Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Alma: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1959 at 2346 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7840B
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Miami – Orlando – Atlanta – Chicago
MSN:
30242
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
RDD402
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13496
Captain / Total hours on type:
5950.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6304
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6043
Aircraft flight hours:
3278
Circumstances:
En route from Orlando to Atlanta, while cruising by night, the crew reported to ATC that a fire erupted in the cabin and requested the permission to divert to the nearest airport. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in a prairie located in Alma, Georgia. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and both crew members were killed. Prior to the crash the fire was observed by ground witnesses when it burned through the fuselage, allowing burning cargo and debris to be scattered over a large area. After making several left circles, the burning aircraft plunged to the ground.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the ignition of cargo in the aft belly compartment caused by contact with an unguarded light bulb. It is believed the fire then breached the compartment wall, and damaged a hydraulic unit or line in the wing center section area at the rear spar., igniting the flammable hydraulic fluid.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II in Augusta

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
51-0162
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43496
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Bush Field for unknown reason. All 34 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Convair T-29B at Dobbins AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Harlingen – Dobbins – New York
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Harlingen AFB, Texas, to New York with an intermediate stop at Dobbins AFB, Georgia. The accident occurred in unclear circumstances, killing both crew members, Cpt Cecil Bryant and 1st Lt Donald Carillo.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Atlanta

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1954 at 1745 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N51359
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Atlanta – Chattanooga – Knoxville – Cincinnati – Chicago
MSN:
13759
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
DL134X
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6014
Captain / Total hours on type:
4575.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6803
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6800
Aircraft flight hours:
18827
Circumstances:
As the aircraft became airborne the landing gear was retracted. Light rain was encountered at this time. When the air-craft had climbed to 200 to 250 feet, power was reduced to 35 inches of manifold pressure and a shallow right turn was begun. Before a reduction in r.p.m. was made the aircraft began to settle and the airspeed was observed to decrease rapidly from above 105 to 80 knots. The nose was immediately lowered to level flight, & the turn stopped, and full power applied. When this was done, the air-speed returned to about 100 knots and the settling appeared to lessen considerably. The increased airspeed with the attendant better flying characteristics was monetary, however, as the airspeed abruptly dropped to 60 knots and the airplane again began to settle. As the aircraft continued to settle and it became obvious that it was going to strike the ground, the first officer attempted to raise tile nose. Upon feeling the aircraft strike the ground, both throttles were closed. The aircraft then skidded to a stop in a wooded area approximately 600 feet north-west of the far end of runway 21. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were injured.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a rapid loss of airspeed immediately following takeoff caused by unexpected, strong gusts or divergent winds accompanying a local rain shower. The following findings were reported:
- At the time of takeoff a large thunderstorm was 8 to 10 miles south of the airport and a local rain shower was approaching the southeast end of runway,
- The aircraft took off from runway 21 and climbed to approximately 200 to 250 feet,
- A portion of the rain shower was encountered which contained strong gusts,
- While in the rain shower the aircraft lost airspeed and settled to the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Pine Mountain: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1953 at 0930 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-86779
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eglin – Andrews
MSN:
108-47533
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Eglin AFB, Florida, at 0830LT bound for Andrews AFB, Maryland. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane deviated from the prescribed flight plan for unknown reason. About an hour later, while cruising at an altitude of 1,340 feet in rainy conditions, the aircraft crashed in the Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park located southeast of Pine Mountain. A crew member was seriously injured while five others were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor and it was reported that the crew was flying under VFR.
Crew:
Cpt Stephen A. Clisham, pilot, †
Cpt Virgil G. Harris, copilot, †
T/Sgt Othelier B. Hoke, †
A3c Robert W. Davidson, †
A2c Benny J. Shepard, †
Richard K. Schmidt.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver in Roswell

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
51-16540
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
333
YOM:
1952
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Roswell. While the airplane was destroyed upon impact, the pilot was unhurt.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-75-BO Superfortress in Hunter AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48-055
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hunter - Hunter
MSN:
15864
YOM:
1948
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Hunter AFB, while climbing to a height of about 50 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and four of the seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-90-BO Superfortress near Hunter AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48-089
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hunter - Hunter
MSN:
15898
YOM:
1948
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While conducting a local training sortie from Hunter AFB, the heavy bomber collided with another USAF B-50 registered 48-073. While the crew of the second aircraft was able to make an emergency landing without further issues, the B-50 registered 48-089 crashed in a field located six miles east of Hunter AFB. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Atlanta: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. Eight crew members, all reservists, were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Griffin

Date & Time: May 31, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
43-48954
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
14770/26215
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff and destroyed by fire. There were apparently no casualties.