Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Farmington: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1967 at 0923 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9507Z
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
AF-306
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
15184
Captain / Total hours on type:
450.00
Circumstances:
After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. The pilot increased engine power but the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. Three passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 220 lbs above the MTOW. The pilot failed to prepare the flight properly and did not take into consideration the high density altitude of 7,100 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Gallup

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1966 at 1453 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N4994E
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gallup – Albuquerque
MSN:
12442
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
FL188
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8502
Captain / Total hours on type:
4160.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Gallup-Senator Clark Airport, control was lost. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in flames in a ditch. Three passengers were injured while 13 other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Improper operation of brakes and/or flight controls during takeoff on part of the PIC. Inadequate supervision of flight on part of the PIC who failed to maintain directional control and failed to abort takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Walker AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1965 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-8042
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Walker - Walker
MSN:
18659
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is reported the loss of control was caused by the failure of the electric system.

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Toadlena: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1964 at 1225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9423Y
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
BA-569
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
11280
Aircraft flight hours:
2130
Circumstances:
While cruising under VFR mode in clouds, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in flames near Toadlena. All four occupants were killed and the aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure in flight (normal cruise) due to wings spars fatigue fracture. Presence of turbulences associated with clouds and/or thunderstorms, downdrafts and updrafts was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in the Sandia Mountains: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1963
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Andrews - March
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a secret mission from Andrews AFB to March AFB. While overflying New Mexico, he encountered severe icing conditions. A wing fell off and the aircraft crashed in the Sandia Mountain Range located northeast of Albuquerque. All nine occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. All USAF C-47's were grounded following this accident, until the struts had been replaced.
Probable cause:
Investigations revealed that a wing's guy broke in flight, probably when the airplane was flying in an area subject to severe icing.

Crash of a Boeing B-52E-90-BO Stratofortress near Mora: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1963 at 0500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0018
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Walker - Walker
MSN:
17412
YOM:
1957
Location:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission our from Walker AFB by night when the tail broke off in turbulence. Four crew members ejected before the aircraft crashed into the Sangre de Christo Mountain Range, some 10 miles northwest of Mora. Two crew members were killed.
Crew:
Four crew survived:
Lt Col Donald Hayes, pilot,
Maj Thomas J. McBride, copilot,
Maj Emil Goldbeck, navigator,
Lt Col Nicholas Horangic, radar operator,
Maj George Szabo, weapons systems operator, †
M/Sgt Harvey Burl Dean, tail gunner. †

Crash of a Boeing B-52B-30-BO Stratofortress on Mt Taylor: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
53-0380
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
16859
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Ciudad Juarez' departed Biggs AAF on a training mission with two F-100A Super Sabre. After five simulated missile passes followed by tail-chase gun "attacks" van Scyoc, the 188th's Safety Officer, hauled his fighter round for a final Sidewinder practice. He was closing with the bomber when his No. 2 AIM-9B suddenly left its rail, homed on to the B-52's left inboard engine pod and exploded, severing the wing. The B52 went out of control and entered a dive. Three crew members were able to bail out before the airplane crashed on Mt Taylor and was destroyed, killing five other crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Donald C. Blodgett, pilot,
Cpt Ray C. Obel, copilot,
Cpt Peter J. Gineris, navigator, †
Cpt Stephen Carter, bombardier, †
Cpt George D. Jackson, ECM,
2nd Lt Glenn Bair, ECM student, †
S/Sgt Ray A. Singleton, gunner,
S/Sgt Manuel L. Mieras, maintenance controller.
More info on:
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Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Walker AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3628
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Walker - Walker
MSN:
17377
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Walker AFB, Roswell, New Mexico. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane rolled left and right and eventually crashed in a huge explosion on a hangar at the airbase. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire as well as two others Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker registered 57-1449 and 57-1457. All six crew members were killed as well as two employees in the hangar.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident occurred in strong cross winds. At the time of the accident, the instructor was seating on the jump seat instead of one of the pilot's seats as directed by the commander.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar near Grants: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1958 at 0240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N300E
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Burbank – Tulsa – New York
MSN:
2312
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
7680
Captain / Total hours on type:
386.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3500
Aircraft flight hours:
3910
Circumstances:
The flight had made routine position reports from its assigned altitude of 11,000 feet until passing over Winslow, Arizona. Shortly after the last routine report at 11,000 feet a higher altitude was requested of Air Traffic Control because of encountering icing conditions. The request was granted and the aircraft reported, five minutes later, being at 13,000 feet between cloud layers. The last report was over Zuni, New Mexico, estimating Grants at 0249, 19 minutes later. Ten minutes after this report a ground explosion at an elevation of 7,200 feet m. s. 1. was observed by another flight and by ground witnesses. The wreckage of N300E was found in the area of the witnessed explosion. The right engine master rod bearing had failed in flight and the right propeller was feathered; however, complete loss of control followed and the aircraft struck the ground in a very steep angle of descent. As far as can be determined, there was no failure of the aircraft structure or controls prior to ground impact. The aircraft had anti-icing equipment installed and the pilots were experienced in Lodestar operation. There is evidence of the aircraft being considerably over its maximum allowable weight at departure and it is believed that the comparatively sudden failure of an engine at 13,000 feet created a situation, made more critical by virtue of the then existing weight, in which the pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft. All four occupants were killed, among them the American film producer Mike Todd, husband of Elizabeth Taylor, who was flying with his scenarist Art Cohn. The twin engine airplane was christened 'The Liz'.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of control of an overloaded aircraft following the failure of an engine at a cruising altitude which was critical for single-engine operation. The loss of control was aggravated by surface ice accretion.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-97G-26-BO Stratotanker near Walker AFB: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
52-2700
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
16731
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Walker AFB, while climbing by night, a propeller blade detached from the engine number two, penetrated the fuselage and pierced a fuel tank. The aircraft caught fire, exploded and crashed in a desert area located 8 miles south of the airbase. All 11 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of a propeller blade during initial climb.