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Crash of a Boeing 40B-4 in Burbank: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1932 at 2337 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC5389
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Diego - Burbank
MSN:
1042
YOM:
1928
Location:
Burbank
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Burbank Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to the night and foggy conditions. On final, the airplane went out of control and crashed, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a Fokker F10A in Calimesa: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1932 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC652E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Phoenix – Los Angeles
MSN:
1027
YOM:
1929
Location:
Calimesa
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:
En route from Phoenix to Los Angeles, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The pilot reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the airplane impacted power cables and crashed in an apple orchard. Six occupants were killed and a passenger was seriously injured. He died from his injuries the following day.

Crash of a Keystone LB-3A at March AFB

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-3
Operator:
Registration:
30-302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
March AFB - March AFB
Location:
March AFB
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:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed March AFB on a local training flight. While in the vicinity of the airbase, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing for unknown reasons. The aircraft crash landed in a field located 2 miles southeast of the airbase. All five occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 40B in Rio Vista: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1932 at 0024 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC291
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oakland - Reno
MSN:
902
YOM:
1927
Location:
Rio Vista
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:
While cruising at night on a mail flight from Oakland to Reno, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. The airplane went out of control and crashed, killing the pilot, sole on board.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000B near Lebec: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1932 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Registration:
NC10813
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bakersfield – Los Angeles
MSN:
5034
YOM:
1931
Location:
Lebec
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
4400
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Bakersfield on a flight to Los Angeles, carrying seven passengers and one pilot. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to heavy snow falls. The pilot decided to return to Bakersfield when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a mountainous area located between Lebec and Fort Tejon, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found a week later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Joseph Victor Sandblom, pilot
Passengers:
Frank Dewar,
Spencer W. Swan,
J. H. Polhemus,
W. H. Smith,
Nita McGrath,
Margaret A. Fickeisen,
Marie Sweeny Combs.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in a snowstorm.

Crash of a Boeing 40B-4 off Oakland: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1931 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC10347
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Oakland – Medford
MSN:
1428
YOM:
1930
Location:
Oakland
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Oakland Airport, while climbing at night, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation. He attempted to return to the airport when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in the San Francisco Bay, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Travel Air 6000 in Lucerne: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Travel Air 6000
Operator:
Lucerne Airways
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lucerne – San Francisco
Location:
Lucerne
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lucerne Airfield, while climbing, the engine failed. The pilot decided to return for an emergency landing and initiated a sharp turn when the aircraft impacted trees and crashed. All six occupants were killed, among them four golfers returning to the Bay Area following a tournement in Lucerne.
Crew :
William H. Hoffman, pilot.
Passengers :
Louis M. Becker,
George Ritchie,
Jack Kerrigan,
Leon Keller,
Zigmunda Lax.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing 40B-4 in Burbank: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1931 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC5390
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Diego – Burbank
MSN:
1044
YOM:
1928
Location:
Hollywood-Burbank (Bob Hope)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from San Diego, the pilot initiated a night approach to Hollywood-Burbank Airport. The visibility was poor due to the night and foggy conditions. On approach, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the La Tuna Canyon Park, about 5 km northeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fokker F10 in Alhambra

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC5170
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salt Lake City – Alhambra
MSN:
1001
YOM:
1928
Location:
Alhambra
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Salt Lake City in the evening of December 21 on a cargo flight to Alhambra, carrying one passenger, two crew members and a load of 1,445 pounds of Christmas mail. After landing at Alhambra Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest against a house, bursting into flames. All three occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft, the cargo and the house were totally destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Bart Cox,
George Sherwood.

Crash of a Boeing 40B-4A near Gorman: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC5340
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Bakersfield – Fresno – San Jose – San Francisco – Medford – Vancouver – Seattle
MSN:
1036
YOM:
1928
Location:
Gorman
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Bakersfield to Fresno (route CAM 8), the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls and fog. While cruising at low altitude in limited visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Tehachapi Mountain Range. The wreckage was found six miles east of Gorman and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Flavius A. Donaldson, pilot,
George A. Rogers, mechanic.
Passenger:
Jean Markow.
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