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Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Laramie: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1946 at 0057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
National Air Transport Service - NATS
Registration:
NC38942
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Oakland – Cheyenne – Newark
MSN:
12971
YOM:
1944
Location:
Laramie-General Herbert J. Brees
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Captain / Total flying hours:
3222
Captain / Total hours on type:
840.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1500
Aircraft flight hours:
1861
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew was informed that weather conditions in Cheyenne were poor and was rerouted to Laramie. Unfortunately, upon arrival, weather conditions were not so good with light snow and a visibility of two miles. The captain decided to attempt to land but was unable to locate the airport and passed over without seeing it. Shortly later, while at an altitude of 75 feet and in a left bank of 70°, the aircraft hit the ground with its left wing, crashed and burned. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
On the basis of the above, the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in maneuvering the aircraft at a dangerously low altitude under extremely adverse weather conditions in an attempt to land. A contributing factor was the negligence of the pilot in planning a flight into an area in which adverse weather conditions were forecast without making adequate provisions for a suitable alternate airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Cheyenne: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1946 at 0433 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
NC30051
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco – Cheyenne – Chicago
MSN:
10471
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
UA028
Location:
Cheyenne
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12573
Captain / Total hours on type:
2425.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3551
Copilot / Total hours on type:
831
Aircraft flight hours:
3077
Circumstances:
An approach from the west was then decided on by the Captain as visibility there had been fair. The First Officer contacted the tower and was cleared to land on Runway 12 (to the southeast). While headed west the Captain started a gradual left turn at the western boundary of the field, continued it for a short time and then entered a right turn in an attempt to line up with and land on Runway 12. This right turn was continued at an altitude of some 200 feet above the ground with, wheels down, 15 degree of flap and airspeed of approximately 120 mph (once as low as 110 mph). The Captain instructed the First Officer, who occupied the right hand pilot seat, (on the low and field side of the turn) to "sing out" when he saw the field. When the First Officer did see it he said "There's the field at 2 o'clock" (at a relative bearing of 60 degree). The Captain then leaned to the right to see the field himself and during this momentary diversion from the instruments enough altitude was lost to permit the right wing tip to strike the ground. The site was on rolling prairie approximately 20 feet higher than, and about 1 1/2 miles northwest of the Cheyenne Airport, on the U. S. Military Reservation of Fort Warren. At the instant of impact the aircraft was still in a right turn, banked approximately 15 degree and headed northeast. It came to rest about 700 feet beyond the point of first impact. A gasoline fire developed on the ground along the crash path and the right wing, which had been torn from the fuselage, was partly burned. Two passengers were killed while most of the other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
The Captain started a standard instrument approach to the Cheyenne Airport but did not follow through with the prescribed missed-approach procedure after descending below the minimum altitude. During the final attempt to land, the aircraft struck the ground with its right wing while in a right turn. The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a loss of altitude during a turn preparatory to a final approach while the pilot was maneuvering in an attempt to land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-194H in Elk Mountain: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1946 at 0247 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC25675
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Portland – Pendleton – Boise – Denver
MSN:
2147
YOM:
1939
Flight number:
UA014
Location:
Elk Mountain
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Captain / Total flying hours:
13003
Captain / Total hours on type:
2909.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2021
Copilot / Total hours on type:
21
Aircraft flight hours:
16333
Circumstances:
On the non stop leg from Boise to Denver, while flying by night and poor visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Elk located southeast of Elk Mountain, south Wyoming. The wreckage was found few hours later in a deep snow and in poor weather conditions, about 340 feet from the summit. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 21 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path by 4,5 miles and its altitude was 11,000 feet.
Probable cause:
On the basis of the foregoing the Board finds that the probable cause of this accident was the deviation from the prescribed route at an altitude insufficient to assure adequate clearance over Elk Mountain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Casper: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1944 at 2328 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7834
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Casper - Casper
MSN:
4333
YOM:
1942
Location:
Casper
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from runway 25 at Casper Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 3 miles northwest of the airfield. All eleven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-55-DL Flying Fortress on Mt Bomber: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1943 at 2359 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-3399
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pendleton – Grand Island
MSN:
8335
Location:
Bomber Mountain
Wyoming
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 crew was returning to his base in Grand Island in order to prepare to join the European operations. En route, the crew inform ground about his position over Powder River. This was the last communication. Around 2359LT, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Bighorn Mountain Range, in the north part of Wyoming. All SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the 10 crew members was found. Two cowboys found the wreckage on August 12, 1945. The aircraft was off course at the time of the accident. After a petition by veterans groups in Wyoming, the unnamed mountain on which the aircraft crashed was christened 'Bomber Mountain' on 22 August 1946 by the U.S. Forest Service.
Crew (318th BS):
Lt William R. Ronaghan, pilot,
Lt Anthony S. Tilotta, copilot,
Lt Leonard H. Phillips, navigator,
Lt Charles H. Suppes, bombardier,
Sgt James A. Hinds, flight engineer,
Sgt Lee V. Millar, assistant to the flight engineer,
Sgt Ferguson T. Bell, radio operator,
Sgt Charles E. Newburn Jr., assistant to the radio operator,
Sgt Jake E. Penick, air gunner,
Sgt Lewis M. Shepherd, air gunner.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was nearly 120 miles off course to the north and flying below the prescribed flight altitude, thus below the elevation of the Bighorn Mountain Range.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc I near Elk Mountain: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1942 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL477
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ogden - Cheyenne
Location:
Elk Mountain
Wyoming
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
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a flight to Canada to be delivered to the Royal Air Force. En route from Ogden to Cheyenne, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. In heavy snow falls, the airplane contacted ground and crashed near Elk Mountain. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended six days later. The wreckage was found in July. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
Robert S. Gleghorn, pilot.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30A Liberator near Hanna: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated LB-30 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AL607
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
105
YOM:
1941
Location:
Hanna
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from McDill AFB, the heavy bomber was abandoned by the crew for unknown reasons. Out of control, the airplane crashed about 16 km south of Hanna, and was destroyed. Seven crew members parachuted to safety and a eighth was killed.
Crew:
Frank W. Potter, pilot,
2nd Lt Phillip T. Wolking +6. †

Crash of a Lockheed 9D Orion in Pine Bluffs

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Aircraft Exportation Corporation
Registration:
NC13748
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
206
YOM:
1933
Location:
Pine Bluffs
Wyoming
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
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the single engine airplane belly landed at Pine Bluffs Airport and slid for several yards before coming to rest, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole aboard, was uninjured, and the airplane was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-197 near Knight: 19 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1937 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC16074
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Newark – Chicago – Cheyenne – Salt Lake City – Los Angeles
MSN:
1914
YOM:
1936
Flight number:
UA001
Location:
Knight
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
11000
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3500
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet at night and in bad weather conditions, the pilot tried to contact ATC without any success. He could not receive any signal from the regional beacons and decided to continue ahead to Salt Lake City Airport. Few minutes later, in low visibility, the aircraft impacted the slope of Haydens Peak located 81 km east from Salt Lake City and 32 km southwest from Knight. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 19 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Earl D. Woodgerd, pilot,
John B. Adams, copilot,
Leah Derr, stewardess.
Passengers:
George Ferreira,
Phyllis Ferreira,
Louis Cleaver,
Ralph McKeown,
John Conroy,
Charles D. Renouf,
W. Pischell,
William Pitt,
J. Percola,
Mrs. C. Pritchett,
D. A. McMillan,
Mrs. J. Hammer,
W. J. Hart,
Charles Jamison,
C. L. Jensen,
Dr. L. Gross.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Investigating Board that the probable cause of this accident was a combination of the following three factors:
- Static conditions encountered in the last portion of the flight which rendered the reception of radio range signals unintelligible,
- The continuation of the flight into mountainous country at an altitude below of higher mountains without the aid of ground visibility or radio signals to definitely identify position,
- A change in the weather caused by the approach of an unpredicted cold front.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 9D Orion near Buffalo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC13749
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
207
YOM:
1933
Location:
Buffalo-Johnson County
Wyoming
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
Circumstances:
While on a mail service, the single engine airplane crashed in a mountainous area located in the region of Buffalo. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
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