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Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune near Barbers Point NAS: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1954 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
124874
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Iwakuni - Barbers Point
Location:
Barbers Point NAS
Hawaii
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:
During a night approach to Barbers Point NAS, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around for unknown reason. He completed a turn to the left when the airplane hit the slope of Mt Pu'u Kaua (3,127 feet high) located northwest of the Naval Air Station. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Walter J. Hanzo Jr., pilot,
Ens Gerald Martin Hazlett, copilot,
Ens Wilbur D. Cooper,
Adc John Robert Staples,
Ad2 Joseph Daniel Beczek,
Am2 Paul Martin Kohler,
At2 Joseph Michael Maksymon,
At3 Richard Knuton Brown.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to follow the published procedure while turning to the left during an attempt to go around instead of turning to the right over the ocean to avoid any obstacle. A reduced visibility caused by night remains a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-2 Neptune off Barbers Point NAS: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
39340
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barbers Point - Barbers Point
MSN:
126-1040
YOM:
1947
Location:
Barbers Point NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While completing a local training sortie from Barbers Point NAS, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the ocean few miles off shore. It was reported that the loss of control occurred when the right wing failed in flight for unknown reasons. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin JRM-3 Mars off Honolulu

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Martin JRM-3 Mars
Operator:
Registration:
76822
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
9266
YOM:
1946
Location:
Honolulu
Hawaii
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:
En route, an engine caught fire, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in the Ke'ehi lagoon located off Honolulu. All crew members were able to vacate the cabin and were unhurt. Unfortunately, the seaplane christened 'Marshall Mars' was destroyed by fire and several explosions and eventually sank. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Kahului: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Trans-Air Hawaii
Registration:
N5615V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Honolulu – Kahului
MSN:
22368
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kahului
Hawaii
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:
On final approach to Kahului Airport, the right engine caught fire and exploded. The crew lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The failure of the cylinder number eight on the right engine led hydraulic fluid to spill in the engine. In contact with high temperature elements, the fluid caught fire and the engine exploded.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-40-BW Superfortress at Hickam AFB: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1948 at 1938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-24641
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barbers Point – Kwajalein – Kadena
MSN:
4302
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hickam AFB
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
20
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Barbers Point NAS, bound for Kadena via Kwajalein, the pilot informed ground that an engine failed and elected to return. ATC guided the crew to Hickam Field in Honolulu and eight minutes later, while on approach, the airplane overshot so the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames and skidded for about 600 yards before coming to rest in flames. Sixteen crew members were killed while four others were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5Z in Ewa MCAS

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
17224
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ewa - Ewa
MSN:
13322
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ewa MCAS
Hawaii
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 undercarriage were retracted prematurely, during takeoff roll, prior to rotation, causing the aircraft to crash on runway. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Premature retraction of the landing gear during takeoff.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-1-CF in Wheeler AFB: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1945 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-63765
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Calibration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wheeler - Wheeler
MSN:
14
Location:
Wheeler AFB
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew departed Wheeler AFB at 0836LT on a local calibration mission. At that time, weather conditions were marginal with a ceiling at 2,000 feet and light rain. While flying around the airbase, the aircraft christened 'Evelyn' went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in Schofield Barracks, about a mile northwest of the airfield. All 12 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Abraham H. Albert,
Sgt Elmo L. Engman,
1st Lt John Franco,
Cpt William D. Frostic,
S/Sgt William G. Gilliland,
Sgt James P. Hinchsliff,
1st Lt Kenneth C. Kinne,
Sgt Robert E. Krueger,
S/Sgt Stephen P. Medovich,
S/Sgt Hubert P. Miller,
1st Lt David A. Moyer,
1st Lt Russell E. Reeves Jr.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in Kahului

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
17161
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kahului - Kahului
MSN:
12517
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kahului
Hawaii
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 approach to Kahului Airfield. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Kaneohe NAS: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
59204
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kaneohe - Kaneohe
MSN:
59204
Location:
Kaneohe Bay NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from NAS Kaneohe. Enroute, a fire broke out on the right wing, between the right engine and the wing root. The pilot lost control of the seaplane that crashed into the sea few miles offshore. Rescue teams were on site a day later and were able to evacuate three wounded crew while nine others were killed.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Kahuku: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
59077
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kaneohe - Kaneohe
MSN:
59077
Location:
Kaneohe Bay NAS
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While cruising off Oahu Island, the crew encountered an engine failure and lost control of the seaplane that crashed into the sea some 13 miles off Kahuku. All 11 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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