New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Dayton to Albuquerque with one pilot, two security guards from the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and a load of 22 boxes containing 792 classified HE detonator units. On approach to Albuquerque, the pilot encountered low clouds and poor visibility when the aircraft hit the slope of a hill located 6 miles west of West Mesa. All three occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. The cargo was destroyed but salvaged from the wreckage.

Probable cause:

As there was no evidence of sabotage, and since none of the detonators appeared to be missing, the incident was not reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress in Walker AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

44-87735

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

12538

YOM:

1944

Location:

Walker AFB

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Walker AFB, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed in flames two miles south of the airbase. Seven crew members were killed while five others were injured.

Crash of a Boeing TB-17G-85-DL Flying Fortress near Raton: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

44-83567

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Lowry - Lowry

MSN:

33208

Location:

Raton

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. In low visibility, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located four miles west of Raton. The aircraft was destroyed and all ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
Walter C. Williams,
Melvin R. Truman,
James L. Reidinger,
Martin L. Murray,
Floyd C. Melton Jr.,
Frank M. Kackstetter,
James R. Irby,
Carl A. Hill,
Arthur L. Gaudreault,
Melvin C. Brock.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-55-MO Superfortress in Roswell: 13 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

44-86383

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Roswell – Gander

Location:

Roswell

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after a night takeoff from Roswell Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion six miles south of the airfield. Eight crew members were injured while 13 others were killed. It was reported that the aircraft may have been overloaded.
Crew killed were:
Maj Joe O. Will Jr., pilot,
Cpt Richard W. Hunsicker,
M/Sgt James L. Brewer,
Sgt Clyde N. Vanderslice,
Sgt Earl P. Boley,
Cpl Richard L. Lighthall,
Cpl Gordon E. McNeill,
Cpl Wayne O. Werkchiser,
Pfc John J. Capitan,
Pfc Maurice Harris,
Pvt Kenneth Ruohonen,
Sgt Charles R. Jackson,
Pfc Norman J. Remy.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Gallup

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

NC90741

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Francisco – Chicago

MSN:

43046

YOM:

1947

Location:

Gallup

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9747

Captain / Total hours on type:

435.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3572

Copilot / Total hours on type:

417

Aircraft flight hours:

142

Circumstances:

Enroute from San Francisco to Chicago, the crew informed ATC that a fire erupted in the rear compartment of the aircraft and decided to divert to Gallup Airport for an emergency landing. The aircraft was difficult to maneuver and landed in flames. After it came to a halt, all 25 occupants were quickly disembarked and helped by local rescuers before the aircraft being totally destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of these accidents was the combustion of gasoline which had entered the cabin heater combustion air intake scoop from the No 3 alternate tank vent due to inadvertent overflow during the transfer of fuel from the No 4 alternate tank.
The failure of the manufacturer and the Civil Aeronautics Administration to exercise full caution in the analysis of the fuel system of the DC-6 relative to proper location of fuel tank vents to provide non-hazardous location for fuel drainage, as required by existing regulations, and the insufficient attentiveness on the part of the manufacturer, the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and the air carriers to the procedures of fuel management employed by pilots operating DC-6 aircraft, were contributing factors.
This case was categorized as similar as the United Airlines' DC-6 that crashed in Bryce Canyon on October 24, 1947, killing all 52 occupants.

Final Report:

Crash of Douglas R4D-6 near Albuquerque: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

50771

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Phoenix – Amarillo

MSN:

14881/26326

YOM:

1944

Location:

Albuquerque

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising by night, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 21 km southeast of Albuquerque. All 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Budd RB-1 Conestoga in Albuquerque: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Budd RB-1 Conestoga

Operator:

National Skyway Freight

Registration:

NC45353

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

011

YOM:

1944

Location:

Albuquerque

Country:

Region:

Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a delivery flight from Atlanta to California. While cruising at an altitude of 800 feet, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed near Albuquerque. The flight engineer was seriously injured while both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers OA-10A Canso A near Grants: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

44-34096

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Hunter - Sacramento

MSN:

CV-607

Location:

Grants

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

An engine failed enroute, causing the seaplane to crash in a mountainous region located 25 miles southwest of Grants. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt William T. Bartlett,
Sgt Robert L. Crook,
1st Lt James J. Garland,
Sgt John M. Jackson
Sgt Irwin S. Marcus;
1st Lt Wilson H. Parker,
Sgt Harold L. Post.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-50-MO Superfortress at Kirtland AFB: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

44-86329

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kirtland - Kirtland

Location:

Kirtland AFB

Country:

Region: