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Crash of a Boeing 247D in Cheyenne: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1935 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13323
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cheyenne - Cheyenne
MSN:
1704
YOM:
1935
Location:
Cheyenne
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local test flight out from Cheyenne Airport following modifications on few cockpit instruments. After take off, while climbing in light rain, the captain initiated a relative sharp turn to the right when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, reached a nose-down angle of 70° and crashed on the top of a hill. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
An examination of the wreckage did not indicate any failure or malfunctioning of any part of the airplane or engines. It is reasonable to believe that the windshield was iced sufficiently to obscure forward vision but this would not have hindered the pilot materially as he had a full complement of navigation instruments and presumable had unobstructed vision out either side. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was poor judgment on the part of the pilot for executing an abrupt maneuver with insufficient altitude for safety and failure of the pilot to maintain proper control of the aircraft during this maneuver.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Cheyenne: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1935 at 0219 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13317
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Oakland – Salt Lake City – Denver – Cheyenne
MSN:
1698
YOM:
1935
Flight number:
UA004
Location:
Cheyenne
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Denver, the crew initiated the approach to Cheyenne Airport. The visibility was poor due to the night and marginal weather conditions. Too low, the airplane impacted the top of a hill, continued for about 300 metres and crashed, bursting into flames. All 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Whether or not the pilot was flying entirely on instruments, the question still arises as to why he was flying so close to the ground at the point of first contact with the ground. It is possible that the copilot in giving their position as Silver Crown could have done so having observed that the airplane was approaching Silver Crown. The pilot, hearing this over the interphones, might have taken this literally and started losing altitude factor or sooner than he should have from actual location. Another possibility is that the pilot misread his altimeter and as a consequence was actually flying at a much lower altitude than he believed. An additional 1,000 feet of altitude at the point of the accident would have placed the airplane in suitable position for a normal power glide to the airport for a landing. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an error on the part of the pilot in judging his altitude or his distance from the airport, or both.

Crash of a Waco YKC near Glendo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1935 at 2005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Waco YKC
Operator:
Aero Mayflower Transit Company
Registration:
NC14140
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Helena – Denver
MSN:
4204
YOM:
1934
Location:
Glendo
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Prior to departure, the pilot was informed about poor weather conditions en route and was instructed to follow the normal route which is longer. The aircraft departed Helena at 1600LT then the pilot failed to follow the instructions and continued through a mountainous region at an altitude of 8,500 feet. Later, while cruising at a height of some 10,000 feet in low visibility due to fog and rain, the single engine aircraft impacted the slope of the Lamario Peak, some 43 miles west of Glendo. The wreckage was found few hours later. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was poor judgment on the part of the pilot for attempting to unnecessarily fly over a hazardous route.

Crash of a Boeing 221A Monomail near Glendo: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1935 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 221 Monomail
Operator:
Registration:
NC725W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Billings – Sheridan – Casper – Cheyenne
MSN:
1153
YOM:
1930
Location:
Glendo
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 pilot was performing a mail flight from Billings to Cheyenne with intermediate stops in Sheridan and Casper. While cruising in poor weather conditions, he reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground. While following Route 185 to Cheyenne, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane impacted a hill located 21 kilometers south from Glendo. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an accidental collision with the ground while flying low due to severe local conditions.

Crash of a Boeing 40B in Knight: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1932 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC273
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Salt Lake City – Cheyenne
MSN:
884
YOM:
1927
Location:
Knight
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 cruising at night on a mail flight from Salt Lake City to Cheyenne, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in a field located 6 miles east of Knight. The pilot Paul 'Red' Andret was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Egbert: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1923
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
315
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
North Platte – Cheyenne
Location:
Egbert
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 flight from North Platte to Cheyenne, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions when the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Cheyenne: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1923
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
223
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cheyenne - Cheyenne
Location:
Cheyenne
Wyoming
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:
The crew departed Cheyenne Airfiled on a local test flight. While flying at a height of 500 feet, the pilot initiated a sharp turn when he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Rock Springs: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
176
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Rock Springs
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Rock Springs, while climbing to a height of about 150 feet, the pilot apparently attempted to return when, doing a sharp turn, he lost control of the airplane that crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Telephone Canyon

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
179
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cheyenne – Salt Lake City
Location:
Telephone Canyon
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:
En route from Cheyenne to Salt Lake City, the oil pressure dropped to 9 or 10. The engine temperature increased to 192° and the revolutions per minute dropped to 1,200. The plane crashed on a mountain side near Telephone Canyon. The pilot was injured.
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