Colorado

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Los Angeles to Chicago. While cruising at the assigned altitude of 13,000 by night, the four engine airplane struck the south face of California Peak (13,849 feet high) located about 21 miles northeast of Alamosa, Colorado. The wreckage was found a day later 150 feet below the summit and all three crew members have been killed.
Crash photo by Mark Hunt, copilot's son.

En route, the pilot informed ATC that one of the engine failed and obtained the permission to divert to the nearest airport for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the pilot realized it would be impossible for him to reach the airport so he decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor. In heavy snow falls, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Branson. The wreckage was found two days later and all five occupants have been killed.

The crew was conducting a cargo flight from Lowry AFB to Ogden-Hill AFB on behalf of the US Air Force. While cruising over the Rockies at an altitude of 12,500 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of mountain and crashed in flames. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the three occupants was found. The wreckage was located on 8 July 1964. All three occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

The airplane left Amarillo Airport on a liaison flight with three crew members on board. While cruising northwest of Durango, Colorado, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a snowstorm. While cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet, the airplane struck Babcock Peak. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was eventually localized on May 18, 1962.
Crew:
Cpt Richard E. Bellamy, pilot,
Maj J. E. Lunsford, copilot,
S/Sgt E. L. Fairey, flight engineer.

On July 11, 1961, at 1136 M.S.T., a United Air Lines DC-8 crashed during its landing roll at Stapleton Airfield, Denver, Colorado. None of the 122 occupants was severely injured as an immediate result of the impact; however, there were 16 passenger fatalities as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning when the aircraft burned. One other passenger, an elderly woman, broke both ankles during evacuation of the airplane and later succumbed to shock. In addition, the driver of a panel truck, which the aircraft struck after leaving the runway, also suffered fatal injuries. After experiencing hydraulic difficulties following takeoff from Omaha, Nebraska, the crew of N8040U continued the flight to Denver, using procedures set forth in the flight manual for abnormal hydraulic situations. When the flight arrived in the Denver area, preparations were made for landing. The ejectors were extended hydraulically, however, when an attempt was made to extend flaps to 25 degrees the hydraulic pressure dropped to zero. The hydraulic system selector was then placed in the No. 3 position (flap and gear downlock), and the approach was continued. After touchdown, the throttles were placed in the idle reverse thrust position and when power was applied, an uncontrollable deviation from the runway occurred.

The crew was performing a flight from Pope AFB to Hamilton AFB with intermediate stops at Lowry AFB and Ogden-Hill AFB. The aircraft departed Lowry AFB at 0801LT. The crew completed to successives turns to the left then to the right and continued heading 270°. Few minutes later, the airplane entered a box canyon and was unable to gain sufficient height when it struck the slope of Mt Vasquez Peak (3,414 meters high). The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Denver-Stapleton to Ogden-Hill AFB, Utah. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 8,700 feet in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Fort Collins. The wreckage was found few hours later and both pilots were killed. At the time of the accident, weather was poor with icing conditions and turbulences. It is believed the airplane lost altitude until it impacted terrain.

Shortly after takeoff from Lowry AFB, while climbing, the aircraft suffered a loss of power on all engines. The captain decided to divert to the nearest Airport, Denver-Stapleton. On final, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames one mile short of runway 17 threshold. All 21 occupants escaped while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

The aircraft departed Ent AFB in Colorado Springs and continued to the west. After passing over Buena Vista, the airplane hit the north face of Mt Yale (4,328 meters high) and disintegrated on impact, killing all 12 occupants.
Crew:
Col Charles Arthur Miller, pilot,
Cpt James Joseph Richardson, copilot.
Passengers:
Col Frederick W. Ledeboer,
S/Sgt William E. MacKenzie Jr.,
Oscar M. Rupert (civilian),
A1c William R. Carpenter,
Sgt Phillip Lenz,
M/Sgt Helen M. Schuyler,
Cpt David C. Jacobs,
1st Lt David W. Gill,
Sp3 William L. Simpson,
Pvt William R. Rooney.