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CO

Crash of a Curtiss C-46E-1-CS in Denver: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1947 at 0420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
NC59486
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Omaha – Denver
MSN:
2944
YOM:
1945
Location:
Denver-Stapleton
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4999
Captain / Total hours on type:
605.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5542
Copilot / Total hours on type:
992
Aircraft flight hours:
2418
Circumstances:
While on final approach to runway 21 in poor weather conditions, the aircraft was too low and hit a hill located less than one mile from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the momentary loss of control or overcontrol by the pilot at a critically low altitude in the final stages of an ILS approach. A contributing factor was the failure of the safety pilot to remain alert to the altitude of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo in Watkins: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1944 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
39-22
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2670
YOM:
1939
Location:
Watkins
Colorado
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:
En route from Lowry AFB, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, hail and turbulences. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in hilly terrain near Watkins, east of Denver. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator in Lowry AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1943 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Lowry - Lowry
Location:
Lowry AFB (Denver)
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all 7 crew members.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando on Black Mountain: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-12355
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
26482
YOM:
1943
Location:
Black Mountain
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While overflying Colorado, the aircraft hit the slope of the Black Mountain located some 15 miles west of Guffey. Both pilots, sole on board, were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Robert E. McIntyre, pilot,
2nd Lt William H. Eisenman Jr., copilot.
Probable cause:
The crew was asleep with the autopilot ON when the accident occurred.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-35-CO Liberator on Mt Sangre de Cristo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1943 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-40146
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cannon AFB - Pueblo
MSN:
1223
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt Sangre de Cristo
Colorado
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:
The airplane departed Cannon AFB, Clovis, on a navigational training exercise to Pueblo. While cruising at night in instruments conditions, it crashed on Mt Sangre de Cristo located 19 km southeast of San Luis, CO. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt George W. Wiggins, pilot,
2nd Lt William R. Bowerman, copilot,
S/Sgt Walter S. Ciesielski, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Franklin O. Bynum, assistant flight engineer,
2nd Lt John T. Crowley, navigator,
Sgt Walter G. Dymond, radio operator,
Sgt Edward P. Foley, assistant radio operator,
2nd Lt Hoyt A. Phelps, bombardier.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-53-CO Liberator at Lowry AFB

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-40377
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1454
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lowry AFB (Denver)
Colorado
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 landing following a failure of the hydraulic system. There were no fatalities.
Probable cause:
Failure of the hydraulic system.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat near La Junta: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-13995
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
La Junta
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed 9 km northeast of La Junta following an in-flight collision with a second USAAF Bobcat registered 42-38. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Avc George T. Dupuis,
Avc Albert J. Ellwood.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat near La Junta

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-38
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
La Junta
Colorado
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 9 km northeast of La Junta following an in-flight collision with a second USAAF Bobcat registered 42-13995. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Douglas C-49J near Woodland Park: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-1989
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
6344
YOM:
1943
Location:
Woodland Park
Colorado
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:
While on a training flight, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Woodland Park. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Vencil C. Bohling +2.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat in La Junta

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-40
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
La Junta
Colorado
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:
While taxiing at La Junta Airfield, the airplane was destroyed after being struck by another USAAF Bobcat registered 42-41 that crashed on takeoff. Both airplanes were destroyed and there were no fatalities.
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