Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK in Charleston: 21 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1951 at 1156 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-48298
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Godman – Charleston
MSN:
14114/25559
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Godman AFB in Louisville in the morning, bound for Charleston-Kanawha Airport, where all 21 occupants were flying to take part to funerals of US soldiers who died recently in another plane crash. The approach was completed in poor weather conditions. While descending to Kanawha Airfield at an insufficient height, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 8 miles short of runway 23. A passenger was seriously injured while 20 other occupants were killed. Nine days later, the only survivor died from his injuries. It is reported that the ceiling was down to 150 feet and that several instruments were out of order at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-54-DO Skymaster in Lookout Rock: 50 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1947 at 1816 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC88842
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chicago-Cleveland-Pittsburgh-Washington DC-Norfolk
MSN:
3112
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
PCA410
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Captain / Total flying hours:
18001
Captain / Total hours on type:
1309.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2513
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1833
Aircraft flight hours:
8038
Circumstances:
The flight departed Pittsburgh at 1724 and at 1753, 29 minutes later, reported over the Flintstone Intersection, 88 miles southeast of Pittsburgh at 7,000 feet. At 1754 the flight received a message from Washington Airway Traffic Control clearing it to the Herndon Fan Marker to maintain 7,000 feet until further advised The flight was also instructed that there would be an indefinite delay at Herndon but that approach clearance could be expected no later than 1920, which was approximately one hour and 10 minutes later than its estimated time of arrival Immediately after receiving this message the flight was given the 1730 hourly weather sequence report for Washington After acknowledging receipt of the Washington weather report, Flight 410 instructed the company station at Washington to request from Airway Traffic Control a clearance to approach Washington in accordance with contact flight rules on the right side of the west leg of the Arcola radio range This request was approved by Airway Traffic Control and at 1803 the flight received a message clearing it to the Washington tower to cross the Arcola radio range station at or below 2,500 feet and in accordance with contact flight rules. The flight was advised that if this were not possible it was to hold at 2,500 feet and to inform Airway Traffic Control. Prior to establishing its descent the flight was instructed to report when leaving each 1,000-foot level In accordance with these instructions Flight 410 reported leaving the 7,000-foot level at 1805 and two minutes later another report was received from the flight indicating it was leaving 6,000 feet. The flight reported its position as "south of Martinsburg" at 1808 and immediately thereafter reported that it was leaving 5,000 feet at that time At 1810 another report was received from the flight, leaving 4,000 feet." Three minutes thereafter the flight again reported its progress and indicated it was leaving 3,000 feet. Approximately 6 minutes later the company station at Washington initiated several calls to the flight but, although these transmissions were continued for several hours, no contact was established.
Probable cause:
The Board finds that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in descending below the minimum enroute altitude under conditions of weather which prevented adequate visual reference to the ground. A contributing cause was the faulty clearance given by Airway Traffic Control, tacitly approved by the company dispatcher, and accepted by Flight 410.
Final Report:

Crash of a Budd RB-1 Conestoga in Bluefield

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
NC45347
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
003
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Washington DC. Enroute, he encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls and decided to divert to Knoxville Airport. Unfortunately, the pilot was unable to locate the airfield and decided to return to the capital city. While cruising in a snowstorm, the crew decided to make an emergency landing, reduced his altitude and belly landed on a golf course located in Bluefield. All eight occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-313A near Morgantown: 20 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1945 at 1658 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC25692
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Pittsburgh - Morgantown
MSN:
2262
YOM:
1940
Flight number:
PCA142
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Captain / Total flying hours:
9481
Captain / Total hours on type:
5914.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3832
Copilot / Total hours on type:
769
Aircraft flight hours:
13040
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew was informed several times about weather conditions at destination with low ceiling at 1,000 feet and low visibility, max one mile. While approaching Morgantown at an altitude of 2,100 feet in clouds, the aircraft hit the west slope of Mt Cheat located 7 miles northeast of Morgantown. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 20 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Harold Houston Jones, pilot,
William Thomas Repack, copilot,
Marion Grace Adams, hostess.
Probable cause:
On the basis of the foregoing the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in continuing flight over mountains terrain under instrument conditions at an altitude below the minimum authorized instrument altitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan near Williamstown: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-37270
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Eglin - Louisville
MSN:
3793
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Eglin AFB (Valparaiso, Florida), on a flight to Louisville, Kentucky, carrying seven crew members. En route, the pilot encountered engine problems and elected to divert to Wood County Airport when the airplane crashed in a ravine. The airplane was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-49E in Premier: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1942 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-56093
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Battle Creek – Cincinnati – Florence
MSN:
1976
YOM:
1937
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
While approaching Cincinnati-Lunken Field Airport in poor weather conditions, the crew made three attempts to land without success. During the fourth attempt, the aircraft speed was too high and it hit hard the runway surface. The captain increased engine power and decided to continue to Florence, South Carolina. Few minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions (thunderstorm and turbulence), the aircraft banked left and right and eventually went out of control. From a height of 250 metres, it lost successively part of its wings and elevators, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and all 21 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to the Board of investigations, it appears the aircraft lost parts of wings and elevators when it dove into the ground, most probably due to forces exceeding their design and certification. For undetermined reasons, the captain decided to continue the flight to Florence following a missed landing at Cincinnati Airport. Due to a heavy landing, the wings' and elevators' structure was slightly damaged and moderate to severe turbulence in the region also contributed to the wings' and elevator' structural weakness. Poor discipline and judgment is also reproached to both pilots as they should complete the landing procedure at Cincinnati and perform an inspection of the aircraft, which was not performed. Eventually, accumulation of ice on carburetors associated to a certain torsion during the hard landing was considered as a contributory factor as the carburetors did not work properly during the last segment of the flight.

Crash of a Douglas A-20C-10-DO Havoc in Durbin

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-19379
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
7781
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstanced near Durbin. At least one crew was killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Kenneth E. Conley, pilot.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Charleston

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1941 at 1633 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC13359
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Knoxville – Bristol – Charleston – Clarksburg – Pittsburgh
MSN:
1741
YOM:
1932
Flight number:
PCA143
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2327
Captain / Total hours on type:
947.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1474
Copilot / Total hours on type:
212
Aircraft flight hours:
14866
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Charleston Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a wooded area located near the airport. All nine occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces. There was no fire.
Crew:
Russell J. Wright, captain,
William H. Riley, first officer,
Irene Coates, flight stewardess.
Probable cause:
Loss of power in the right engine due to causes unknown.
Contributing factors were:
- Failure of PCA to establish adequate procedures to require its pilots to be familiar with the terrain surrounding airports, and failure of Captain Wright to familiarize himself adequately with the terrain surrounding the Charleston Municipal Airport.
- Failure of PCA to inform its pilots of the amount of power which could reasonably be taken from Pratt and Whitney Wasp S1H1-G engines under emergency conditions, and the consequent hesitancy of Captain Wright to exercise his emergency authority and use additional power soon enough to clear the ridge.
Final Report:

Crash of a Travel Air 4000 in Morgantown: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
NC6480
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
800
YOM:
1927
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After landing in Morgantown, the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, collided with a fence before coming to rest. The pilot was killed.