Mississippi

Shortly after takeoff from Gulfport-Biloxi Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The copilot informed ATC about his situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane stalled and crashed in Long Beach, southeast of the airport. A pilot and a passenger were killed while 10 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

The pilot was conducting a ferry flight out from Memphis-Metropolitan Airport. While in cruising altitude, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent. Due to overload failure, several parts of the airplane separated and it eventually crashed in an open field located near South Haven. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

While in cruising altitude by night, the twin engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and eventually crashed in a huge explosion in a wooded area located near Greenville. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

While in cruising altitude, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot informed ATC about his situation and reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a field located in Quitman and slid for several yards before coming to rest. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Shortly after takeoff from Columbus AFB, while climbing, the aircraft went into a cloudy area when control was lost. The airplane inverted then crashed in a huge explosion in a field located few km north of the airbase. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Carl M. Funk, pilot,
Cpt Elbert J. Andoe, copilot,
2nd Lt Leonard J. LeRose, copilot,
1st Lt Anthony J. Linzi, navigator,
1st Lt Harry L. Grebe, navigator,
Cpt Harry E. Bell, navigator,
Cpt Fred R. Curtis, radio operator,
1st Lt Liam Rafferty, electronic warfare officer,
M/Sgt Lacy Potter, air gunner.

Just after takeoff, while climbing, an engine failed. The aircraft lost speed, stalled and crashed in a field located 0,3 miles past the runway end. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft left Jackson at 1630LT bound for Meridian and the crew obtained the permission to continue at an altitude of 3,000 feet in IFR mode. The approach to Meridian was started in the following weather conditions: ceiling 800 feet, overcast, visibility 3 miles, thunder storm, light rain showers, surface wind northeast 10, thunder storms overhead moving east-northeast, frequent vivid lightning all quadrants. The aircraft was seen to make contact with the runway within the first 1,000 feet, however. it continued rolling down the entire length of the runway with little apparent deceleration. Its forward motion continued beyond the end of the runway and up the western slope of a ditch adjoining the highway adjacent to the airport. on striking this ditch, the aircraft left the ground and bounced over the highway, coming to rest with its nose extended partially over a railroad right-of-way. All 22 occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The crew left Memphis at 2110LT for a three hours local training flight. About one hour later, contact was lost and the crew did not report anymore. The next early morning, the wreckage was found in a wooded, rolling terrain located five miles WSW of Ashland, and both crew members were killed. The attitude at impact indicates that, prior to the accident, the aircraft had been in an almost vertical dive and the complete demolition of the structure resulting from impact indicates very high speed. It is apparent, therefore, that the aircraft was not under normal control at the time of impact. During the course of this flight, the pilots were expected to practice recovery from unusual maneuvers similar to those contained in CAA flight checks. While it appears that the unusual attitude of the aircraft at the moment of impact may have resulted from a voluntary maneuver by one of the pilots, recovery from which was not completed, the possibility of loss of control from some other factor not apparent in the investigation cannot be eliminated. The fact that the ballast in the passengers' compartment was unsecured created the possibility of a serious shifting of balance during unusual attitudes. While the maximum possible movement of this ballast would probably not alter the center of gravity beyond approved limits, a sudden shift during an unusual maneuver may have produced a forward movement of the aircraft center of gravity location of almost 12 Inches. Such a change in center of gravity would have had an appreciable effect on "trim", and the resulting change in control forces would obviously have complicated an attempt by the pilot to recover from an unanticipated severe change in attitude. Some laxity must be charged to the company, therefore, for its failure to assure that the condition of the aircraft and its contents was suitable for the flight activity contemplated. As a result of the investigation of this accident, it appears that the aircraft, for reasons not determined, entered an unusual attitude from which recovery was not completed. Recovery in this instance may have been complicated by unsecured ballast or defective instruments, or both.

On approach to Jackson Airport, at a height of 3,000 feet, the aircraft was hit by lightning. The captain was unable to maintain the control of the aircraft that crashed in flames in a wooded area located near Oakridge Drive. A passenger survived while 17 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Henry G. Beasley,
Pvt Clifford W. Canady,
Pvt Joe Capes Jr.,
1st Lt Edward Carnot,
Pfc Betty J. Coleman,
2nd Lt John N. Ferrier,
2nd Lt Donald E. Hiller,
Pvt Charles H . Hines,
1st Lt Elmer F. Irwin Jr.,
2nd Lt Robert A. Petty,
1st Lt Harry L. Provasco,
S/Sgt William Richards,
Cpl Willard O. Rogers,
Cpt William R. Ross.

The aircraft crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. No casualties.