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Crash of a Martin PBM-3R Mariner off Norfolk NAS: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
6482
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Norfolk - Norfolk
MSN:
6482
Location:
Norfolk
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Norfolk NAS, while on a training mission, the seaplane lost height and fell into the Willoughby Bay. Its nose lodged into mud and sand. Seven crew were killed while five others were injured. The aircraft was partially submerged and damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Dahlgren: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7255
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Dahlgren
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in Dahlgren. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Mt Elkhorn: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2469
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
329
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mt Elkhorn
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a patrol mission when he encountered poor visibility. While cruising in fog, the floatplane impacted the slope of Mt Elkhorn located 25 km northwest of Staunton. All 7 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain in foggy conditions.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo off Newport News: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
38-598
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2648
YOM:
1938
Location:
Newport News
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons into the James River off Newport News. Three crew members were killed and four others were injured.
Those killed were:
Pfc Dusan J. Craven,
Cpl Harold E. Decker,
Pfc James B. Shannon.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder at Langley AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1414
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Langley - Langley
MSN:
1414
YOM:
1940
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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 Langley AFB, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a swampy area. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire, and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Ridley, pilot,
Lt Sutton, pilot.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a 'runaway propeller' after liftoff.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-1 Catalina in the Great Machipongo Inlet: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
0134
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Norfolk - Quonset Point
MSN:
33
YOM:
1937
Location:
Great Machipongo Inlet
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The floatplane departed Norfolk-Chambers Field NAS on a flight to Quonset Point NAS, Rhode Island, carrying a crew of 10. About 20 minutes into the flight, it crashed in unknown circumstances in the Great Machipongo Inlet located about 70 km northeast of Chambers Field NAS. All 10 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-10M off Langley AFB

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-91
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
622
YOM:
1934
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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 for unknown reasons into the Back River off Langley AFB. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress at Langley AFB

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
40-2058
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2059
YOM:
1940
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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 upon landing at Langley AFB and was destroyed by fire. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-313 in Lovettsville: 25 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1940 at 1441 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC21789
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Washington DC – Pittsburgh
MSN:
2388
YOM:
1940
Flight number:
PCA019
Location:
Lovettsville
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Captain / Total flying hours:
11442
Captain / Total hours on type:
619.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6108
Copilot / Total hours on type:
219
Aircraft flight hours:
565
Circumstances:
Twenty minutes after its departure from Washington DC-Hoover Airport, while cruising in poor weather conditions at an altitude of some 4,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed near Lovettsville. All 25 occupants were killed, among them the Senator of Minnesota Ernest Lundeen.
Crew:
Lowell V. Scoggins, pilot,
J. Paul Moore, copilot,
Margaret Carson, flight attendant,
John B. Staire, Jr, secretary to the District Traffic Manager.
Passengers:
Miss Dorothy Beer,
Mr. E. G. Bowler,
Mr. W. M. Burleson,
Mr. W. B. Chambers,
Miss Mildred Chesser,
Dr. Charles D. C. Cole,
Miss Naomi Colpo,
Mr. A. H. Elliott,
Mr. William Garbose,
Miss Evelyn Goldsmith,
Mrs. Rose Z. Hale,
Mr. Arthur Hollaway,
Mr. H. J. Hofferth,
Mr. D. P. James,
Senator Ernest E. Lundeen,
Mr. M. P. Mahan,
Mr. Adolph Mook,
Mr. Joseph J. Pesci,
Miss Chloe Post,
Mr. E. J. Tarr,
Miss Margaret Tuner.
Probable cause:
Upon the basis of the foregoing findings of probable fact and the exit record in this investigation, CAB finds that the probable cause of the accident was the disabling of the pilots by a severe lightning discharge in the immediate neighborhood of the airplane, with resulting loss of control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo at Langley AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-488
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2488
YOM:
1937
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Langley AFB, while climbing to a height of 150 feet, one of the engine failed. The crew attempted to return when control was lost. The airplane crashed, bursting into flames. All nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.
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