerce, the pilot must have temporarily lost his bearings due to a change in the direction of the wind and a sharp increase in its velocity, unknown to him, leading to confusion as to his position relative to the Fresno radio range course. The subsequent crash occurred in darkness and, apparently, in an area of heavy snowfall. This resulted in a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
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