Country
United States of America
code

NC

Crash of a Douglas DC-7B in Charlotte

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1965 at 1647 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Registration:
N824D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
45333/888
YOM:
1957
Location:
Charlotte-Douglas
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12879
Captain / Total hours on type:
1463.00
Aircraft flight hours:
20138
Circumstances:
On short final to Charlotte-Douglas Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low. The right main gear struck the ground short of runway threshold. Upon touchdown on the concrete runway, the right main gear was sheared off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. While all 62 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command misjudged distance, speed and altitude on final approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Charlotte: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1964 at 0112 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
N6271D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
680-540-209
YOM:
1957
Location:
Charlotte-Douglas
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5545
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a night approach to Charlotte-Douglas Airport when, on short final, the twin engine aircraft struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operations on part of the pilot. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were slightly worse than forecast.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7B in Charlotte

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1964 at 1858 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Registration:
N831D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New York – Charlotte
MSN:
45340
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
EA702
Location:
Charlotte-Douglas
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
52
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
18022
Captain / Total hours on type:
4241.00
Aircraft flight hours:
19134
Circumstances:
The DC-7 touched down on runway 05 following an ILS approach. Reverser were applied, but the no. 1 engine reverser didn't respond. The pilot moved the no. 4 throttle to idle. The plane had then reached a rough part of the runway (a 1000 feet area, beginning 2750 feet down the runway). The DC-7 was turning slightly right, but this was corrected with left brake and rudder and left nose wheel steering. Severe vibration then caused the plane to veer sharply right off the runway, causing the nose gear to collapse. It appeared that the nose wheel strut collar had failed from both the left and right sides.
Probable cause:
Improper reversing technique resulting in the use of excessive directional corrective forces during which the aircraft struck an unsuitable runway condition. Unsuitable runway condition, resulting from inadequate runway maintenance. Inadequate supervision by the captain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S in Beaufort

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1964 at 0635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C18S
Operator:
Rosenbalm Aviation
Registration:
N6419C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Beaufort - Beaufort
MSN:
6050
YOM:
1944
Location:
Beaufort-Michael J. Smith
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9000
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a local flight to test new chemical products for spraying mission. Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in flames. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin 404 in Wilmington

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1962 at 0748 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin 404
Operator:
Registration:
N40401
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wilmington - Wilmington
MSN:
14101
YOM:
1952
Location:
Wilmington-New Hanover County
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4492
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Aircraft flight hours:
20260
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Wilmington-New Hanover County Airport. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While all three crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of an unwanted propeller reversal during a critical phase of landing caused by malfunction of the propeller low pitch stop lever assembly, resulting from foreign matter in the servo valve control.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Greensboro: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1962 at 1603 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-108992
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
McGuire – Philadelphie – Greensboro – Eglin
MSN:
13768
YOM:
1944
Location:
Greensboro
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from McGuire AFB to Eglin AFB (Hulburt Field) in Florida with intermediate stops at Philadelphia and Greensboro. After its departure from runway 05 at Greensboro-High Point Airport, while climbing to a height of 150-200 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames 1,000 feet past the runway end. The aircraft was partially destroyed by a post crash fire and all seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt R. J. Rice, pilot,
Cpt David L. Murphy, copilot,
Cpt Thomas D. Carter, navigator,
T/Sgt Bernard P. Terrien, flight engineer.
Passengers:
1st Lt. D. J. Hughes,
Cpt Robert H. Sanford,
T/Sgt Preston Presley.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-9-FA Provider in Wilmington: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0672
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wilmington - Wilmington
MSN:
20121
YOM:
1954
Location:
Wilmington
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to an airshow at Wilmington-New Hanover County Airport with six skydivers on board. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Three passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured.

Crash of an Aero Commander RL-26D at Mackall AAF: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
58-5512
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
680-529-199
YOM:
1958
Location:
Mackall AAF
North Carolina
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Mackall AAF, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed three miles south of the airfield. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-125-BW Stratofortress in Silver Hill: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1961 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
59-2576
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dow - Dow
MSN:
464339
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
Judy 24
Location:
Silver Hill
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
233
Circumstances:
The crew departed Dow AFB for a training and refueling mission. At an altitude of 30,000 feet, while preparing to refuel with a USAF KC-125, the pilot-in-command reduce the speed too much, causing the airplane to stall and to enter a dive. Two crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion near Silver Hill. Six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Donald McCullen, pilot, †
Cpt William Woody Farmer, copilot, †
Cpt Robert Marsh Morgenroth, radar navigator, †
Cpt George William Beale, observer, †
S/Sgt James Howard Fults, gunner instructor, †
A1C Robert Nathaniel Gaskey, gunner student, †
Maj Wilbur Fred Minnich, navigator,
1st Lt Glen Charles Farnham, EWO.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-95-BW Stratofortress near Seymour Johnson AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1961 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
58-0187
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Seymour Johnson - Seymour Johnson
MSN:
464255
YOM:
1958
Location:
Seymour Johnson AFB
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
A fuel leak occurred in the right wing while cruising at high altitude. The crew decided to divert to Seymour Johnson AFB for a safe landing but on final, the right wing detached. The airplane crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 12 miles from the runway threshold. Three crew members were killed while five others were injured. The aircraft was carrying two Mark 39 thermonuclear bombs that were later recovered. In 2013, documents and information relating this story were declassified by the US Government.
Crew:
Maj Walter S. Tulloch, pilot,
Cpt Richard W. Hardin, copilot,
Maj Eugene Shelton, radio navigator, †
Cpt Paul E. Brown, navigator,
1st Lt William H. Wilson, Electronics Warfare Officer
Maj Eugene H. Richards, Electronics Warfare Instructor, †
1st Lt Adam C. Mattocks, pilot,
T/Sgt Francis R. Barnish, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Fuel leak in flight.
Subscribe to North Carolina