Airplane_Crashes_and_Fatalities_Since_1908

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Date;Time;Location;Operator;Flight #;Route;Type;Registration;cn/In;Aboard;Fatalities;Ground;Summary
09/17/1908;17:18;Fort Myer, Virginia;Military - U.S. Army;;Demonstration;Wright Flyer III;;1;2;1;0;During a demonstration flight, a U.S. Army flyer flown by Orville Wright nose-dived into the ground from a height of approximately 75 feet, killing Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge who was a passenger. This was the first recorded airplane fatality in history. One of two propellers separated in flight, tearing loose the wires bracing the rudder and causing the loss of control of the aircraft. Orville Wright suffered broken ribs, pelvis and a leg. Selfridge suffered a crushed skull and died a short time later.
07/12/1912;06:30;AtlantiCity, New Jersey;Military - U.S. Navy;;Test flight;Dirigible;;;5;5;0;First U.S. dirigible Akron exploded just offshore at an altitude of 1,000 ft. during a test flight.
08/06/1913;;Victoria, British Columbia, Canada;Private;-;;Curtiss seaplane;;;1;1;0;The first fatal airplane accident in Canada occurred when American barnstormer, John M. Bryant, California aviator was killed.
09/09/1913;18:30;Over the North Sea;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-1 (airship);;;20;14;0;The airship flew into a thunderstorm and encountered a severe downdraft crashing 20 miles north of Helgoland Island into the sea. The ship broke in two and the control car immediately sank drowning its occupants.
10/17/1913;10:30;Near Johannisthal, Germany;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-2 (airship);;;30;30;0;Hydrogen gas which was being vented was sucked into the forward engine and ignited causing the airship to explode and burn at 3,000 ft..
03/05/1915;01:00;Tienen, Belgium;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-8 (airship);;;41;21;0;Crashed into trees while attempting to land after being shot down by British and French aircraft.
09/03/1915;15:20;Off Cuxhaven, Germany;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-10 (airship);;;19;19;0;Exploded and burned near Neuwerk Island, when hydrogen gas, being vented, was ignited by lightning.
07/28/1916;;Near Jambol, Bulgeria;Military - German Army;;;Schutte-Lanz S-L-10 (airship);;;20;20;0;Crashed near the Black Sea, cause unknown.
09/24/1916;01:00;Billericay, England;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-32 (airship);;;22;22;0;Shot down by British aircraft crashing in flames.
10/01/1916;23:45;Potters Bar, England;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-31 (airship);;;19;19;0;Shot down in flames by the British 39th Home Defence Squadron.
11/21/1916;;Mainz, Germany;Military - German Army;;;Super Zeppelin (airship);;;28;27;0;Crashed in a storm.
11/28/1916;23:45;Off West Hartlepool, England;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-34 (airship);;;20;20;0;Shot down by British anti-aircraft fire and aircraft and crashed into the North Sea.
03/04/1917;;Near Gent, Belgium;Military - German Army;;;Airship;;;20;20;0;Caught fire and crashed.
03/30/1917;;Off Northern Germany;Military - German Navy;;;Schutte-Lanz S-L-9 (airship);;;23;23;0;Struck by lightning and crashed into the BaltiSea.
05/14/1917;05:15;Near Texel Island, North Sea;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-22 (airship);;;21;21;0;Crashed into the sea from an altitude of 3,000 ft. after being hit by British aircraft fire.
06/14/1917;08:45;Off Vlieland Island, North Sea;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-43 (airship);;;24;24;0;Shot down by British aircraft.
08/21/1917;07:00;Off western Denmark;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-23 (airship);;;18;18;0;Shot down by British aircraft.
10/20/1917;07:45;Near Luneville, France;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-44 (airship);;;18;18;0;Shot down by French anti-aircraft fire.
04/07/1918;21:30;Over the Mediterranean;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-59 (airship);;;23;23;0;Exploded and crashed into the sea off the southern coast of Italy.
05/10/1918;;Off Helgoland Island, Germany;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-70 (airship);;;22;22;0;Shot down by British aircraft crashing from a height of 17,000 ft.
08/11/1918;10:00;Ameland Island, North Sea;Military - German Navy;;;Zeppelin L-53 (airship);;;19;19;0;Shot down by british aircraft.
12/16/1918;;Elizabeth, New Jersey;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;97;;1;1;0;
05/25/1919;;Cleveland, Ohio;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;61;;1;1;0;Caught fire in midair. The pilot leaped from the plane to his death as the plane began to go into a dive.
07/19/1919;;Dix Run, Pennsylvania;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;82;;1;1;0;
10/02/1919;;Newcastle, England;Aircraft Transport and Travel;;;De Havilland DH-4;;;1;1;0;
10/14/1919;;Cantonsville, Maryland;US Aerial Mail Service;;;Curtiss R-4LM;32;;1;1;0;
10/20/1919;;English Channel;Aircraft Transport and Travel;;;De Havilland DH-4;G-EAHG;;;;;
10/30/1919;;Long Valley, New Jersey;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH.4;77;;1;1;0;
03/10/1920;;New Paris, Indiana;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;65;;1;1;0;
03/30/1920;;Newark, New Jersey;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;72;;1;1;0;
04/10/1920;;Newark, New Jersey;US Aerial Mail Service;;;Curtiss R-4LM;49;;2;1;0;
04/11/1920;;Heller Field, New Jersey;US Aerial Mail Service;;;Curtiss JN-4H;44;;2;1;0;
05/12/1920;;Oskaloosa, Iowa;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;79;;2;1;0;
06/06/1920;;Cleveland, Ohio;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;204;;1;1;0;
08/16/1920;;Bedford, England;By Air;;;Armstrong-Whitworth F-K-8;G-EALW;;1;1;0;
08/16/1920;;College Park, Maryland;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;317;;1;1;0;
09/01/1920;;Morristown, New Jersey;US Aerial Mail Service;;;Junkers JL-6;305;;2;2;0;
09/15/1920;;Pemberville, Ohio;US Aerial Mail Service;;;Junkers F-13;308;;2;2;0;
09/27/1920;;Hillersburg, Pennsylvania;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;316;;1;1;0;
10/02/1920;;Off Port Vendres, France;Latecoere Airlines;;;Salmson 2-A-2;F-ALAI;31;2;2;0;
10/05/1920;;Valencia, Spain;Latecoere Airlines;;;Breguet 14;F-ALTA;20;2;2;0;Crashed while landing.
10/15/1920;;Batavia, Illinois;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;76;;1;1;0;
11/07/1920;;Tie Siding, Wyoming;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;;178;1;1;0;
12/14/1920;;Cricklewood, England;Handley Page Transport;;;Handley Page HP-16;G-EAMA;HP-25;8;4;0;Crashed into a tree on take off in fog.
12/24/1920;;Barcelona, Spain;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;F-ALBO;;1;1;0;
02/03/1921;;Mendotta, Minnisota;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;130;;1;1;0;
02/09/1921;;La Crosse, Wisconsin;US Aerial Mail Service;;;Junkers F-13;301;;3;3;0;
02/15/1921;;Off Gibraltar;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;F-ALBA;;2;2;0;
02/22/1921;;Elko, Nevada;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;67;;1;1;0;
04/06/1921;;Point Cook, Australia;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;;;H3021;;2;1;0;
04/21/1921;;Mitchel Field, NY;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;160;;1;1;0;
04/29/1921;;Cleveland, Ohio;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;196;;1;1;0;
05/17/1921;;Rock Springs, Wyoming;US Aerial Mail Service;;;;176;;1;1;0;
07/16/1921;;San Francisco, California;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;222;;1;1;0;
08/14/1921;;Toulouse, France;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;F-ALBI;;2;2;0;
08/24/1921;17:40;River Humber, England;Military - Royal Airship Works;;;Royal Airship Works ZR-2 (airship);R-38;R-38;46;46;1;Crashed due to structural failure followed by two explosions and a fire. Attributed to faulty design.
09/06/1921;;Paris, France;Franco-Roumaine;;Varsovie - Strasbourg - Paris;Potez IX;F-ADCD;160;5;5;0;Crashed while making an approach to Le Bourget Airport in Paris.
12/05/1921;;Near Murchinson River, Australia;West Australian Airways;;;Bristol 28 Tourer;G-AUDI;6116;3;3;0;
01/14/1922;;Paris, France;Handley Page Transport;;;Handley Page O/10;G-EATN;HP-43;5;5;5;Crashed at Le Bourget field.
02/21/1922;;Near Norfolk, Virginia;Military - U.S. Army Air Service;;;Dirigible Roma (airship);;;45;34;0;Crashed from a height of 500 ft. after experiencing control problems cause by malfunctioning controls.
04/07/1922;;Grandvilliers, France;Daimler
Airways / Grands Express Aeriens;;;de Havilland DH-18 / Farman F-60 Goliath;G-EAOW/FGEAD;4;7;7;0;A midair collision occurred in poor visibility approximately 18 miles north of Beauvais, France. This was the first commercial midair collision in aviation history. Two killed on the de Havilland, five on the Faman F-60.
04/08/1922;;Pao Ting Fou, China;;;;;;;17;17;0;All seventeen aboard were Chinese nationals.
04/13/1922;;Brooklands, England;Vickers;;;Vickers Viking;G-EBBZ;;3;3;0;
10/01/1925;;Nittany Mt, Ohio;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;385;;1;1;0;
06/03/1922;;Off Folkestone, Kent, England;Cie des Messageries Aeriennes;;;Bleriot Spad 27;F-CMAY;1254;3;3;0;
07/26/1922;;Cadix, Spain;Grands Express Aeriens;;;Breguet 14;;;3;3;0;
09/07/1922;;Indianapolis, Indiana;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;227;;1;1;0;
10/02/1922;;Venice, Italy;;;;de Havilland DH-9;G-EAYT;;4;4;0;
10/25/1922;;Larache, Morocco;Grands Express Aeriens;;;Breguet 14;;;2;2;0;
12/03/1922;;Fez, Morocco;Grands Express Aeriens;;;Breguet 14;;;1;1;0;
01/10/1923;;Ajaccio, France;Amee de l'Air;;;Lioré-et-Olivier H-13;F-AEIB;;4;3;0;
01/17/1923;;Barcelona, Spain;Grands Express Aeriens;;;Breguet 14;F-ALJU;;1;1;0;
01/18/1923;;Cheyenne, Wyoming;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;223;;1;1;0;
02/26/1923;;Meadville, Pennsylvania;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;291;;1;1;0;
05/14/1923;;Monsures, France;Grands Express Aeriens;;;Farman F-60 Goliath;F-AEBY;;6;6;0;
08/27/1923;;Bucharest, Romania;Campagnie France Roumaine;;;Blériot Spad 46;F-AEGN;;2;2;0;
09/07/1923;;Colton, Ohio;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;283;;1;1;0;
09/14/1923;;Berks, England;Daimler Airways;;;de Havilland DH-34;G-EBBS;29;6;6;0;
11/18/1923;;Russia;CCCP;;;Junkers F-13;D-257;;4;2;0;
12/06/1923;;Castalia, Ohio;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;318;;1;1;0;
12/23/1923;02:30;Over the Mediterranean Sea;Military - French Navy;;Toulon - Algiers;Zeppelin Dixmunde (airship);L-72;;52;52;0;Crashed while on a flight from Toulon, France to Algiers, Algeria. The last known radio contact reported the ship nearly out of fuel and battling strong winds. Struck by lightning.
12/24/1923;;Egbert, WY;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;315;;1;1;0;
03/07/1924;;Grampian, Pennsylvania;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;327;;1;1;0;
04/24/1924;;Over the English Channel;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Lympne, England - Rotterdam, The Netherlands;Fokker F.III;H-NABS;1535;3;3;0;
06/08/1924;;Barranquilla, Colombia;SCADTA;;;Junkers F-13;A16;;3;3;0;
08/01/1924;;United States;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;297;;1;1;0;
11/06/1924;;Cabrerolles, France;Grands Express Aeriens;;;;F-AFBD;;1;1;0;
12/21/1924;;Goshen, Indiana;US Aerial Mail Service;;;De Havilland DH-4;311;;1;1;0;
12/24/1924;;Purley, England;Imperial Airways;;;de Havilland DH-34B;G-EBBX;36;8;8;0;Shortly after taking off, witnesses observed a puff of white smoke after which the plane nose-dived into the ground. Fuel starvation. Captain Stewart and seven passengers were killed in an attempted forced landing.
03/22/1925;;Near Tiflies, Georgia, USSR;Zakavia;;;Junkers F-13;R-RECA;590;5;5;0;
04/25/1925;;Alicante, Spain;Grands Express Aeriens;;;Breguet 14;;;4;4;0;
05/25/1925;;Alicante, Spain;Lignes Aeriennes Latecoere;;;Breguet 14;F-AFBB;;2;2;0;
06/25/1925;;Landrécies, France;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;;Fokker (KLM) F.III;H-NABM;KLM-2;4;4;0;Crashed in poor weather.
06/26/1925;;Alicante, Spain;Grands Express Aeriens;;;Lioré-et-Olivier H-13;F-AHBH;;2;2;0;
07/20/1925;;Rosas, Spain;Lignes Aeriennes Latecoere;;;Breguet 14;F-AFBI;;1;1;0;
07/24/1925;;Budapest, Hungary;CIDNA;;;Potez IX;;;1;1;0;
09/03/1925;05:30;Caldwell, Ohio;Military - U.S. Navy;;Lakehurst, NJ - S.t Louis, MO;Dirigible ZR-1 Shenandoah (airship);ZR-1;;43;14;0;The Shenandoah was flying over Southern Ohio when she abruptly encountered violent atmosphericonditions (thunderstorms). Powerful air currents buffeted her so severely that her crew was unable to maintain control. Rising rapidly above her pressure height, then falling and rising again, her hull structure was overstressed amidships, breaking the airship in two. Shenandoah's external control car and two engine cars fell free, carrying the dirigible's commanding officer and several other men to their deaths. The stern section came down nearby, while several men were able to fly the bow section to ground as a free balloon.
09/07/1925;;Toul, France;CIDNA;;;;;;3;3;0;
11/14/1925;;Off Boulogne-sur-Mer, France;Air Union;;;Farman F-60 Goliath;F-AMFY;;2;2;0;
02/12/1926;;Montpelier, Ohio;US Aerial Mail Service;;;Curtiss Carrier Pigeon;;;1;1;0;
03/08/1926;;Staaken, Germany;Deutche Lufthansa;;;Junkers F-13;;;1;1;0;
05/31/1926;;English Channel;Air Union;;;Breguet 14;F-ADAI;;1;1;0;
07/03/1926;;Rossaugpt, Czechoslovakia;Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne;;Paris - Prague;Caudron C-61;F-AFBT;5307;7;7;0;Crashed while en route.
07/09/1926;;Wolvertem, Belgium;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;;Fokker F-4;H-NACC;4759;2;2;0;
07/24/1926;;Juist, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers F-13;D-272;660;4;4;0;Weather related.
08/18/1926;;Hurst, Kent, England;Air Union;;;Bleriot 155;F-AIEB;2;4;4;0;Crashed in adverse weather conditions. Engine failure.
09/26/1926;;New York, New York;;;New York - Paris;Sikorsky S-25;;;5;2;0;Too much weight caused the landing gear to collapse as the plane took off for Paris on the first trans-Atlantipassenger flight.
10/08/1926;;Bueren, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Fokker FG III;D-468;1554;4;4;0;Weather related.
10/21/1926;13:15;English Channel;Imperial Airways;;;Handley Page W-10;G-EBMS;W10/3;12;0;0;The plane was on a flight from London to Paris when power was lost to the starboard engine. The aircraft began to lose altitude until it eventually ditched into the sea about 18 miles from the English coast. The plane stayed afloat long enough for the fishing boat Invicta, piloted by Captain Marshall, to rescue all aboard. The plane was named Prince Henry.
11/11/1926;;Cape Bojador, Morocco;Grands Express Aeriens;;;Breguet 14;;;3;3;0;
12/16/1926;;Medford, Oregon;PacifiAir Transport;;;Ryan M-1;2;;1;1;0;
01/12/1927;;Lille, France;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;;Fokker F-VII;H-NADH;;2;2;0;
03/20/1927;;Rabat, Morocco;Grands Express Aeriens;;;Breguet 14;F-ALRA;;1;1;0;
03/24/1927;;Tambo, Qld, Australia;Qantas;;;de Havilland DH-9C;G-AUED;86;3;3;0;Stalled at low altitiude on approach to land
04/15/1927;;King Hill, Idaho;Varney Air Lines;;;;;;1;1;0;Crashed after an unsuccessful attempt at fly into strong headwinds. The engine quit and the plane nosedived into the ground.
04/22/1927;;Goshen, Indiana;US Aerial Mail Service;;;Douglas M-4;626;;1;1;0;
04/22/1927;;Floh, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Fokker FG III;D-729;1567;2;2;0;Engine failure.
05/02/1927;;Algiers, Algeria;Air Union;;;SPCA Meteore 63;;;3;1;0;
07/27/1927;;Amoneburg, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers F-13;D-206;591;5;5;0;Engine failure.
08/22/1927;08:30;Sevenoaks, England;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Croydon - Schiphol;Fokker F-VIII;;4993;11;1;0;A broken wire led to the partial loss of the the rudder and a crash landing which resulted in the aircraft striking a tree, killing the flight engineer.
09/03/1927;;Willington, Connecticut;Colonial Air Transport;;;Fokker Universal;;;1;1;0;
09/17/1927;;Hadley, New Jersey;Reynolds Airways;;Sightseeing;Fokker F-VII;NC776;4840;12;7;0;The sightseeing plane took off and rose to 400 ft. when the engine failed. The plane stalled and plunged to the ground in an apple orchard. Engine failure. The pilot was not familiar with the type of aircraft.
09/22/1927;;Saale, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;BFW M-18;D-1177;30;4;2;0;Engine failure.
09/23/1927;10:00;Schleiz, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Berlin - Munich;Dornier Merkur;D-585;;6;6;0;Broken wing strut.
10/06/1927;;Thies, Mauritania;Lignes Aeriennes Latecoere;;;Breguet 14;F-AGBN;;2;2;0;
10/30/1927;;New Brunswick, New Jersey;Colonial Air Transport;;;Fairchild FC-2;;;4;4;0;Went into a tailspin
and crashed into a corn field
11/16/1927;;Strasburg, France;CIDNA;;;Farman F-121 Jabiru;;;1;1;0;
11/16/1927;;Over the Gulf of Finland;Aero O-Y;;;Junkers F-13;K-SALD;798;6;6;0;
11/29/1927;;Corunna, Indiana;National Air Transport;;;Douglas M-4;;;1;1;0;
12/26/1927;;Almeria, Spain;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;;;2;2;0;
12/28/1927;;Abuerio, Spain;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;F-AFGS;;1;1;0;
12/31/1927;;France;Latecoere Airlines;;;Latécoère 23;;;4;4;0;
01/08/1928;;Near Canajoharie, New York;Colonial Western Airlines;;Minola - Albany - Buffalo;Fairchild FC-2;;39;3;3;0;Became lost in dense fog and flew into the ground in the Mohawk Valley while proceeding to Buffalo..
01/16/1928;;Solis, Uruguay;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 25;;;2;2;0;
01/22/1928;;Tarragona, Spain;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;F-AHEQ;;2;2;0;
01/22/1928;;France;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;;;2;1;0;
01/27/1928;;Almeria, Spain;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;F-AEEH;;1;1;0;
02/26/1928;;Marquette, Nebraska;Boeing Air Transport;;;Boeing 40;NC280;;2;1;0;The air mail plane crashed into a grove of cottonwood trees and burned. Businessman F.H. Craig was killed and pilot Frank Yegar injured. The pilot descended in altitude due to air pockets.The plane then ran into an air pocket that brought the plane down into the grove of trees.
03/03/1928;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;;;;;;;10;10;0;
03/11/1928;;Off Cape Griz Nez, France;Air Union;;;Farman F-60 Goliath;F-AEFC;;2;2;0;
04/17/1928;;Federal, Wyoming;Boeing Air Transport;;;Boeing 40;;;2;1;0;
04/19/1928;;Minuesa, Spain;Iberia Airlines;;;Rohrbach Roland;M-CCCC;;9;9;0;Crashed in fog.
05/07/1928;;;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 26;F-AIMQ;;1;1;0;
05/12/1928;;Dearborn, Minnesota;Ford Air Freight Inc.;;;Ford 4;NC1492;;2;2;0;
05/26/1928;;Radevormwald, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers F-13;D-583;742;5;3;0;Pilot error.
06/14/1928;;Frankfurt, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;AEGK;D-74;439;5;5;0;
06/22/1928;;Lebo, Kansas;National Air Transport;;Chicago - Dallas;Douglas M-4;;;1;1;0;The mail plane flew into tornado like winds and crashed to the ground.
07/10/1928;;Over the Gulf of Finland;Aero O-Y;;;Junkers F-13;K-SALB;760;6;6;0;
07/13/1928;;Purley, England;Imperial Airways;;Testing;Vickers 74 Vulcan;G-EBLB;9;4;4;0;Crashed to the ground shortly after taking off killing two men and two women.
07/24/1928;;Waalhaven harbor, Netherlands;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;;Fokker (KLM) F.III;H-NABR;1533 (KLM-1);1;1;0;The plane crashed into the Waalhaven harbor.
08/25/1928;;Near Port Townsend, BC, Canada;British Columbia Airways;;Victoria - Seattle;Ford 4-AT-B Tri Motor;G-CATX;4-AT-26;7;7;0;Crashed into Puget Sound in dense fog. Considered the first Canadian air disaster.
09/02/1928;;Toul, France;CIDNA;;;Bleriot Spad 56;;;3;3;0;
09/04/1928;;Adelaide Hills, Australia;Qantas;;;de Havilland DH.50J;G-AUHI;;2;1;0;"Following the conclusion of an aerial tour carrying Sir John Salmond, the aircraft departed Adelaide piloted by C. W. A. Scott with an engineer as passenger. Control was lost in the cloud during an attempt to cross the Adelaide Hills; the aircraft crashed and caught fire."
09/04/1928;;Pocatello, Idaho;National Parks Airways;;;Fokker Super Universal;NC7242;809;7;7;0;
09/06/1928;;Heroldbach, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Fokker FG III;D-180;1531;3;3;0;Engine failure.
10/04/1928;;Gerona, Spain;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;;;3;3;0;
10/18/1928;;Polk, Pennsylvania;National Air Transport;;;Douglas M-4;;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed and burned during the night.
10/31/1928;;Valence, France;Air Union;;;Bleriot Spad 56;F-AIMN;;2;1;0;
11/15/1928;;Off Gibraltar;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 32;F-AISN;;2;1;0;
11/24/1928;;Edgerton, Ohio;Universal Airlines;;Cleveland - Chicago;Hamilton H-47;;46;3;3;0;The mail plane crashed in a heavy snow storm.
11/25/1928;;Bristolville, Ohio;National Air Transport;;;Douglas M-4;;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed in a snow storm.
11/25/1928;;Edgerton, Ohio;Continental Air Lines;;Cleveland - Louisville;Travel Air 4000;;;3;3;0;The mail plane crashed in a heavy snow storm
12/01/1928;10:00;Spur, Texas;Sunbeam Air Transport Co.;;San Antonio - Amarillo - Tulsa - Denver;Ford 4-AT-B Tri Motor;NC7862;4-AT-47;5;5;0;The aircraft crashed and burned while en route. Flames were seen aboard the plane before it crashed.
12/03/1928;08:00;Brazil;Syndicato Condor;;;Dornier Wal;P-BACA;063;14;14;0;The seaplane took off form the bay and narrowly avoided a collision with another plane and in the process veered sharply and so abruptly that one of the wings was strained beyond its elastilimits. The pilot then lost control of the aircraft and it fell, tail spinning 300 feet into the water where one of the engines exploded on impact. It sunk immediately.
12/04/1928;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;;;;Junkers G24;;;6;6;0;The aircraft's wingtip struck the water and crashed into Rio de Janeiro Bay.
12/11/1928;;Letzlingen, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers G-31;D-1473;3005;4;3;0;Weather related.
12/20/1928;;Huron, Ohio;National Air Transport;;Cleveland - Chicago;Douglas M-4;;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed into an apple tree during a snow storm.
12/23/1928;;Chattanooga, Tennessee;Interstate Airlines;;;Fairchild FC-2;;;4;4;0;Crashed onto a roof and garage on takeoff and burst into flames. The motor may have not been warmed- up enough.
12/31/1928;;Reims, France;CIDNA;;;Blériot Spad 66;F-AEHX;40;3;2;0;Crashed into high ground in fog.
01/05/1929;;Stafford Springs, Connecticut;Colonial Air Transport;;;Fairchild FC-2;;;1;1;0;
01/18/1929;;Cove, Oregon;Varney Air Lines;;;Stearman C-38;;;1;1;0;While attempting to make an emergency landing on the Minam river the plane hit a bolder
01/25/1929;;Near Corfu, Greece;Aeroespresso;;;CMASA Wal;I-AZDA;053;9;2;0;
01/31/1929;;Morgantown, West Virginia;Skyline Transportation Company;;;Travel Air 4000;;;1;1;0;
01/31/1929;;Off Morocco;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 26;;;2;2;0;
03/17/1929;;Newark, New Jersey;Colonial Western Airlines;;Sightseeing;Ford 5-AT-B Tri Motor;NC7683;4-AT-41;15;14;0;The plane was making the last of a number of sightseeing flights when one of it's three engines failed. The Plane went out of control at an altitude of 200 ft. and crashed into a railroad freight car. Engine failure.
03/30/1929;09:18;Near Beaumont, California;New Standard Airlines;;Los Angeles - Phoenix - El Paso;Fokker F-VIIA;NC7888;617;4;4;0;The aircraft crashed into a high mountain ridge, exploding on impact. Investigators speculated that upon encountering fog and winds in the treacherous mountain pass, the pilot may have turned the airliner around and was heading back to the airport when the crash occurred.
04/21/1929;;San Diego, California;Maddux Airlines / Military - U.S.Army Air Force;;San Diego - Phoenix;Ford 5-AT-B Tri-Motor / B-PW-9D;NC9636 / 28-037;4-AT-010;6;6;0;A midair collision occurred with a US Air Force Boeing PW-9D at 2,000 ft. Five killed on the Tri-motor, one on the Boeing. Army pilot Lieutenant Howard Keefer, while flying above the airliner, was stunting and performed a steep banking turn downward, in an attempt to pass in front of the airliner. Instead, he misjudged the speed of the Maddux aircraft and his diving plane struck the cockpit of the Ford Tri-motor. He was found criminally negligent.
05/18/1929;;Hungary;MALERT;;;Fokker F-III;H-MABC;;2;2;0;
05/22/1929;;Algiers;Aeropostale;;;Cams 53;F-AISX;;5;4;0;
06/10/1929;;Santiago de Cuba, Cuba;Pan American Airways;;Santiago de Cuba - Havana;Fokker F-X;NC9700;;5;2;0;Crashed while taking off. The muddy field prevented the aircraft from gaining altitude. The plane hit telephone wires and crashed.
06/14/1929;;Barcelona, Spain;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;F-AFEJ;;2;1;0;
06/17/1929;;Off Dungeness, England;Imperial Airways;;;Handley Page W-10;G-EBMT;W10/4;13;7;0;The plane was over the English Channel when an engine failed. The pilot tried to return to the airport but the plane ditched into the English Channel. The plane was named 'City of Ottawa.'
06/24/1929;;St. Paul, Minnesota;Northwest Orient Airlines;;St. Paul - Minneapolis;Ford 5-AT-B Tri-Motor;NC7416;5-AT-002;8;1;0;Crashed
near Indian Mounds park shortly after taking off. Triple engine failure.
06/29/1929;;Lake Constance, Switzerland;Aero Lloyd;;;Domier Delphin III;D-1620;151;5;5;0;The aircraft crashed into lake Constance while attempting to landing.
06/29/1929;;Columbus, Ohio;Continental Air Lines;;;Travel Air 4000;;;1;1;0;
08/11/1929;;Clovis, New Mexico;Middle States Airlines;;;Lockheed Vega;NC870E;;4;4;0;
08/13/1929;;Perpignan, France;Aeropostale;;;Breguet 14;;;1;1;0;
08/24/1929;;Sochi, Russia;Ukvozduchput;;;Kalinin K-4;CCCP-217;;1;1;0;
08/24/1929;;Elm, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Fokker FG II;D-757;1571;5;4;0;Weather related.
09/02/1929;;Needles, California;Associated Aviators;;;Lockheed Vega;NR859E;;2;1;0;The plane crashed after going into a tail spin. The mechaniwas able to parachute to safety.
09/03/1929;c: 1:00;Mt. Taylor, New Mexico;Trans Continental Air Transport;;Albuquerque - Los Angeles;Ford 5-AT-B Tri Motor;NC9649;5-AT-002;8;8;0;Crashed in a thunderstorm after being struck by lightning. The plane was named 'The City of San Francisco.'
09/06/1929;;Jask, Iran;Imperial Airways;;London, England - India;de Havilland DH-66 Hercules;G-EBMZ;239;5;3;0;The mail plane caught fire after crash landing.
09/17/1929;;Off Larache, Morocco;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 25-3-R;F-AIUJ;704;5;5;0;Crashed into the Mediterranean.
09/17/1929;;Jacumba, California;Pickwick Airways;;Tijuana - Nogales;Fairchild 71;;;2;1;0;The mail plane crashed into a hillside in the desert while attempting to make an emergency landing during a storm.
09/17/1929;;Mt Lamentation, Connecticut;Colonial Air Transport;;;Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing;;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed into Mt. Lamentation and burst into flames.
10/26/1929;;Off Spezia, Italy;Imperial Airways;;;Short Calcutta;G-AADN;5748;7;7;0;The aircraft ditched in the ocean after encountering gale force winds. Sank while in tow. The plane was named 'City of Rome.'
10/29/1929;;Mount Vernon, Ohio;Continental Air Lines;;Cleveland - Louisville;Stearman C-38;;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed into a grove of trees 8 miles southwest of Mount Vernon.
10/31/1929;;Off Bremerton, Washington;Bremerton-Seattle Air Taxi / Gorst Air Lines;;Bremerton;Loening C-2C;;;2;2;0;The air taxi crashed into Puget Sound as it attempted to take off.
11/04/1929;07:00;Cerro del Carbon, Mexico;Corp. Aeronautica de Transportes;;Mexico City - Juarez;Lockheed Vega 5;NC46M;097;4;4;0;The mail plane crashed in dense fog.
11/06/1929;;Near Godstone, Surrey, England;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Amsterdam - Croyden;Junkers G-24;D-903;911;8;7;0;Crashed in heavy rain and fog while attempting to land.
11/15/1929;;Off Corsica, France;Air Union;;;Liore et Olivier 190;F-AIGB;1;3;3;0;Crashed into the Mediterranean in fog.
11/30/1929;;Vancouver, Washington;Varney Air Lines;;;Stearman M-2 Speedmail;;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed into a fog bound tower of the interstate bridge spanning the Columbia River.
12/02/1929;;Chagrin Falls, Ohio;National Air Transport;;;Douglas M-3;;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed en route during a storm.
12/14/1929;;Mediterranean Sea;Aeropostale;;;Bernard 192;F-AJDA;;3;3;0;
12/19/1929;;Near Berlin, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Arado V1;D-1594;;3;2;0;Forced landing 40 miles from Berlin.
12/30/1929;;Amarillo, Texas;Trans Continental Air Transport;;;Travel Air B6000;;;5;5;0;Crashed on approach onto a golf course.
01/10/1930;;Brawnson, Nebraska;Boeing Air Transport;;;Boeing 95;NC184E;;1;1;0;The airmail plane crash landed and burst into flames on a farm in fog and snow while attempting to make an emergency landing.
01/13/1930;;Antananarivo, Madagascar;Air Orient;;;Farman 190;F-AJJK;;3;3;0;
01/19/1930;18:23;Oceanside, California;Maddux Airlines;7;Aqua Caliente, Mexico - Los Angeles;Ford 5-AT-C Tri Motor;NC9689;5-AT-046;16;16;0;While en route to Los Angeles, the pilot, flying a low altitude due to poor weather conditions tried to turn back. While in a left turn his left wing struck a hill, crashed and burned. Adverse weather conditions. The plane flew into a sudden squall which cause the pilot to lose control.
01/25/1930;;Off Ceuta, Spain;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 25;F-AJCL;;2;2;0;
01/27/1930;17:30;Kansas City, Kansas;Central Airlines;;Wichita - Kansas City, KS;Travel Air A6000A;;963;5;5;0;While preparing to land, the plane side slipped and dived into the ground from a height of 500 ft. and caught fire. As quickly as the bodies were removed, a hastily mustered crew of pilots and mechanics from Universal Airlines and Central Airlines, began removing all evidence of the accident, savagely fighting off reporters and photographers as they worked.
02/03/1930;;Hartford, Connecticut;Colonial Air Transport;;Newark, NJ - Hartford, CT;Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing;;;1;1;0;While attempting to land the plane struck a building and fell into the Connecticut river.
02/10/1930;;Marden, England;Air Union;;;Farman F-63;F-FHMY;;2;2;0;
04/18/1930;c:17:00;Jersey City, New Jersey;Canadian Colonial Airways;;Albany, NY - Jersey City, NJ;Fairchild 71;;634;4;4;0;Crashed into power lines 150 feet above the ground in fog.
05/10/1930;;Buenos Aires;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 28;F-AJPD;;4;3;0;
06/05/1930;;Boston, Massachusetts;Colonial Air Transport;;;Ford Tri-Motor 5;NC9675;5-AT-033;15;1;0;Crashed into Boston Harbor after loosing the right engine on takeoff.
07/07/1930;;Bornholm, Denmark;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Stettin - Norway;Dornier Wal;D-864;44;8;5;0;The flying boat landed in a storm in the open ocean due to engine failure. After three hours, the plane was capsized by a large wave.
07/10/1930;;Arkansas Pass, Texas;Cross Airways;;;Lockheed Vega 5;NC-394H;087;5;5;0;The aircraft exploded in the air at an altitude of 4,000 feet shortly after taking off. The plane was flying in an area of fog and thunderstorms.
08/22/1930;;Iglau, Czechoslovakia;Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie;;Prague - Brun - Pressburg;Ford 5-AT-C Tri Motor;OK-FOR;5-AT-050;11;10;0;Crashed while the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing in fog, during a storm.
09/11/1930;;Croydon, England;Sabena;;;Sabca F-VII;OO-AIN;;2;2;0;
09/25/1930;;Southesk, Saskatchewan, Canada;Western Canada Airways;;Calgary - Moosejaw;;;;3;3;0;The air mail plane crashed in fog while en route.
10/05/1930;02:05;Near Beauvais, France;Military - British Air Ministry;;Cardington, England - Karachi, Pakistan;Royal Airship Works R-101;G-FAAW;R-101;54;48;0;The airship was on its inaugural flight from Cardington, England to Karachi, (Pakistan). During a storm on the first night, it suddenly nosedived, leveled briefly, then dived again crashing and burning. Preparations had been rushed for political reasons and there had been no full-speed test flight. In the wind and rain, the outer cover split open at the front so that the two forward gasbags ruptured simultaneously. Dropping ballast raised the nose, but only because there was also dynamilift, which was promptly lost as speed was reduced, presumably to save the remaining gasbags.
10/06/1930;09:45;Dresden, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Berlin - Vienna;Messerschmitt M-20B;D-1930;443;8;8;0;Crashed into hill while attempting to land.
10/12/1930;;La Rache, Morocco;Aeropostale;;Casablanca - Bahat - Toulouse;Latecoere 28;F-AJUU;;4;4;0;The french postal plane crashed into mountains.
10/28/1930;;Prince Rupert, BC, Canada;Alaska-Washington Airways;;;Lockheed Vega;NC103W;120;3;3;0;
10/30/1930;;Near Neufchatel, France;Imperial Airways;;Paris, France - London, England;Handley Page W-8;G-EBIX;W8-7;6;3;0;Crashed into high ground in fog after losing an engine. The plane was named 'City of Washington.'
10/30/1930;;Brookston, Indiana;Embry Riddle Company;;;Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing;;;1;1;0;After developing engine trouble the pilot tried to parachute out of the plane but the parachute got caught on the plane and the pilot was dragged to his death.
11/07/1930;;Off of Santos, Brazil;Syndicato Condor;;;Junkers G-24;P-BAHA;921;9;1;0;Crashed into the sea.
11/18/1930;c: 2:00;Techachapi Mountains, California;PacifiAir Transport;;Burbank, CA - Oakland, CA;Boeing 40;NC5340;;3;3;;Crashed into
a mountainside at an altitude of 4,500 feet during a snowstorm.
12/09/1930;;Shanghai, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Shanghai - Hankow;Loening C-W Air Yaht;;;6;4;0;The lower right wing of the aircraft hit the mast of a river boat and the plane flipped over on its back and crashed onto a river bank. The aircraft was named 'Shanghai'.
01/08/1931;;Melle, Belgium;Sabena;;;Fokker F-VII;OO-AIL;;2;2;0;
01/22/1931;;Bluff Mountain, Washington;Varney Air Lines;;Portland - Pasco;Boeing 40;NC741K;;1;1;0;The mail plane flew into Bluff Mountain in dense fog.
02/08/1931;;Wairoa, New Zealand;Dominion Air Lines;;;Desoutter II;ZK-ACA;;1;1;0;
02/20/1931;;Bagot, Manitoba, Canada;Western Canada Airways;;Winnigeg - Moosejaw;Fokker Universal F-14;;;3;2;0;The plane carrying mail, crashed into a field, turned over and burst into flames. There was heavy fog in the area of the accident.
02/24/1931;;Off Spain;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 32;F-AITX;;3;1;0;
03/21/1931;;New South Wales, Australia;Australian National Airways;;;Avro 10;VH-UMF;241;8;8;0;Wreckage found 10/26/1958.
03/31/1931;10:45;Bazaar, Kansas;Trans Continental and Western Air;599;Kansas City - Wichita - Los Angeles;Fokker F10A Trimotor;NC-999;1063;8;8;0;Shortly after taking off from Kansas City, one of the aircraft's wing's separated in flight after penetrating a thunderstorm and experiencing strong turbulence and icing. The plane crashed into a wheat field. Wing-aileron flutter, brought about by moisture leaking into the wing's interior, weakening the glue that bonded the wooden spars. Notre Dame football coach, Knute Rockne, 43, killed.
04/14/1931;;Near Letschen, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Messerschmitt M-20;D-1928;442;10;2;0;Fuselage failure. Four were seriously injured and both the pilot and radio operator were killed.
05/05/1931;23:30;Burbank, California;PacifiAir Transport;;San Diego - Los Angeles;Boeing 40;NC5390;;2;2;0;The mail plane crashed into Las Tunas Canyon while attempting to land at Burbank Airport in dense fog.
05/22/1931;;Wampit, Australia;Guiena Airways;;;Junkers W-34;VH-UNR;;1;1;0;
05/24/1931;22:30;Bellefonte, Pennsylvania;National Air Transport;;;Boeing 95;NC397E;;1;1;0;Crashed into a mountain and burned in poor visibility.
06/07/1931;09:00;Near Sandoway, Burma;Air Orient;;Saigon - Karachi;Fokker F-VIIB;PH-AEO;5096;4;4;0;Crashed into a trees and fell into a river 50 km south of Sandoway after experiencing engine trouble while attempting to land at Sandoway in poor visibility and monsoon conditions.
06/11/1931;;Walbridge, Ohio;Rubner Flying Service;;;Lockheed Vega 2;NC857E;064;3;2;0;A wing buckled as the plane was attempting to land and the plane crashed.
06/13/1931;;Saarbrucken, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Cologne - Saarbrucken;Dornier Merkur;D-1455;177;4;4;0;After circling in fog for half an hour, the plane rose to about 300 ft. and nose dived into the ground and burst into flames. Engine failure.
07/12/1931;;Chicago, Illinois;Braniff Airlines;;Chicago - Detroit;Lockheed Vega;NC8497;;2;2;0;Engine quit while taking off. The plane crashed from a height of 700 feet. The pilot tried to return to the airport by banking to the right but did not have sufficient altitude to recover.
07/14/1931;;Temora, Australia;Australian Aerial Services;;;Lasco Lascowl;VH-UGF;;2;2;0;
07/21/1931;;Centralia, Illinois;American Airways;;;Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing;;;1;1;0;
07/24/1931;;Kurudjevo, Bulgaria;CIDNA;;Constantinople - Budapest;Fokker F-VII;;;7;7;0;The aircraft caught fire in mid air and crashed.
08/09/1931;08:40;Cincinnati, Ohio;American Airways;;;Ford 5-AT-C Tri Motor;NC9662;5AT-029;6;6;0;Crashed from a height of 500 feet on the banks of Little Miami River shortly after taking off. Engine failure due to a broken hub on the right engine which led to the detachment of the motor from the aircraft.
09/14/1931;20:00;Chicago, Illinois;Chicago-Detroit Airways;;;Lockheed Vega;NC606;;1;1;0;Crashed in a severe rainstorm while attempting to land.
09/16/1931;04:00;Oakland, California;PacifiAir Transport;;Oakland, CA - Seattle, WA;Boeing 40;NC10347;;4;4;0;Crashed into San Francisco Bay shortly after taking off from Oakland airport.
10/06/1931;;Novia Scotia, Canada;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Heinkel HE-2;D-1717;334;3;3;0;
10/14/1931;;Brazil;Syndicato Condor;;;Dornier Wal;P-BALSA;107;3;3;0;
11/05/1931;06:48;Camden, New Jersey;NY, Phil., Washington AW;;Newark, NJ - Camden, NJ - Washington DC;Lockheed Orion 9;NC12221;178;5;5;0;Crashed onto a golf course and burst into flames after circling the airport twice to land.
11/13/1931;;Sir Lowry's pass, South Africa;Union Airways;;;De Havilland DH.80;;;3;3;0;
11/23/1931;;Salt Lake City, Utah;Boeing Air Transport;;;Boeing 40;NC7465;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed 8 miles west of Salt Lake airport. It is believed the plane overturned while attempting to land in the dark.
11/24/1931;;Near Tsinan, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Nanking - Peiking;Stinson;;;3;3;0;Crashed into Chingshan mountain range 10 miles south of Tsinan in fog.
11/26/1931;22:30;Pasco, Washington;Varney Air Lines;;Portland, WA - Pasco, WA;Boeing 40;NC10338;;1;1;0;Crashed in fog while attempting to land.
12/05/1931;;Kewanee, Illinois;Braniff Airways;;Kansas City - Chicago;Lockheed Vega 5;NC433E;049;6;2;0;Crashed attempting to land at an alternate airfield in a sleet storm. The plane struck the roof of a barn adjacent to the airfield and was destroyed. Icing.
12/06/1931;;Bangkok, Thailand;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;;Fokker F-VIIb-3M;PH-AFO;5226;7;5;0;Did not gain altitude while taking off. The landing gear hit the top of a dam and the plane crashed.
12/09/1931;;Off Algiers;Aeropostale;;;CAMS 56;F-AIOX;;2;2;0;
12/31/1931;;Springfield, Ohio;American Airways;;Port Colombus, OH - Louisville, KY;Fairchild Pilgrim 100A;;;5;4;0;Under orders from his supervisor, the pilot took off in extremely poor weather conditions. After encountering fog he attempted to turn back to the airport but a wing tip struck a knoll and the plane crashed.
01/21/1932;;Colvin Park, Ilinois;Northwest Airways;;Rockford - Chicago, IL - Madison, WI;Stinson SM-2A;;;1;1;0;Crashed in heavy fog a few minutes after taking off from Rockford. A witness said the plane caught fire after an explosion in mid air and crashed.
01/29/1932;;Lebec, California;Century PacifiLines;;San Francisco - Bakersfield - Los Angeles, CA;Stinson SM-6000B;;5034;8;8;0;Crashed into a canyon in mountains during a snowstorm.
02/01/1932;;Off Miami, Florida;Bimini Airways;;Miami - Bimini;Fairchild;;;5;5;0;Disappeared while en route on a 45 minute flight.
02/02/1932;;Marcellus, Michigan;Transamerican Airlines;;Chicago - Kalamazoo;Stearman C-3MB;;;1;1;0;Mail plane crashed.
02/02/1932;;Rio Vista, California;Boeing Air Transport;;;Boeing 40;NC7470;;2;1;0;Struck an irrigation ditch and caught fire during landing.
02/27/1932;;Off Setiba, Brazil;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 28;F-AJOX;;3;3;0;
03/08/1932;02:00;Saint Louis, Illinois;Century Air Lines;;Training;Stinson SM-6000B;;;5;2;0;Crashed into a skeleton of an old windmill, 500 yards from the edge of the field while practicing night landings.
03/19/1932;;Calimesa, California;American Airways;;Phoenix, AZ - Los Angeles, CA;Fokker F-10A;;1027;7;7;0;Crashed into an orchard after striking power lines in fog.
03/21/1932;;Steubenville, Ohio;Trans Continental and Western Air;;Columbus - McKeesport;Northrop Alpha;;;1;1;0;The mail plane pilot drowned when his parachute tangled in the fuselage and he was dragged into the Ohio River after his plane crashed.
03/29/1932;;Syria;Air Orient;;;Farman F-190;;;3;3;0;
03/31/1932;;Bedford, Ohio;National Air Transport;;;Boeing 95;NC191E;;1;1;0;
04/21/1932;;Fort Wayne, Indiana;Transamerica Airlines;;;Stearman C-3MB;;;1;1;0;
05/03/1932;;Portland, Oregon;Varney Air Lines;;;Boeing 40;NC830M;;2;2;0;
05/16/1932;;Burbank, California;PacifiAir Transport;;San Diego - Burbank - Oakland;Boeing 40;NC5589;;3;3;0;Crashed and burned in fog while attempting to land at Burbank Airport. Both pilots and the radio man were
killed.
07/16/1932;;Mount El Plomo, near Vitacura, Chile;Panagra;;Santiago, Chile - Mendosa, Argentina;Ford 5-AT-C Tri Motor;NC403H;5-AT-062;9;9;0;The aircraft crashed in a severe snowstorm in the Andes Mountains. The wreckage was buried by ice and snow and wasn’t found until March 22, 1934.
08/12/1932;;Beyrouth, Lebanon;Air Orient;;;CAMS 53;F-AIQY;;7;1;0;
08/30/1932;;Tubergen, Germany;A B Aerotransport;;;Junkers G-23;SE-AAE;;2;2;0;
09/08/1932;c:09:00;Salt Flats, Texas;American Airways;;El Paso - Dallas;Fokker F-10;NC9716;;4;3;0;The mail plane struck a mountain and burned encountering poor weather conditions.
09/17/1932;;Selsdon Park, England;Air Union;;;Liore-et-Olivier 213;F-AIFE;;2;1;0;
09/18/1932;;Byron Bay, Australia;New England Airways;;;De Havilland DH-80;VH-UPM;;3;3;0;
10/12/1932;;Port Etienne, Mauritania;Aeropostale;;;Latecoere 28;;;1;1;0;
10/26/1932;;Villa Monte, Bolivia;Lloyd Aero Boliviano;;;Ford Tri-motor 5;;;2;2;0;Former American army flyer Donald Duke was killed when his plane carrying Bolivian army supplies crashed.
10/29/1932;;Ramsgate, England;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers W-33;;;2;2;0;The mail plane ditched into the English Channel after encountering 60 mile-an-hour gale force winds.
11/02/1932;;Echterpfuhl, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Nuremberg - Frankfort;Junkers F-13;D-724;696;5;5;0;Crashed into mountainous terrain in the Spessart mountains in fog.
11/25/1932;;Marianna, Arkansas;Hunter Airways;;Little Rock, AR - Memphis, TN;Travel Air 6000;;;2;2;0;Became lost and circled until the plane struck an oak tree and crashed onto a island in the bayou.
12/14/1932;;Amarillo, Texas;Trans Continental and Western Air;;;Ford 5;NC9650;;2;2;0;The mail plane crashed in a snowstorm. The pilot died two days later from his injuries.
12/14/1932;;Rocky Ridge, Colorado;Boeing Air Transport;;;Boeing 40;NC842M;;1;1;0;
12/26/1932;;Wau, Australia;Guinea Airways;;;De Havilland DH-60;VH-UMJ;;2;2;0;
01/10/1933;;Algiers;Aeropostale;;;CAMS 53;F-AISV;;1;1;0;
01/14/1933;;Newark, New Jersey;Eastern Air Transport;;Test flight;Curtiss Condor 18;NC185H;;2;2;0;Went into a vertical bank and crashed and burned.
01/20/1933;;Marietta, Georgia;American Airways;;;Stearman 4;N490W;;1;1;0;
01/20/1933;02:07;Bourne, Texas;American Airways;;Big Springs - San Antonio;Stearman 4;NC11721;;1;1;0;The pilot of the mail plane lost his bearings and crashed into the hillside in poor visibility.
01/24/1933;;Eugene, Oregon;PacifiAir Transport;;;Ford 5-AT-D;NC431H;5-AT-098;3;1;0;The mail plane crashed while taking off.
03/11/1933;;Near Mendoza, Argentina;Pan American Grace Airways;;Mendoza, Argentina - Santiago, Chili;Fairchild FC-2W;NC9723;;2;2;0;Crashed and burned.
03/25/1933;20:07;Hayward, California;Varney Airlines;;Burbank - San Francisco;Lockheed Orion 9;NC12226;184;3;3;11;The aircraft crashed into tops of two houses and smashed into a third, bursting into flames in heavy rain. An unusual and unforeseen condition of the weather developed its intensity in the immediate locality of the accident. The ceiling suddenly dropped as the plane approached its destination.
03/28/1933;14:30;Near Dixmude, Belgium;Imperial Airways;;Cologne, Germany - Croydon, England;Armstrong Whitworth Argosy II;G-AACI;AW-363;15;15;0;The airliner was crusing at about 4,000 feet when fire was observed coming out of its tail section. The pilot tried to make an emergency landing but the fuselage split in two causing the aircraft to crash and burn. Although never proven, this is thought to be the first airline disaster caused by an act of satotage. The fire was thought to have been started by a passenger in an attempt to commit suicide.
04/03/1933;;Hemkenrode, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers F-13;D-534;;2;1;0;
04/04/1933;12:30;Off Barnegat, New Jersey;Military - U.S. Navy;;;Goodyear-Zeppelin U.S.S. Akron (airship);ZRS-4;;76;73;0;While cruising at 1,600 feet off New Jersey, strong air currents droped the ship to 700 feet before leveling off. Before it could regain a safe height, it plummeted into the AtlantiOcean. Decision by the commander to fly into a storm despite the presence of lightning.
04/23/1933;;Mt. Terrione, Italy;Air Orient;;;Cams 33;F-ALCE;29;6;6;0;Crashed into a mountain.
04/29/1933;;Traunstein, Germany;Eurasia;;;Junkers W-34;D-4;2737;4;4;0;Crashed on a test flight before delivery to Eurasia in China.
05/09/1933;;Viladrau, Spain;Aeropostale - La Tecoere Company;;Paris - Morroco;Latecoere 28-1;F-AJIX;1701;6;6;0;Crashed while landing in fog.
06/02/1933;;Bowling Green, Virginia;Eastern Air Transport;;;Pitcairns PA-6;;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed into a ravine.
08/29/1933;;Quay, New Mexico;Trans Continental and Western Air;;;Ford 5-AT-B Tri Motor;NC9607;5-AT-005;5;5;0;Crashed during a storm while attempting to make an emergency landing.
09/12/1933;;Ljubljana, Yugoslavia;Aeroput;;;Farman F-306;YU-SAH;;8;8;0;Crashed during takeoff on the ground of an insane asylum.
10/10/1933;21:00;Chesterton, Indiana;United Air Lines;;Cleveland - Chicago;Boeing 247-D;NC13304;1685;10;10;0;While en route to Chicago, the aircraft was destroyed by an explosive device placed in the cargo hold, consisting of nitro-glycerin and attached to a timing device. This was the first proven case of sabotage in the history of commercial aviation.
10/31/1933;;Etobon, France;Air France;;;Farman F-301;F-AJMI;;2;2;0;
11/09/1933;22:35;Portland, Oregon;United Air Lines;;Seattle, WA - Dallas, TX;Boeing 247;NC13345;;9;4;;Crashed in a thickly wooded area upon taking off after the pilot became lost in fog.
11/10/1933;;Moriarty, New Mexico;Trans Continental and Western Air;;;Northrop Delta;NC12292;;1;1;0;
11/20/1933;;Near Tsinan, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Canton - Shanghi;Sinson;;;8;8;;Crashed into the Chingshan mountain range in fog.
11/21/1933;15:00;Near Kharkov, Ukraine, USSR;Kalinin;;Test flight;Kalinin K-7;;;20;14;0;Crashed due to structural failure during a test flight.
11/24/1933;;Wedron, Illinois;National Air Transport;;;Boeing 247;NC13324;;2;2;0;
12/11/1933;;Hamburg, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Berlin - Hamburg;Focke-Wulf A-17;D-1403;47;8;7;0;Crashed after striking an obstacle while landing in poor visibility.
12/14/1933;;Eshowe, South Africa;Union Airways;;;Junkers W-34;ZS-AEB;2735;6;4;0;
12/30/1933;;Near Ruysselede, Belgium;Imperial Airways;;Brussels, Belgium - Croydon, England;Avro 10;G-ABLU;528;10;10;0;Crashed into a radio antenna tower and tore off a wing in dense fog.
01/15/1934;18:15;Corbigny, France;Air France;;Saigon - Paris;Dewoitine D-332;F-AMMY;01;14;14;0;The aircraft crashed while en route in a severe snowstorm. Icing. The aircraft was named 'Emeraude.'
01/20/1934;;Carombe, France;Air France;;;Breguet 280T;F-AJKX;;2;2;0;
02/23/1934;02:00;Near Salt Lake City, Utah;Boeing Aircraft Company;;Salt Lake City - Cheyenne;Boeing 247;NC13357;1739;8;8;0;Crashed on top of Parley's canyon, 20 miles from Salt Lake City shortly after taking off for Cheyenne.
02/26/1934;;Rio de Oro, Morocco;Air France;;;Latécoère 28;F-AJPA;925;6;1;0;
03/06/1934;;Petersburg, Illinois;American Airways;;St. Louis, MO - Chicago, IL;Fairchild Pilgrim 100A;NC710Y;6606;4;4;0;Crashed into a snow drift due to icing in a blizzard.
03/10/1934;;Pereira, Colombia;Pan American Airways (Scadta);;Quiddo - Cartago;Sikorsky S-38 Flying Boat;NC-9107;;6;5;0;Scadta was a Pan Am subsidiary. It was operating a domestiflight, which crashed in the Colombian jungle, which was called 'Green Hell.' Five Goigira Indians, who were canoeing up the Uribe River, found pieces of clothing, and then dead bodies of five people from the crash, and the wreckage of the aircraft. They also found a man who was alive, but dazed, exhausted, half crazy and unable to speak. They carried him for seven days through the jungle to civilization. He later recovered, and his name was Newton C. Marshall, General Manager of South American Gold & Platinum Company. He was the only survivor.
03/22/1934;;Near Lima, Peru;Pan American Grace Airlines;;;Ford 5-AT-C Tri-Motor;NC407H;5-AT-066;15;3;0;Crashed
on take off due to engine failure.
04/10/1934;;Ningpo Bay, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Sikorsky S-38BB;NV17V;;3;3;0;
05/09/1934;;English Channel;Air France;;Dieppe, France - New Haven, England;Wibault 282T-12;F-AMPH;8;6;6;0;Crashed into the English Channel and sunk immedately in fog.
05/31/1934;05:00;Croydon, England;Air France;;Croydon, England - Paris, France;Liore-et-Olivier 213;F-AIVG;;2;2;0;The cargo plane struck an aerial mast and crashed into houses while attempting to take off.
06/09/1934;;Mongaup Mountain, New York;American Airways;;New York - Chicago;Curtiss Condor T-32;NC12354;22;7;7;0;Crashed into Last Chance Hill in the Catskill Mountains at an altitude of 2,000 feet in fog and thunderstorms while en route.
06/11/1934;;Junin, Argentina;Panagra;;Buenos Aires - Santiago;Ford 5-AT-C Tri-Motor;NC8417;5-AT-055;10;5;0;Crashed into Mar Chiquita Lagoon during a heavy rainstorm.
06/22/1934;;Chausseehausen, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Dornier Merkur;D-1445;176;7;1;0;Weather related.
06/23/1934;06:00;Burbank, California;Aerevias Centrales Air Service;;Mexico - Burbank;Lockheed Orion;XA-BEJ;;1;1;0;Crashed while en route to pick up passengers. The plane crashed near a fire station in heavy fog and burst into flames killing the pilot.
07/09/1934;;San Bernardino, California;United Air Services;;San Bernardion - Los Angeles;Lockheed Vega;NC32E;;4;3;0;Failed to gain altitude and struck a grove of trees while attempting to take off. The plane came to rest in a watermelon patch.
07/27/1934;;Near Tuttlingen, Germany;Swissair;;;Curtiss AT-32C Condor;CH-170;53;12;12;0;The aircraft crashed during a violent storm near the Swiss - Germany border. The plane fell from a height of 3,000 feet, bursting into flames.
08/05/1934;;Bahia, Brazil;Air France;;;Latecoere 26;F-AILK;;2;2;0;
08/10/1934;;Ningbo, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Sikorsky S-38B;;;;;;
08/31/1934;23:42;Amazonia, Missouri;Rapid Air Transport;6;Omaha - St. Joseph;Stinson SM-6000B;NC10809;5004;5;5;0;The plane crashed about 11 miles from St. Joseph in heavy fog. Pilot error in taking off in dangerous weather conditions and turning too close the the ground in a fog-bound area. Inaccurate weather conditions reported to the pilot.
10/03/1934;;Near Winton, Australia;Qantas;;;de Havilland DH-50A;VH-UHE;;3;3;0;Crashed after in-flight loss of control, possibly stalled at low altitude in dusty low-visibility conditions
10/19/1934;;Bass Strait, Australia;Holyman Airways;;Launceston - Melbourne;de Havilland DH-86;VH-URN;2301;11;11;0;Crashed en route during the 265 miles sea route.
11/02/1934;;Kiapit, Australia;Holdens Air Transport Service;;;De Havilland DH-61;VH-UHW;;4;2;0;
11/15/1934;;Near Longreach, Australia;Qantas;;;de Havilland DH-86;VH-USG;2311;4;4;0;Crashed on its delivery flight from England to Brisbane after in-flight loss of control, probably due to the type's design deficiencies.
11/15/1934;;Near Longreach, NSW, Australia;Qantas;;;de Havilland DH-86;VH-USG;2311;4;4;0;
11/15/1934;00:00;Amazonia, Montana;Rapid Air Transport;;Omaha, NB - Kansas City, MO;Stinson SM-6000-B;NC10809;;2;2;0;The mail plane crashed and burned on a farm.
12/07/1934;;Salchau, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers F-13;D-OMAS;2008;3;3;0;
12/08/1934;05:30;Columbia, Missouri;Braniff Airlines;;Kansas City, MO - Chicago, IL;Lockheed Vega 5C;NC106W;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed to the ground from a low altitude. Icing.
12/10/1934;07:30;Palma Soriano, Cuba;Cubana de Aviacion;;Santiago - Havana;Ford 4-AT-E Tri-motor;NM-7;4-AT-63;8;4;0;Crashed into a mountain while en route.
12/20/1934;02:30;Rutbah Wells, Syria;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Amsterdam - Batavia, Java;Douglas DC-2-115A;PH-AJU;1317;7;7;0;Crashed and burned about half-way between Baghdad and Gaza. The aircraft was named 'Univer' (Dutch word for stork).
12/22/1934;02:52;Sunbright, Tennessee;American Airlines;;Louisville, KY - Nashville, TN;Lockheed Orion 9D;NC12286;;1;1;0;Crashed into Big Pilot mountain, 50 feet from the top of the summit, four miles from Sunbright, in poor visibility.
01/26/1935;;Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;Trans Continental and Western Air;;Newark, NJ - Columbus, OH;Consolidated Fleetster;NC13212;;1;1;0;The mail plane crashed and burned soon after taking off in a blinding snowstorm.
01/31/1935;;Stettin, Germany;Deruluft;;Koenigberg - Berlin;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-AREN;4051;11;11;0;Crashed full speed into a hill, 450 feet high in rain and fog. Pilot error.
03/07/1935;;Schievelbein, Germany;Deruluft;;;Rochrbach Roland;D-AJYP;45;;3;0;Fuselage failure.
03/15/1935;;El Arish, Egypt;Misrair;;Jerusalem - Cairo;de Havilland Dragon 1;SU-ABI;6031;6;3;0;After flying over the airport into a strong headwind, in an attempt to land, one of the aircraft's two engines failed. While attempting to return to the airport the pilot headed into the strong wind and lost airspeed until he stalled and crashed from a height of 100 - 130 feet.
03/29/1935;;Off Samland, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers F-13;D-OHIL;;5;5;0;
04/01/1935;;Beauvais, France;Air France;;;Farman F-300;F-ALHQ;;3;1;0;Chief pilot of Air France, Robert Bajac, 36, killed.
04/06/1935;;Brilon, Germany;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Praha, Czechoslovakia - Amsterdam, Netherlands;Fokker F-12;PH-AFL;5242;7;7;0;Crashed after penetrating a thunderstorm.
05/01/1935;;Near Walsenberg, Colorado;Varney Air Lines;;;Lockheed Vega;NC891E;;1;1;0;Crashed at Rattlesnake Butte after the plane lost engine power. James Montijo, 40, the man who taught Amelia Earhart to fly, killed.
05/06/1935;03:30;Atlanta, Missouri;Trans Continental and Western Air;6;Los Angeles - Albuquerque - Kanasas City - Washington;Douglas DC-2-112;NC13785;1295;14;5;0;The plane crashed while en route from Albuquerque to Kansas City. After encountering fog and poor visibility, the plane was diverted to Kirksville where witnesses reported the low flying aircraft made contact with the ground and crashed. Whether the plane struck the ground while the pilot was attempting to make an emergency landing or because the available fuel supply had been exhausted, or for other reasons, could not be determined. New Mexico Senator Bronson M. Cutting, 46, killed. Improper clearance of the airplane from Albuquerque by the company's ground personnel when the plane's two-way radio was not functioning properly.
05/18/1935;18:35;Flint, Michigan;Knowles Flying Service of Detroit;;Sightseeing;Ford model 4-AT-E;WC-7864;4-AT-49;12;3;0;While on a sightseeing trip, the plane ran out of fuel and crashed. Carelessness and negligence on the part of the pilot for not replenishing his fuel supply before it got dangerously low and poor judgment on his part for attempting to return to the airport when there was open terrain ahead of him. Many passengers did not use their seatbelts nor were they instructed in their use.
05/18/1935;00:45;Near Moscow, Russia;Gor'ky Eskadril'ya;;Demonstration;Tupolev ANT-20 / I-5;CCCP-I20;;50;50;2;Midair collision with an I-5 fighter at 2,300 ft. The fighter was performing aerobatics trying to loop around the Tupolev. The plane crashed into a residental neighborhood and was on its maiden flight. The plane was nicknamed 'Maxim Gorky.' Pilot error. Forty-nine killed on the Tupolev, one on the I-5
05/27/1935;;Glendo, Wyoming;Wyoming Air Service;;;Boeing 221;NC725W;;1;1;0;
05/28/1935;;Maywood, Illinois;Chicago and Southern Airlines;;Chicago - St. Louis;Stinson SM6000B Tri-motor;NC10894;;2;2;0;Crashed into the ground on a farm at high speed.
05/29/1935;;San Barbra, Honduras;;;;;;;9;6;0;Crashed into the Ulua River.
06/24/1935;14:36;Medellin, Colombia;Servicio Aereo Columbiano / SCADTA;;;Ford Tri-Motor / Ford Tri-Motor;C-31 / F-31;5-AT-112/5-AT-006;20;17;0;A collision occurred between the two Ford Tri-Motors as one was barely off the ground and one was still on the ground at Olaya Herrera Airfield. The accident was officially attributed to wind sheer or the one aircraft being blown into the other aircraft as it took off. Rivalry among the two pilots may have played
a part in the accident as one pilot had buzzed the other four days before the accident.. Actor, singer, Carlos Gardel, 44, and his lyricist Alfredo Le Pera, 35, among those killed.
07/14/1935;;Amsterdam, Netherlands;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Amsterdam - Sweden;Fokker F-XXII;PH-AQJ;5358;20;6;0;The plane lost altitude while attempting an emergency landing after taking off and losing an engine. The wing hit a dyke and the plane burst into flames.
07/19/1935;14:20;Off Chandeleur Island, Mississippi;Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation;;New Orleans, LA - Mobile, AL;General 102-E;NC-492K;;2;2;0;The plane deviated from its course and flew 20 miles off shore and crashed. Cause unknown.
07/20/1935;;Pian Giacomo, Switzerland;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Milan, Italy - Amsterdam;Douglas DC-2;PH-AKG;1335;13;13;0;Crashed into a mountain near St. Bernard Pass in Switzerland. Mountains obscured by clouds.
08/13/1935;;Hangow, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Sikorsky S-38B;NV40V;;;;;Destoryed in a storm.
08/14/1935;23:45;Near Gilmer, Texas;Delta Air Lines;4;Dallas - Atlanta;Stinson Model A;NC14599;9103;4;4;0;Crashed 3 miles south of Gilmer. The outboard engine separated from the aircraft after a propeller blade broke off resulting in an imbalanced condition which led to loss of control of the aircraft.
08/15/1935;20:08;Near Glendo, Wyoming;Aero Mayflower Transit Co;;Helena - Denver;Waco, model YLC;NC14140;;3;3;0;The plane flew into a mountain 43 miles West of Glendo in heavy fog. Against advice to the contrary, the pilot decided to fly a direct route to Denver rather than go around, following the valleys and airways used by other pilots. The direct route took him across some of the most dangerous flying country in the west.
08/15/1935;20:18;Walakpa, near Point Barrow, Alaska;Private;;;Lockheed Orion 9E Explorer float plane;NR12283;195;2;2;0;Dense fog caused the pilot to make a forced landing about 15 miles south of Point Barrow. After some mechanical repairs, the plane took off, rose to about 50 feet and then crashed into shallow water. Loss of control of the aircraft at a low altitude after sudden engine failure due to the extreme nose-heaviness of the aircraft. Adventurer, Wiley Post, 37, and humorist, Will Rogers, 56, killed. Most experts believe that a combination of miscalculations in the design and operation of the heavily customized aircraft resulted in the uncontrollable spin that occurred right after takeoff.
09/01/1935;23:00;Burbank, California;Western Air Express;;Burbank, CA - Salt Lake City, UT;Boeing 247;NC13314;;3;3;0;Lost altitude and hit power lines after developing engine trouble after taking off.
10/02/1935;;Off Finders Island, Victoria, Australia;Holyman Airways;;;de Havilland DH-86;VH-URT;2312;5;5;0;
10/07/1935;02:19;Near Cheyenne, Wyoming;United Air Lines;4;Salt Lake City - Cheyenne;Boeing 247D;NC13317;1698;12;12;0;While flying in a normal, slightly descending path, the aircraft first collided with the ground just a few feet below the top of a small knoll tearing out both engines and engine nacelles. It then rebounded and continued through the air for a distance of 1,120 feet, where it came to rest. Error on the part of the pilot in executing an abrupt maneuver with insufficient altitude for safety and failure of the pilot to maintain proper control of the aircraft during this maneuver.
10/09/1935;;Gulf of Finland;Aero O-Y;;;Junkers F-13;OH-ALI;2033;6;6;0;Crashed into the sea in the fog.
10/21/1935;;Troy, New York;Chamberlin Flying Service;;;Curtiss AT-32C Condor;NC725K;;6;1;0;The plane lost the left engine shortly after taking off. The pilot tried to make an emergency landing but was caught in a downdraft and the plane crashed.
10/30/1935;19:40;Cheyenne, Wyoming;United Air Lines;;Test flight;Boeing B-247-D;NC13323;1704;4;4;0;Crashed into a hill in poor weather conditions 5 miles south of Cheyenne. Test flight. Poor judgment by 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.
11/02/1935;;Off Nhambupe, Brazil;Air France;;Bahia - Aracaju;Latécoère 28-1;F-AJIQ;906;4;4;0;The postal plane crashed at Atalaya Beach.
11/09/1935;;Near Juticalpa, Honduras;TACA;;;Ford Tri-Motor;;;14;14;0;
11/09/1935;04:40;Near Fort Worth, Texas;Braniff Airlines;;Dallas - Waco;Lockheed Vega;NC980Y;;1;1;0;Plunged to the ground thirty minutes after leaving Fort Worth. Tried to return to Dallas airport due to inclement weather.
11/11/1935;;Istres, France;Air France;;;Latecoere 28;F-AJPB;;3;3;0;
12/04/1935;;Tours, France;Air Bleu;;;Caudron C-630 Simoun;F-ANRK;;2;1;0;
12/10/1935;;Croydon, England;Sabena;;Brussels, Belgium - Croydon, England;Savoia-Marchetti SM73;OO-AGN;30002;11;11;0;Crashed to the ground after crossing the English Channel in rain and gale force winds.
12/24/1935;;Breslau, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Heinkel He-70;D-UVOR;915;3;3;0;Pilot error.
12/31/1935;17:20;Off Alexandria, Egypt;Imperial Airways;;Mirabella - Alexandria;Short Calcutta;G-AASJ;S-752;13;12;0;The aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed off Alexandria. The plane was named 'The City of Khartoum.'
01/14/1936;19:32;Goodwin, Arkansas;American Airlines;1;Newark, NJ - Fort Worth, TX;Douglas DC-2-120;NC14274;1307;17;17;0;Flew into trees and disintegrated. The cause of the crash could not be determined. Possible causes include, passenger interference, one fuel tank running dry, flying too low and the co-pilot alone at the controls.
01/17/1936;;Near Cordillera, Boliva;Lloyd Aereo Boliviano;;Cochabamba - La Paz;Junkers JU-52;;4018;13;13;0;Crashed in the Tapacari swamps, 23 miles from Chochabanba.
01/21/1936;;Off Ajaccio, Corsica, France;Air France;;Marseille - Tunis;CAMS 53;F-AJIR;19;6;6;0;Vanished off the coast of Corsica after sending a distress call that the engine had failed.
01/29/1936;;Denton, Texas;American Airlines;;Chicago, IL - Oklahoma City, OK;Vultee V-1;NC13767;05;6;1;0;Crashed into a clump of trees while attempting a landing in a snowstorm.
02/15/1936;;South AtlantiOcean;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Natal, Brazil - Bathhurst, Gambia;Dormier Do-J-Iif Bos Wal;D-ADYS;229;4;4;0;The mail plane disappeared while en route.
03/05/1936;;Near Tengya, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Ford 5-AT-D Tri-Motor;;;6;0;0;Crash landed in mountains during a snowstorm.
03/26/1936;;Amemeca, Mexico;Compania de Mexico;;Mexico - Guatemala;Ford 5-AT-B Tri Motor;X-ABCO;5-AT-115;14;14;0;Crashed into mountains and caught fire. The plane was carrying mainly German tourists.
04/01/1936;19:10;Pavillon, New York;American Airlines;;Newwark, N.J. - Buffalo, NY;Stinson Model A;NC15152;;2;2;0;The mail plane explosion in mid-air before crashing to the ground in a snowstorm.
04/07/1936;10:20;Uniontown, Pennsylvania;Trans Continental and Western Air;1;Newark - Los Angeles;Douglas DC-2-112;NC13721;1247;15;13;0;Crashed into Chestnut Ridge in fog. The poor judgment on the part of the pilot for flying by visual ground observation methods after having descended through the clouds and overcast in mountainous terrain at a point unknown to him. Because of clouds and poor visibility, this required flying close to the ground whereas the safest method under such circumstances was to climb into or above the overcast to a safe altitude and determine the location of the plane by instruments and radio.
04/11/1936;05:20;Port of Spain, Trinidad;Pan American Airways;;Miami - Rio de Janeiro;Sikorsky S-42A;NC1537;;25;3;0;Crashed while taking off after the plane hit a boat . The aircraft was shipped to Miami and repaired. One of the injured passengers was Jose Iturbi, well known conductor and pianist.
04/15/1936;;Near Turin, Italy;Avio Linee Italiane;;Turin - Milan;OFM F-VIIb/3m;I-AAXZ;359;7;7;0;Crashed on the slopes of Mount Basso, 20 miles from Turin.
04/17/1936;;Switzerland;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52;D-ASOR;;5;3;0;
04/21/1936;;Senlis, France;Sabena;;;Fokker F-VII;OO-AIF;;2;2;0;
04/30/1936;;Basel, Switzerland;Swissair;;;General
Aviation GA-43;HB-ITU;;2;2;0;
05/16/1936;;Mount Waverley, Australia;Holyman Airways;;;De Havilland DH-60;VH-UII;;2;2;0;
06/09/1936;;Malmo, Sweden;A B Aerotransport;;Malmo - Amsterdam;Fokker F-XXII;SE-ABA;;15;1;0;All four motors of the aircraft quit while taking off. The pilot attempted to land but crashed into a house. First fatal aviation accident in Sweden.
06/13/1936;;Hannover, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-160;D-UPYM;4211;6;1;0;Engine failure.
06/16/1936;;Mt. Lihesten, Norway;Den Norske Luftfartskole;;Bergen - Trondheim;Junkers JU-52/3m;LN-DAE;4077;7;7;0;Crashed into the side of a mountain in fog.
07/31/1936;;Off Channel Islands, Jersey;Guernsey Airways;;Guernsey - Jersey;Saro Cloud;G-ABXW;A-19/4;7;7;0;Crashed into the sea.
08/02/1936;06:00;Mazamet, France;Air France;;;Wibault 280;;;3;3;0;The mail plane crashed into mountains 50 miles from Toulouse in fog.
08/03/1936;;Mexico;Mexicana;;;Lockheed Orion;XA-BAY;;1;1;0;
08/05/1936;22:00;St. Louis, Missouri;Chicago Southern Airlines;4;New Orleans - Chicago;Lockheed 10B Electra;NC16022;;8;8;0;Crashed while attempting to take off from Lambert Field. The making of a turn at an extremely low altitude, for reasons unknown, in which the wing of the airplane unintentionally contacted the ground.
08/06/1936;;Choco, Colombia;SCADTA;;;Junkers F-13;C-40;;2;2;0;
08/12/1936;;Altenkirchen, Germany;British Airways;;;De Havilland DH-86;G-ADEB;;2;2;0;
08/22/1936;;Mirabella, Greece;Imperial Airways;;;Short Kent;G-ABFA;;11;2;0;
09/25/1936;;English Channel;Imperial Airways;;;Boulton and Paul P-71;G-ACOX;;2;2;0;
09/28/1936;;Walsenberg, Colorado;Varney Air Lines;;El Paso, TX - Pueblo, CO;Lockheed Vega;NC176W;;3;3;0;Crashed in a snowstorm after the pilot cut the motor and the plane crashed into a hill.
09/29/1936;;Napierville, Illinois;Blue Bird Air Service;;;Lockheed Vega 5C;NC959Y;170;4;4;0;A half-hour after taking off, the engine failed and the plane crashed into a fence and burst into flames while making a forced landing.
10/06/1936;;Mexico;Mexicana;;;Lockheed Orion;XA-BDH;;1;1;0;
10/09/1936;;;North Sea Aerial and General Transport;;;Blackburn B-2;G-ABWI;;1;1;0;
11/01/1936;;Near Tabarz, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Frankfurt - Erfurt;Junkers JU-52;D-APOO;5506;15;11;0;Caught fire as the airliner struck the side of a hill.
11/06/1936;;Near Moscow;Deruluft;;;Antonov AN-9;CCCP-D311;;9;9;0;Pilot error.
11/17/1936;;Nurnberg, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-ASUI;5498;16;4;0;Pilot error.
11/19/1936;;London, England;British Airways;;;Fokker F-XII;G-AEOT;;4;2;0;
12/04/1936;;Near Grenoble, France;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-ASIH;5078;6;6;0;Crashed into the French Alps in high winds.
12/07/1936;10:47;Off Dakar, French West Africa;Air France;;;Latécoère 300;F-AKGF;1;5;5;0;Aviator Jean Mermoz killed. The last message from the aviator was 'we have switched off the rear engine.' The plane and crew of four were never found.
12/09/1936;10:30;Croydon, England;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Croydon - Amsterdam;Douglas DC-2-115E;PH-AKL;1358;17;15;0;The aircraft crashed into houses while attempting to take off in heavy fog. A stewardess and the radio operator survived. Aircraft designer Juan de la Cieva killed.
12/15/1936;03:14;Near Salt Lake City, Utah;Western Air Express;6;Burbank - Las Vegas - Salt Lake City;Boeing 247D;NC13370;1957;7;7;0;Crashed into Lone Peak while attempting to land at Salt Lake. Inability of the pilots to identify the south leg of the Salt Lake radio range due to a local staticondition which rendered both range receivers in the airplane inoperative.
12/18/1936;03:20;Kellogg, Idaho;Northwest Orient Airlines;;;Lockheed 10 Electra;NC14935;;2;2;0;The mail plane crashed into Early Creek Ridge, 15 miles south of Kellogg, in a blizzard.
12/19/1936;20:47;Near Milford, Pennsylvania;Eastern Air Lines;14;Miami, FL - Charleston, SC - Newark, NJ;Douglas DC-2-112;NC13732;1258;14;14;0;Crashed into trees in poor weather while attempting to land at Newark. Error on the part of the pilot for attempting to get down under the overcast without first definitely proving his position. Improper dispatching for clearing the flight into an area of predicted bad weather, particularly when the area cleared through did not permit a safe return, and staticonditions encountered which rendered reception of the radio range signals over the airplane's range receivers unintelligible.
12/23/1936;;Near Dallas, Texas;Braniff Airways;;Test flight;Lockheed 10 Electra;NC14905;1018;6;6;0;After an attempted go-around the right engine failed and the plane crashed and burst into flames into a corn field..
12/26/1936;;Nanking, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas DC-2;NC14269;;;;;
12/27/1936;19:38;Newhall, California;United Air Lines;34;Oakland - San Francisco - Los Angeles;Boeing 247-D;NC13355;1737;12;12;0;While on approach to Burbank Airport, the airliner crashed into Rice Canyon, just south of Newhall. It was raining with poor visibility. The aircraft flew into a hill loosing its wings, continued without wings across Rice Canyon and struck against a rocky wall of a bluff and dropped over a hundred feet to the bottom of the canyon. Error on the part of the pilot in attempting to fly through the Newhall pass at an altitude lower than the surrounding mountains without first determining by radio, the existing weather.
01/12/1937;11:07;Near Newhall, California;Western Air Express;7;Salt Lake City - Burbank;Boeing 247B;NC13315;1696;13;5;0;The aircraft crashed into Pinetos Peak, 4 miles southeast of Newhall while attempting to land at Burbank Airport in fog and rain. The pilot descended to a dangerously low altitude without positive knowledge of his position. African explorer, Martin Johnson, 52, killed. Johnson suffered a fractured skull in the crash and died the next day in a hospital.
01/26/1937;;Oran, Algeria;Sabena;;Belgian Congo - Brussels;Sabca S-73;OO-AGR;;12;12;0;The mail plane crashed while en route.
02/09/1937;20:50;Off San Francisco, California;United Air Lines;23;Los Angeles - San Francisco - Oakland;Douglas DC-3A;NC16073;1913;11;11;0;The aircraft crashed into San Francisco Bay, approximately 2 miles offshore, while on approach. The accidental jamming of the elevator controls as the result of the co-pilot's microphone being inadvertently dropped and lodged between the elevator control column and the seat rail in such a way that the crew was unable to prevent rapid descent of the airplane. First accident involving a DC-3.
02/19/1937;13:40;McPherson Ranges, Queensland, Australia;Airlines of Australia;;Brisbane - Sidney;Stinson Model A;VH-UHH;1926;7;5;0;
03/12/1937;;Bathurst, Gambia;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Las Palmas, Canary Islands - Bathhurst, Gambia;Heinkel He-111V2;D-ALIX;715;4;4;0;The German mail plane crashed into a swamp.
03/24/1937;;Near Ouroux, France;Imperial Airways;;Southhampton, England - Alexandria, Egypt;Short S-23 (flying boat);G-ADVA;S-818;6;5;0;Crashed into a mountainside in a snowstorm.
03/25/1937;18:40;Clifton, Pennsylvania;Trans Continental and Western Air;15A;Newark - Camden - Pittsburg;Douglas DC-2-112;NC13730;1256;13;13;0;Crashed while attempting to land. Heavy icing which rendered the plane uncontrollable.
03/26/1937;;Wetnum, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-UPOZ;4207;6;2;0;Engine failure.
05/06/1937;19:25;Lakehurst, New Jersey;Deutsche Zeppelin Reederei;LZ 129;Frankfurt - Lakehurst N.J.;Zeppelin LZ-129;D-LZ-129;D-LZ129;97;35;1;The airship Hindenburg caught fire and burned while being moored at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Possible causes were statidischarge which ignited leaking hydrogen or sabotage. It has been theorized that a sudden turn just before landing caused a steel cable to snap which punctured one of the hydrogen airbags. Thereafter, when mooring ropes were dropped to the ground, the cage was discharged setting up a statidischarge between the Hindenburg's outer skin and frame causing the hydrogen to ignite.
05/20/1937;;Stuttgart, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Heinkel He-70;D-UXUV;916;4;4;0;Crashed
on takeoff.
07/02/1937;;Off Lae, New Guinea;Private - Purdue Reasearch Foundation;;Lae - Howland Island;Lockheed 10E Electra;NR16020;1055;2;2;0;The plane disappeared while en route from Lae to Howland Island. The aircraft had to be flown higher than expected due to storms which used extra fuel. In addition, strong head winds were encountered. The aircraft most likely ran out of fuel and ditched into the ocean 50 to 100 miles northwest of Howland Island. Amelia Earhart, 40, and navigator Fred Noonan, killed.
07/28/1937;;Hal, Belgium;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Amsterdam - Paris;Douglas DC-2-115L;PH-ALF;1585;15;15;0;The aircraft crashed into a potato field after possibly being struck by lightning and after an in-flight fire.
08/02/1937;;Wadi Halfa, Sudan;Ala Littoria;;Rome, Italy - Kartoum;Savoia-Marchetti SM73;I-SUSA;30014;9;9;0;Crashed into a building on takeoff.
08/03/1937;;Off Cristobal, Panama;Pan American Grace Airways;;Santiago, Chili - Cristobal, Panama;Sikorsky S-43;NC15065;4305;14;14;0;The flying boat plunged into the ocean 20 miles off of Cristobal. The plane probably struck the water at high speed and was destroyed by an immediate explosion and fire.
08/08/1937;10:50;Chilang Point, Bias Bay, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Canton - Shanghi;Sikorsky S-43;;;11;3;0;Forced to ditch into the sea due to bad weather. One wing broke off due to high waves and 8 passengers hung on to the remaining wing until rescued.
08/10/1937;04:40;Daytona Beach, Florida;Eastern Air Lines;7;Chicago - Daytona;Douglas DC-2;NC-13739;1289;9;4;0;The plane struck a power pole while taking off from Daytona and crashed to the ground 600 feet from the first point of impact. The absence of reasonable notice to those operating and navigating the aircraft that an object had been erected which constituted a hazard to the aircraft taking off.
08/23/1937;;San Luis, Argentina;Pan American Grace Airways;;Mendosa - Cordoba;Douglas DC-2;NC14298;;3;3;0;Crashed and burned in dense fog while enroute.
08/27/1937;;Wau, Australia;Guinea Airways;;;Stinson SR-7 Reliant;VH-URC;;2;1;0;
03/23/1938;;Corsavy, France;Air France;;;Dewoitine D-338;F-AQBB;02;8;8;0;The mail plane crashed into the Pyrenees mountains while en route.
10/01/1937;;Phaleron Bay, Greece;Imperial Airways;;Alexandria, Egypt - Athens, Greece;Short Empire Flying Boat;G-ADVC;;14;2;0;Crashed as it landed in Phaleron Bay. Two passengers drowned. Poor visibility was blamed for the accident.
10/06/1937;;Palembang, Netherlands Indies;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;PH-ALS;;5;4;0;Bronislaw Hubermann, celibrated Polish violinist was sightly injured.
10/17/1937;21:00;Haydens Peak, Wyoming;United Air Lines;1;Cheyenne - Salt Lake City;Douglas DC-3;NC16074;1914;19;19;0;The plane crashed into the side of a mountain (Humpy Ridge) in level flight at 10,000 ft. under adverse weather conditions. Staticonditions 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.
11/12/1937;;Mannheim, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Berlin - Mannheim;Heinkel He-111;D-AXAV;1830;12;10;0;Hit the ground prematurely while attempting to land.
11/16/1937;;Ostende, Belgium;Sabena;;Cologne - Brussels - London;Junkers JU-52/3m;OO-AUB;5827;11;11;0;
11/26/1937;;Croydon, London;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52;D-AGAV;;3;3;0;
12/05/1937;09:00;Brindisi Harbor, Italy;Imperial Airways;;India - London;Short Empire Flying Boat;G-ADUZ;;19;2;0;The flying boat crashed while attempting to take off. The aircraft was named Cygnus.
12/08/1937;;Saint Sauveur, France;Air France;;;Potez 621;F-AOTZ;4213;7;2;0;Crashed in poor weather conditions.
12/24/1937;17:30;Kasperske Hory, Czechoslovakia;Air France;;Bucharest - Vienna - Prague - Paris;Wibault 283-T12;F-AMYD;11;3;3;0;The plane was 10 minutes from landing at Vienna when it was told to change course by the Prague airport controller. The change took the plane into mountainous terrain in snowy conditions. The plane impacted Hutska Hora mountain at an alitiude of 3,300 feet. The cause was never determined. Possibly a naviational error or for political reasons.
01/04/1938;;Frankfurt, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Milan, Italy - Frankfurt, Germany;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-ABUR;5777;6;6;0;Icing on the wing caused the plane to crash close to the plane's destination.
01/10/1938;15:07;Bozeman, Montana;Northwest Orient Airlines;2;Seattle - Billings - Chicago;Lockheed 14H Super Electra;NC-17388;1407;10;10;0;The aircraft crashed 12 miles northeast of Bozeman after experiencing structural failure of the tail. There was severe turbulence reported in the area at the time of the accident. The structural failure of the upper vertical fins and rudders due to flutter 'natural resonance, or period of vibration' which resulted in the separation of the rudder and fins and loss of control of the aircraft.
01/11/1938;19:40;Pago Pago, U.S. Samoa;Pan American World Airways;1;Honolulu - Pago Pago - Auckland;Sikorsky S-42 (flying boat);NC16734;4207;7;7;0;The aircraft exploded in mid-air as the crew attempted to dump fuel for an emergency landing at Pago Pago. Neither the plane or six crew members were ever found. The aircraft was named 'Samoan Clipper.' Pan American's first pilot, Captain Edwin C. Musick, killed.
01/12/1938;;North Pine, Ontario, Canada;General Airways;;Sioux Lookout - Hudson;Stinson Reliant;CF-BEI;;1;1;0;Crashed in rugged terrain while en route.
02/02/1938;20:40;Off San Clemente Island, California;Military - U.S. Navy / Military - U.S. Navy;;;Consolidated PBY-2 / Consolidated PBY-2;04062 / 0463;;14;11;0;The two aircraft crashed in mid-air in heavy rain and darkness and crashed into the sea.
02/05/1938;;Kandalaksha, Russia;TsAGI;;Moscow - Murmansk;V6 (airship);CCCP-V6;;19;13;0;The airship crashed while on a trial flight in preparation of rescuing Russian scientists on an ice floe in Greenland. The airship crashed into the side of a mountain.
02/09/1938;;Marseille, France;Air France;;Marseille, France - Ajaccio, Corsica;Lioré-et-Olivier H-242;F-ANPB;05;12;8;0;The flying boat struck the breakwater at 60 miles an hour and burst into flames while attempting to take off.
02/09/1938;;Guadalupe, Mexico;Mexicana;;Test flight;Lockheed 10 Electra;XA-BAS;;2;2;0;Crashed on a second test flight.
02/22/1938;;Pontoise, France;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Berlin, Germany - Paris, France;Junkers JU.52;D-APAR;;3;3;0;Crashed in fog within a few miles of it's destination near Bourget Airport.
03/01/1938;21:30;Near Wawona, Cailifornia;Trans Continental and Western Air;8;San Francisco - Burbank;Douglas DC-2-112;NC13789;1299;9;9;0;Crashed into the high Sierra after encountering a severe weather front while en route. The pilot radioed that ice was forming on the DC-2's wings as it neared the Tehachapi Mountains near Bakersfield and that he was turning back towards the north to land at Fresno. The aircraft sheared off the tops of pine trees and crashed 200 feet below a summit. The wreckage was not found until 6/12/38.
03/07/1938;;Datia, India;Air France;;Hanoi, Vietnam - Paris, France;Potez 621;F-ANQR;4031/12;7;7;0;Crashed and burst into flames shortly after taking off from Dum Dum.
03/08/1938;;Somerton, Australia;Australian National Airways;;;De Havilland DH-60;VH-UNU;;1;1;0;
04/12/1938;;Near Formia, Italy;Ala Littoria;;;Junkers JU-52;I-BAUS;4063;19;19;0;Crashed into mountains.
05/05/1938;;Balbuena, Mexico;Lineas Aéreas Mineras;;Mexico City - Juarez;Lockheed Vega 5B;XA-BFR;124;6;1;0;Crashed en route
05/10/1938;;Mangere, New Zealand;United Airways of New Zealand;;;Lockheed 10 Electra;ZK-AFC;;2;2;0;
05/16/1938;02:07;Near Saugus, California;Northwest Orient Airlines;;Burbank,- St. Paul;Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra;NC17394;1439;9;9;0;Struck Stroh peak at 3,300 feet in
Mint Canyon, 27 minutes after taking off from Burbank Airport. The aircraft struck a ridge, bounded over a ravine and struck a second ridge, broke up and burst into flames.
05/22/1938;13:40;Sao Paulo, Brazil;Cruzeiro do Sul;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;PP-CBC;5453;17;2;0;The mail plane crashed while taking off.
05/24/1938;22:17;Cleveland, Ohio;United Air Lines;9;Newark - Cleveland - Chicago;Douglas DST-A-207A;NC18108;1956;10;10;0;An uncontrollable fire developed in the right engine and the pilot decided to make an emergency landing rather than try to reach Cleveland Airport. The plane struck trees in level flight 8.5 miles east of Cleveland Airport. A fire in the right engine accessory section which resulted from the failure of a cylinder barrel and was fed from the right engine oil supply.
05/27/1938;;Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Heinkel 116;D-ATIO;;3;3;0;
05/27/1938;;Alberno Canal, BC, Canada;Ginger Coote Airways;;;Fairchild 51;CF-AUX;;1;1;0;
06/08/1938;;Tanganyika;Wilson Airways;;;De Havilland DH-85;VP-KBE;;3;3;0;
06/19/1938;;Mount Mercedario, Chile;Pan American Grace Airways;;;Douglas DC-2;NC14272;;4;4;0;An hour after leaving Santiago, radio contact with the flight was lost, as it had crashed in the high Andes. It was not found until February 1941, by indians, who plundered the aircraft and the dead passengers looking for valuables.
07/08/1938;02:56;Billings, Montana;Northwest Orient Airlines;4;Seattle - Chicago;Lockheed 14 Super Electra;NC17383;;10;10;0;While taking off from Billings, the airplane left the ground in a stalled condition from which the pilot attempted to recover by use of full emergency power. Emergency power was not available because of improper adjustment of the stop which had been placed on the quadrant of the propeller pitch control levers, preventing the levers from going to the full low pitch position. As a result of the stalled condition, the airplane fell off on the right wing and crashed at a point 1,100 feet beyond the NE runway, the pilot having cut the switch just prior to the impact.
07/14/1938;;Off Sardinia, Italy;Ala Littoria;;Cagliari - Rome;Savoia Marchetti S-66;I-VOLO;15013;20;20;0;The flying boat crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea after the collapse of a wing.
07/22/1938;;Stulpica, Romania;LOT Polish Airlines;;Warsaw, Poland - Bucharest, Romania;Lockheed 14H Super Electra;SP-BNG;1432;14;14;0;Crashed after being struck by lightning.
07/24/1938;13:00;Near Bogota Colombia;Military - Colombian Army;;;Curtiss-Wright Hawk;;;1;1;52;One aircraft from a squadron performing aerobatics before a large crowd crashed into the grandstands. A gust of wind caused the aircraft to lose control during a looping maneuver.
07/27/1938;;Kisumu, Kenya;Imperial Airways;;Kisumu - Alexandria;Armstrong-Withworth Atlanta;G-ABTG;AW-785;4;4;0;Flew into a hillside soon after takeoff from Kisumu. The ship was named 'Amalthea.'
07/29/1938;04:11;PacifiOcean between Manila and Guam;Pan American World Airways;229;Alameda - Manila;Martin M-130 (flying boat);NC14714;556;15;15;0;The plane crashed into the ocean while en route between Guam and Manilla. The last known position was 12.27 N, 130.40 W or 582 nm east southeast of Manila at 04:00 GCT. Cause unknown. The plane may have been hijacked by the Japanese and flown to Truk Island where the crew and passengers were murdered. The aircraft was named 'Hawaii Clipper.'
08/10/1938;;Shishijima, Japan;Dai Nippon;;;Douglas DF-151;J-ANES;;6;6;0;
08/10/1938;;Debrecen, Hungary;;;;Ford Tri-motor;;;12;12;0;The plane was carrying Hungarian journalists.
08/13/1938;;Kiel, Germany;CSA Czech Airlines;;Prague - Paris, France;Savoia-Marchetti SM73;OK-BAG;;17;16;0;Crashed into the Black Forest mountains in poor weather conditions. One stewardess survived.
08/15/1938;;Guanabara, Brazil;Syndicato Condor;;Guanabara - Victoria;Junkers JU-52/3m;PP-CAT;4024;9;9;0;Flew into a mountain wave after taking off, went into a dive and crashed into Guanabara Bay.
08/18/1938;;Bucharest, Romania;LOT Polish Airlines;;;Lockheed 14 Electra;SP-BNJ;1424;7;7;0;Caught fire after a ground looping.
08/18/1938;;Montnago, Italy;Macchi;;Sightseeing;Macchi C-94;I-NILO;94001;13;13;0;The sea plane crashed shortly after taking off.
08/24/1938;08:00;Wangmoon, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Hong Kong - Chungking;Douglas DC-2;32;1369;17;14;0;While en route from Hong Kong to Chungking, the aircraft was shot down by Japanese military fighters. The aircraft was named Kweilin.
08/29/1938;;Innisfail, Australia;North Queensland Airways;;;De Havilland DH-84;VH-UXK;;9;5;0;Crashed into a cane field while attempting to land when the pilot swerved to avoid a tractor.
10/01/1938;;Off Bathurst, Gambia;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Dornier DO.18;;;4;4;0;
10/01/1938;;Grisons, Switzerland;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-AVFB;5928;13;13;0;Missing. One postal bag found in a glacier.
10/10/1938;;Soest, Germany;Sabena;;Brussells - Berlin;Savbia-Marchetti S-73P;OO-AGT;;20;20;0;The aircraft broke-up in midair and crashed to the ground.Airport.
10/25/1938;;Mt. Dandenong, Australia;Australian National Airways;;Adelaide - Melbourne;Douglas DC-2-112;VH-UYC;1566;18;18;0;Crashed into Mt. Daodenong while en route
11/02/1938;;Somerset, England;British Airways;;;Lockheed 14 Electra;CF-TCL;;2;2;0;
11/04/1938;10:50;Channel Islands, Jersey;Jersey Airways;;Channel Islands - Southhampton;de Havilland DH-86;G-ACZN;2316;14;14;1;Caught fire and crashed into a field two minutes after taking off. A farm worker was crushed to death when the wreckage landed on him.
11/14/1938;18:41;Schiphol, Amsterdam;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Berlin-Amsterdam;Douglas DC-3;PH-ARY;2021;19;6;0;The aircraft flew into the ground during approach in poor visibility. The first officer was commander of the military flying school Soesterberg.
11/18/1938;00:51;Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada;Trans Canada Air Lines;;Winnipeg - Regina - Vancouver;Lockheed 14 Electra;CF-TCL;;2;2;0;The mail plane crashed several minutes after taking off from Regina
11/26/1938;;Bathurst, Gambia;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU90V2;D-AIVI;4914;15;11;0;During takeoff the aircraft hit a palm tree and burst into flames due to engine failure.
11/27/1938;;Bagdad, Iraq;Imperial Airways;;;Short Empire Flying Boat;G-AETW;;6;4;0;The flying boat crashed on Lake Ramadi.
11/29/1938;05:30;Off Point Reyes, California;United Air Lines;6;Medford - Oakland;Douglas DC 3-A-SB-3-G-14;NC16066;1907;7;7;0;The aircraft ran out of fuel and ditched into the ocean. Failure of the pilot to definitely establish the position of the aircraft through standard orientation procedures within a reasonable time after intersecting a leg of the Oakland radio range and of Company flight dispatchers, charged with the responsibilities of directing the operation of the trip, to properly safeguard the flight, resulting in forced landing of the aircraft at sea due to exhausted fuel supply.
12/08/1938;;Off Kubashima, Japan;Japan Aviation Corporation;;;Nakajima DC-2;;;12;10;0;Crashed into the sea near Okinawa due to engine failure.
12/09/1938;;Amsterdam, Netherlands;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Instructional Flight;Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra;PH-APE;1413;4;4;0;Struck a dyke near Schiphol Airport and caught fire while taking off.
12/12/1938;;Darwin, Australia;Qantas;;;Short S23 ‘C’ Class flying boat;G-AEUH;;13;13;0;Shot down by Japanese aircraft. Owned by Imperial Airways and operated by Qanta
01/07/1939;;Paris, France;Swissair;;Zurich - Geneva - Paris;Douglas DC-2-115B;HB-ITA;1329;9;5;0;The aircraft crashed while attempting to land.
01/13/1939;21:15;Miles City, Montana;Northwest Orient Airlines;1;Chicago - Seattle;Lockheed 14-H Super Electra;NC17389;1408;4;4;0;The aircraft crashed 2,650 feet past the runway boundry after taking off. A fire of considerable intensity developed, prior to the crash, in the cockpit of the aircraft, in the immediate vicinity of the gasoline cross-feed valve. It was not possible to determine the exact origin and source of the fire.
01/13/1939;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Syndicato Condor;;;Junkers
JU-52/3m;PP-CAY;4042;9;9;0;The seaplane crashed in flames in mountains northeast of Rio de Janeiro.
01/18/1939;;Katherine, Australia;Guinea Airways;;Katherine - Adelaide;Lockheed 14 Electra;VH-ABI;;4;4;0;Crashed into the Katherine River during a storm.
01/21/1939;12:30;AtlantiOcean between N.Y. and Bermuda;Imperial Airways;;New York City - Bermuda;Short S-23 (flying boat);G-ADUU;S-812;13;3;0;While en route, the aircraft ditched, broke in two and sank in the AtlantiOcean, 285 miles SE of Long Island New York. Complete loss of power to the two inner engines and partial loss of power to the two outer engines due to carburetor icing. The aircraft was named Cavalier.
02/24/1939;;Mediterranean Sea;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-ALUS;;10;10;0;Crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.
03/14/1939;;Haren, Belgium;Sabena;;;Junkers JU-52;OO-AUA;;3;3;0;
03/16/1939;;Manzanares, Colombia;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-86;;;8;8;0;
03/18/1939;;Near Adler, Washington;Boeing Aircraft Company;-;Test flight;Boeing 307 Stratoliner;NX19901;1994;10;10;0;The aircraft crashed after the tail broke off. Dutch engineer A.G. von Baumhauer among those killed. He was a famous helicopter pioneer who first came up with the tail rotor/main rotor configuration which is in use today. Strructural failure of the wings and horizontal tail surfaces due t o the imposition of loads thereon in excess of those for which they were designed, the failure occurring in an abrupt pull-out from a dive following recovery from an inadvertent spin.
08/09/1940;;Hannover, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Douglas DC-2-115H;D-AIAV;1366;13;2;0;Pilot error.
06/03/1941;17:00;AtlantiOcean;Great Western and Southern Air Lines;;;de Havilland DH-84 Dragon;G-ACPY;6076;6;6;0;Shot down by a He-111 German military aircraft.
03/26/1939;14:48;Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;Braniff Airlines;1;Chicago - Dallas;Douglas DC-2-112;NC13727;1253;12;8;0;An explosion in an engine, just after takeoff blew the two halves of the cowl open creating excessive drag and causing the left wing to drop. The captain tried to circle back, but the wing impacted an embankment along a section line road and crashed about 100 yards inside the boundary. Either the hot metal of the engines or some other source ignited the fuel spilling out of the ruptured tank and the cabin was quickly engulfed in flames. The initial cause of the explosion was a cylinder blow out which was a problem with that particular engine and had caused problems in two other aircraft, a TWA and United DC-2, both of which landed safely.
04/03/1939;;Near Marrakech, Morocco;Air France;;;Caudron C.635 Simoun;F-AOOT;7372;9;9;0;Crashed into a mountain.
05/01/1939;;Mocambique;Imperial Airways;;;Short Empire Flying Boat;G-ADVD;;6;2;0;
05/02/1939;;Near Marrakech, Morocco;Air France;;Casablanca, Morocco - Dakar, Senegal;Dewoitine D-338;F-ARIC;25;9;9;0;Crashed due to icing.
05/08/1939;12:00;Guayaquil, Ecuador;Military - Ecuadorian Air Force;;;Curtiss-Wright C-14 Osprey;;;1;1;22;While performing aerobatics, the aircraft lost control and crashed into numerous building near a college.
06/10/1939;;Vlissingen, The Netherlands;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;;Koolhoven FK.43;PH-AJK;;3;3;0;
07/20/1939;;Konstanz, Switzerland;Swissair;;Vienna, Austria - Zurich, Switzerland;Junkers JU86 Z-2;HB-IXA;086/0951;6;6;0;The aircraft crashed after an engine fire.
08/04/1939;;Barcelona, Spain;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Toulouse, France - Casablanca, Morocco;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-AUJG;5942;7;7;0;Crashed in the Llaveria mountains in heavy fog and caught fire. The plane hit the highest peak of the mountains.
08/13/1939;16:35;Rio de Janerio, Brazil;Pan American World Airways;;Miami - Rio de Janerio;Sikorsky S43 (flying boat);NC16933;;16;14;0;The plane lost power from the left engine, yawed to the left, and started a descending turn in the same direction. The plane continued to lose altitude and turn at a sharper and steeper angle until it struck a caisson anchored at right angles to a small island in the harbor immediately adjacent to its landing approach path. Loss of power from the left engine during the landing approach, necessitating an attempted landing under extremely hazardous conditions.
08/15/1939;;Off Copenhagen, Denmark;British Airways;;London - Hamburg - Copenhagen;Lockheed 10 Electra;G-ASEY;;6;5;0;Crashed into the sea after a fire aboard.
08/28/1939;;Lahore, India;Indian National Airways;;;De Havilland D-84;VT-AEL;;2;2;0;
08/30/1939;;Hannover, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Berlin - Hanover - Cologne - London;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-AFOP;5800;7;7;0;The aircraft crashed while taking off from Hanover. Visibility was poor because of low fog covering the runway. The pilot was searching for the proper flight path when the plane veered towards a building while still 40 meters above the ground. The pilot tried to raise the plane while trying to turn left at the same time but lost control and crashed and the plane caught fire.The passengers were pilots of Lufthansa.
09/26/1939;;North Sea;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Stockholm - Amsterdam;Douglas DC-3;PH-ASM;2142;;1;0;One Swedish passenger was killed when the plane was attacked by German fighters. The plane was able to land safely in Amsterdam.
11/20/1939;;Gosport, England;British Airways;;;Airspeed Oxford;G-AFFM;;2;2;;
12/18/1939;;South of Gibraltar;Iberia Airlines;;Alcante - Morocco;Junkers JU-52;M-CABA;5854;10;10;0;Shot down by British anti-aircraft fire. Crashed 6 miles south of Europa Point.
12/21/1939;;Off Malta-Luqa;Imperial Airways;;Egypt - England;Lockheed 14 Super Electra;G-AFYU;1444;11;5;0;Crashed into the sea.
12/24/1939;;Mogador, Morocco;Linee Aeree Italiane;;Rome - Rio de Janerio;Savoia-Marchetti SM83;I-ARPA;34017;7;7;0;Crashed in a storm while attempting to make a forced landing.
01/15/1940;;Denpasar, Indonesia;KNILM;;;Lockheed 14 Super Electra;PK-AFO;1415;9;8;0;
03/01/1940;;Gulf of Oman;Imperial Airways;;Jask to Sharjah;Handley Page HP-42;G-AAGX;HP42/1;8;8;0;Crashed in the Persian Gulf while en route with out a trace. The aircraft was named 'Hannibal.'
04/22/1940;;Near Loch Lomond, Scotland;British Overseas Airways;;Perth, Scotland - London, England;Lockheed 14 Super Electra;G-AFKD;1484;3;3;0;
06/02/1940;;El Segundo, California;Douglas Aircraft Company;;Test flight;Douglas DC-3;;;5;5;0;Crashed and burned during a government test flight
06/14/1940;14:00;Off Prangli Island, Gulf of Finland, Estonia;Aero O-Y;;Tallinn, Estonia - Helsinki, Finland;Junkers JU-52/3mge;OH-ALL;5494;9;9;0;The plane was en route when it was shot down by two Soviet Tupolev SB-2 bombers. The aircraft crashed 2-3 nm offshore of Prangli Island near Keri Lighthouse. The aircraft was named Kaleva.
06/20/1940;;Near Ouistreham, France;Air France;;;Dewoitine D-338;F-ARTD;22;1;1;0;Inadvertently shot down by French anti-aircraft fire.
07/07/1940;;Gulf of Tonkin;Air France;;;Dewoitine D-338;F-AQBA;1;;;;Shot down by a Japanese military fighter.
08/13/1940;10:15;Near Canberra, Australia;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;Melbourne - Canberra;Lockheed Hudson A16-97;;;10;10;0;The plane was seen circling Canberra Aerodrome after which it headed west to make the final approach for landing. The aircraft momentarily disappeared behind one of the hills that surround the airport, then reappeared. There was the sound of engines being gunned, then the aircraft disappeared again. An explosion and sight of a large plume of black smoke followed. All on board the Hudson were killed including several high ranking Australian military leaders. A witness later said the aircraft appeared to drop its left wing and then dip its nose steeply, classisymptoms of a stall, too close to the ground for recovery.
08/23/1940;;Cluj, Romania;LARES;;;Douglas DC-3;YR-PAF;1986;18;14;0;Crashed into a mountainous area during a hail storm.
08/31/1940;14:41;Near Lovettsville, Virginia;Pennsylvania Central Airlines;19;Washington D.C. - Detroit;Douglas DC-3;NC21789;2188;25;25;0;The aircraft was flying through a thunderstorm in turbulence when the it nosed over
and plunged to earth near Short Hill Mountain. Disabling of the pilots by a severe lightning discharge in the immediate neighborhood of the airplane, with resulting loss of control. With limited accident investigation tools at the time, the most likely cause was the plane flying into windshear. U.S. Senator Ernest Lundeen from Minnesota killed.
10/29/1940;;Near Changyi, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Chungking - Kunming;Douglas DC-2;NC14297;1369;14;9;0;Shot down by Japanese military fighters. The plane ran into 5 Japanese fighters and made an emergency landing at a remote field only to be machine-gunned while trying to escape.
10/29/1940;;Berlin, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Douglas DC-3;D-AAIH;1973;15;2;0;Weather related.
11/04/1940;04:42;Near Centerville, Utah;United Air Lines;16;Oakland - Salt Lake City;Douglas DC-3;NC16086;1925;10;10;0;The aircraft crashed into Bountiful Peak in the Wasatch Mountains, during a snowstorm, 3 nm NE of Centerville. The failure of the communications operators at Tintic, Plymouth, and Salt Lake City, Utah, whose duty it was to monitor the range, to detect its malfunctioning and immediately notify those concerned and the failure of the pilot to follow to the fullest extent established radio range technique in accordance with the requirements of the procedure established by United and approved by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
11/08/1940;;Brauna, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-90;D-AVMF;10;29;29;0;Icing.
11/09/1940;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;;;Rio de Janeiro - Sao Paulo;;;;18;18;0;Midair collisioin with a private plane.
11/27/1940;;Mediterranean Sea;Air France;;;Farman F-224;F-AROA;2;6;6;0;Shot down by Italian aircraft.
12/04/1940;17:48;Chicago, Illinois;United Air Lines;21;New York City - Chicago;Douglas DC-3A;NC25678;2175;16;10;0;The aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Chicago. The failure of the pilot to exercise that degree of caution and skill required to avert a stall while approaching for a landing on the short northwest runway. A substantial contributing factor to the accident was the error in judgment of the pilot in choosing that short runway for his landing. An accumulation of ice on the wings may have increased the stalling speed of the plane.
01/15/1941;;Off South Africa;LATI;;;Savoia-Marchetti SM-75;I-BAYR;32013;10;10;0;
01/18/1941;;Near Nagy-Varad, Hungary;Malert Airlines;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;HA-JUA;5523;12;12;0;
01/20/1941;;Near Kian, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Ford 5-AT Tri-Motor;;;6;5;0;Crashed into mountains during a thunderstorm
01/23/1941;04:13;Near Robertson, Missouri;Trans Continental and Western Air;6;Kansas City, MO - New York;Douglas DC-3-3;NC17315;1930;13;2;0;Shortly after passing over the west boundary of the airport, the pilot started a left turn. While in the turn, the plane contracted trees 113 feet above the level of the airport. Full power was applied to the engines in an attempt to pull up but other trees were struck and the pilot lost control. The aircraft crashed to the ground at a point approximately one-fourth of a mile southwest of the airport boundary. The action of the pilot in attempting a landing under adverse weather conditions in disregard of the minimums prescribed by the Civil Aeronautics Administration and in maneuvering for such a landing at a dangerously low altitude.
02/06/1941;02:00;Armstrong, ON, Canada;Trans Canada Air Lines;;;Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra;CF-TCP;1501;12;12;0;The plane crashed after the right wing struck a tree as the pilot was attempting to land. Struck several other trees and landed inverted in a swamp.
02/26/1941;11:50;Atlanta, Georgia;Eastern Air Lines;21;New York City - Washington D.C. - Atlanta - Brownsville;Douglas DC-3;NC28394;3204;16;9;0;The aircraft crashed into a hill in pine woods, near Chandler Field, while attempting to make an instrument landing approach in rain and fog. The failure of the captain in charge of the flight to exercise the proper degree of fare by not checking his altimeters to determine whether both were correctly set and properly functioning before commencing his landing approach. A substantial contributing factor was the absence of an established uniform cockpit procedure on Eastern Air Lines by which both the captain and co-pilot are required to make a complete check of the controls and instruments during landing operations. Captain Edward Rickenbacker, President of Eastern Air Lines, survived the crash.
03/01/1941;;Trontheim, Norway;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-AQUB;5751;12;3;0;The seaplane crashed while attemping to land.
03/28/1941;;Elands Bay, South Africa;South African Airways;;;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;ZS-AST;2034;10;10;0;Crashed into a mountain.
06/19/1941;;Bucharest, Romania;LARES;;Bucharest , Romania- Sofia, Bulgaria;Douglas DC-3;YR-PIF;1985;15;15;0;Crashed during takeoff.
06/21/1941;;Sea of Japan;Manchurian Air Lines;;;Mitsubishi MC-20;M-604;;18;18;0;
08/10/1941;20:35;Arran, Scotland;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Consolidated LB-30A Liberator;AM261;;22;22;0;Crashed into a mountain ridge in rain, low visibility and overcast conditions. Navigational error.
08/14/1941;20:40;Ayr, Scotland;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Consolidated LB-30A Liberator;AM260;;22;22;0;Crashed and burned on takeoff at Heathfield airfield, after veered off the runway and striking a small building and then an embankment.
08/18/1941;;Near Sao Paulo, Brazil;Panair do Brasil;;Porto Alegre - Rio de Janera;Lockheed 18 LodeStar;PP-PBD;2083;12;8;0;Crashed in a mountain range while enroute.
09/01/1941;;Bollemont, France;Air France;;;Bloch 220;F-AQNL;12;17;13;0;The aircraft crashed into lake Bolomon after engine failure during takeoff.
09/01/1941;;Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland;British Overseas Airways;;;Consolidated 32-2 Liberator I;AM-915;;10;10;0;Crashed into a hillside.
10/03/1941;17:48;San Juan, Puerto Rico;Pan American World Airways;203;Miami - Buenos Aires;Sikorsky S-42B (flying boat);NC15376;4206;15;2;0;Following the approach, the aircraft contacted the water in an unduly nose-low attitude while moving sideways relative to the water. Almost immediately after first contact with the water, the aircraft swerved violently to the right and broke into several major sections. The failure of the captain to exercise requisite caution and skill in landing. A contributing factor was the smooth surface of the water, which rendered difficult, the captain's depth perception as well as the exact determination of any lateral movement of the aircraft.
10/28/1941;;;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-53/3m;D-AUXZ;7172;13;13;0;
10/30/1941;02:04;Near Moorhead, Minnesota;Northwest Orient Airlines;5;Minneapolis - Fargo;Douglas DC-3;NC21712;2124;15;14;0;Crashed in fog and mist due to icing on the wings. The pilot, Clarence Bates, was thrown clear of the wreckage and was the lone survivor. Accumulation of ice on the wings and other surfaces of the airplane, increasing the stalling speed and the drag of the airplane on the power required to maintain flight. Action of the captain in descending to attempt a landing at Fargo with known icing conditions and critical ceiling conditions instead of proceeding to an available alternate.
10/30/1941;22:10;St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada;American Airlines;1;New York - Buffalo - Chicago - Detroit;Douglas DC-3;NC25663;2207;20;20;0;The aircraft, on a flight from New York to Chicago, circled a wooded area 3 or 4 times looking for a landing spot before stalling and diving into a plowed field. Cause unknown.
12/11/1941;;Miami, Florida;Pan American Airways;;;;NC21V;;3;3;0;
01/16/1942;19:23;Near Las Vegas, Nevada;Trans Continental and Western Air;3;Las Vegas - Los Angeles;Douglas DC-3;NC1946;3295;22;22;0;The aircraft crashed into Mt. Potosi (Double Up Peak, Table Spring Mountain, Olcott Mountain), 32 miles SW of Las Vegas, NV, 15 minutes after taking off from the Western Airlines terminal building at Las Vegas. The aircraft clipped a rocky ledge, cartwheeled into the face of a cliff and exploded, scattering
wreckage at the bottom of a ravine. Actress Carole Lombard, 33, her mother, and press agent were killed in the crash. Her mother did not want to fly and a coin was tossed to see whether the trip would be made by train or plane. The actress was returning from a war-bond promotion. The flight was 6.7 miles off course for unknown reasons. Failure of the captain to follow a proper course and make use of navigation facilities available to him. A contributing factor was the blackout of beacons in the area made necessary because of the war emergency.
01/20/1942;;Manado, Indonesia;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;;Lockheed Hudson;A16-79;;11;11;0;
01/24/1942;;Near Samarinda, Borneo;KNILM;;;Douglas DC-3;PK-AFW;1982;;;;Shot down by Japanese military aircraft.
01/26/1942;;Kupang, Timor;KNILM;;;Grumman G-21 Goose;PK-AFS;1081;;;;Shot down by Japanese military aircraft.
01/30/1942;;Near Kupang, Timor;Qantas;;;Short S-23 (flying boat);G-AEUH;S-850;18;13;0;Shot down by Japanese military aircraft. Owned by British Overseas Airways.
02/14/1942;;;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas DC-2;45;;;;;
02/15/1942;;English Channel, near Plymouth, England;British Overseas Airways;;;Consolidated Liberator;G-AGDR;9;9;9;0;Shot down in error.
02/20/1942;;Off Belmont, Brisbane, Australia;Qantas;;;deHavilland DH-86;VH-USE;2309;9;9;0;Crashed shortly after takeoff after losing control in low clouds.
02/28/1942;;Indian Ocean;British Overseas Airways;;;Short S-23 (flying boat);G-AETZ;S-842;20;20;0;Shot down by Japanese military aircraft.
03/03/1942;;Off Broome, Australia;Military - U.S. Army Air Force;;;Consolidated B-24 Liberator;40-2370;;33;19;0;
03/03/1942;;Wyndham, Australia;KNILM;;;Douglas DC-3;PK-AFV;1965;12;8;0;Shot down by Japanese military aircraft.
08/27/1943;;North Sea;Aktiebolaget Aerotransport;;;Douglas DC-3;SE-BAF;2133;7;7;0;Shot down by German military aircraft.
03/14/1942;22:15;Kunming, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas DC-2-221;31;1567;17;13;0;Crashed 2 km from the Kunming Airdome shortly after takeoff. Possible causes include engine failure, overloading, sabotage and temporary blinding by a bright light.
04/21/1942;21:27;Pine Creek, Australia;Guinea Airways Limited;;Brisbane - Bachelor Field;Lockheed 14 Electra;VH-ADY;;12;12;0;
05/01/1942;23:00;Salt Lake City, Utah;United Air Lines;4;San Francisco - New York City;Douglas DST-A-207A;NC18146;1978;17;17;0;After taking off from Salt Lake, the aircraft proceeded in the wrong direction and crashed into the side of a hill 3.8 miles northeast of the Salt Lake City Airport. The point of impact was at an elevation of 5,053 feet above sea level and about 830 feet above the airport. A deviation from the proper course, for reasons undetermined.
05/12/1942;11:51;Miles City, Montana;Northwest Orient Airlines;1;Chicago - Seattle;Douglas DC-3-A-269;NC 21714;2129;14;3;0;The plane hit an obstruction at the end of the runway, overran the runway boundry and crashed. The failure of the captain to complete the landing run in time to avoid the obstruction at the end of the runway, for reasons undetermined, and his action in attempting to take off after striking the obstruction.
07/01/1942;12:00;Near Premier, West Virginia;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Battle Creek - Florence, SC;Douglas C-49E;42-56093;1976;21;21;0;Flew into a thunderstorm and was observed in a near vertical dive before crashing to the ground. Icing, possible overloading.
07/07/1942;;Off Broken Head, Australia;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;;Lockheed Hudson;A16-198;;10;10;0;
07/20/1942;;Llanfair, England;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Lockheed Hudson;N7253;;13;13;0;
08/13/1942;;Algiers, Algeria;Air France;;;Liore et Olivier H-246 Air Boat;F-AREJ;403;;4;0;Attacked by Royal Air Force fighters. Crashed in the water while attempting to land.
08/21/1942;;;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Siebel Si-204;;;4;4;0;Lufthansa chairman, Von Gablenz killed.
08/22/1942;;Trinidad;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;;Lockheed 14 Electra;PH-AIP;;13;13;0;
08/23/1942;;Invergordon, England;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Short Sunderland;W4026;;14;13;0;
08/25/1942;14:00;Near Dunbeath, Scotland;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Short Sunderland (flying boat);W4026;;14;13;0;The plane crashed while on a flight to Iceland during WWII. The aircraft was part of the 228th Squadron RAF. The plane hit high ground at Eagle Rock in the Scottish Highlands in poor visibility. Possible navigational error but exact cause unknown. Prince George, Duke of Kent was among the dead.
09/27/1942;;Ameur el Ain, Algeria;Air France;;;Dewoitine D-342;F-ARIZ;01;25;25;0;Crashed during takeoff.
10/01/1942;;Kunming, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas C-47;69;;;;;Crashed while attempting to land after losing oil pressure on one engine.
10/01/1942;09:30;Near Coamo, Puerto Rico;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Caomo - San Juan;Douglas C-39-DO (DC-2);38-524;2081;22;22;0;The aircraft made a wide descending turn with engines running roughly and crashed into a hill.
10/03/1942;19:05;Botwood, Newfoundland;American Export Airlines;71;New York - Botwood - Foynes, Ireland;Sirkorsky 44A (flying boat);NC41880;4401;37;11;0;While attempting to takeoff, aircraft porpoised, attained a height of 35 ft. and then crashed into the water and broke up. Inadvertent actuation of the wing flaps to the full 35 degrees position during the take-off run, thereby rendering the aircraft excessively nose-heavy and uncontrollable.
10/22/1942;;;Deutsche Lufthansa;7208;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-AYGX;7208;17;17;0;
10/23/1942;17:15;Palm Springs, California;American Airlines / Military - USAF;28;Palm Springs - New York City;Douglas DC-3 / Boeing B-34;NC16017;1555;13;12;0;Midair collision between an Army bomber and airliner over Chino Canyon near Palm Springs at 9,000 feet destroying the rudder of the DC-3. All 12 aboard the DC-3 were killed. The Boeing B-34 landed safely with minor damage. The reckless and irresponsible conduct of the bomber pilot, William Wilson, in deliberately maneuvering a bomber in dangerous proximity to an airliner in an unjustifiable attempt to attract the attention of the first officer, his friend aboard the airliner. Composer and song writer Ralph Rainger, 41, killed.`
10/30/1942;;Norway;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Handley Page HP-57 Halifax;W7773;;10;10;0;
12/15/1942;01:22;Fairfield, Utah;Western Airlines;13;Salt Lake - Las Vegas - Burbank;Douglas DC-3A;NC16060;1900;19;17;0;Crashed after performing a violent maneuver. Failure of the left, or possibly both wing tips and of the horizontal tail surfaces as a result of a sever pull-up which caused unusual and abnormally high air loads. The reason the pull-up maneuver was not determined.
12/19/1942;;Wien, Vienna;DLL;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;OY-DAL;5610;16;2;0;
01/09/1943;;River Tagus, Lisbon, Portugal;British Overseas Airways;;;Short S-26 (flying boat);G-AFCK;S-873;13;13;0;
01/15/1943;;Near Paramarino, Dutch Guyana;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-54A;42-32939;;35;35;0;Crashed along the coast of South American while en route to Africa.
01/18/1943;23:00;Off the Brazilian coast, AtlantiOcean;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Accra, Ghana - Natal, Brazil;Consolidated C-87;41-1708;;26;26;0;Disappeared while en route and never found.
01/21/1943;07:30;Ukiah, California;Pan American World Airways;V-1104;Hawaii - San Francisco;Martin M-130 (flying boat);NC14715;557;19;19;0;Flew into a 2,500 ft. mountain while circling in bad weather, after being unable to land in darkness and deciding whether to divert to San Diego. Clipped trees, struck the ground and broke up. Failure of the captain to determine his position accurately before descending to a dangerously low altitude under extremely poor weather conditions during the hours of darkness. The aircraft was named Philippine Clipper.
01/22/1943;15:15;Near Chaparra, Peru;Pan American Grace Airlines;9;Santiago, Chili - Arequipa, Peru - Lima, Peru;Douglas DC-3A;NC33645;4124;15;14;0;The aircraft crashed into the Mt. Chaparra in
the Andes mountains while en route. Action of the pilot in continuing the flight on instruments in the overcast, contrary to company flight procedure of which, according to the evidence, the pilot was aware.
02/09/1943;;Near Gander, Newfoundland;British Overseas Airways;;;Consolidated 32-3 Liberator II;AL-591;;21;19;0;Ran out of fuel.
02/18/1943;12:30;Seattle, Washington;Private - Boeing Aircraft Company;;Test flight;Boeing XB-29;41-3;;10;10;20;Lost altitude, struck power lines and crashed into a packing house after encountering an engine fire on a test flight.
02/22/1943;06:47;Lisbon, Portugal;Pan American World Airways;9035;New York City - Lisbon;Boeing B-314 (flying boat);NC18603;1990;39;25;0;Crashed into the Targus River in poor weather while attempting to land. Inadvertent contact of the left wing tip of the aircraft with the water while making a descending turn preparatory to landing. The aircraft was named the Yankee Clipper. Novelist Ben Robertson and singer, actress Tamara Drasin, 34, among those killed. Actress Jane Froman seriously injured.
03/11/1943;;Luishui, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Kunming - Assam;Douglas C-53;53;;3;3;0;The cargo plane was caught in a downdraft in a mountain pass en route and crashed.
03/13/1943;;Himalaya, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Kunming - Dinjan;Douglas C-53;49;;3;3;0;Disappeared over the Himalayas.
03/27/1943;05:15;Archerfield Aerodrome, Queensland, Australia;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;;Douglas C-47-DL;A65-2;6149;24;24;0;The aircraft, taking off in darkness and poor visibility, crashed in heavy timber and caught fire.
04/22/1943;;Off Port Moresby, New Guinea;Qantas;;;Short S-23;VH-ADU;S-844;13;13;0;Stalled and crashed in poor weather into the water during an emergency landing on the open sea. Broke up in heavy seas.
06/01/1943;11:00;Off the coast of France;British Overseas Airways;2L272;Lisbon - London;Douglas DC-3;G-AGBB;1590;17;17;0;Shot down by the German Air Force over the Bay of Biscay. The last message received from the plane was it was being attacked by an enemy aircraft. The aircraft had a Dutch crew. British actor Leslie Howard, 42, killed.
06/07/1943;04:00;Red Springs, North Carolina;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Pope Field - Maxton;Douglas C-47A-DL;42-23512;9374;20;20;0;Crashed in thunderstorm activity while attempting to land.
06/14/1943;;Near Mackay, OLD, Australia;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;B-17C Flying Fortress;;;41;40;0;The aircraft took off into ground fog and leveled off at an altitude of about 300 feet. In a matter of minutes the plane had caught fire in the air, and as it dived into the trees one of its wings came away leaving a great opening in the fuselage through which most of the passengers were emptied into the bush before the final impact.
06/16/1943;;Khartoum, Sudan;British Overseas Airways;;;Lockheed Hudson VI;FK-459;;17;17;0;
06/30/1943;;Khartoum, Sudan;British Overseas Airways;;;Lockheed Hudson VI;FK-618;;16;16;0;
07/04/1943;23:00;Gibraltar;;;;Consolidated Liberator B24 C;A-L-523;;13;12;0;The flight, bound for London, crashed into the Mediterranean shortly after takeoff. Wladyslaw Sikorski, prime minister of the Polish government in exile, killed.
07/28/1943;;Brandon Head, Ireland;British Overseas Airways;;Lisbon - Foynes - Poole;Short Sunderland 3 (flying boat);G-AGES;;25;12;0;
07/28/1943;22:43;Trammel, Kentucky;American Airlines;63;Cleveland - Memphis;Douglas DC-3;NC16014;1552;22;20;0;The aircraft crashed into trees while attempting to land in strong turbulence and violent downdrafts. There was evidence that most of the occupants in the cabin were victims of suffocation or fire, or both, because of their inability to effect an exit from the aircraft. Loss of control of the aircraft due to unusually severe turbulence and violent downdraft caused by a thunderstorm of unknown and unpredictable intensity.
08/01/1943;15:00;Ploesti, Romania;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Bombing run;Consolidated B-24;;;10;10;63;Crashed into a women's prison after being hit by anti-aircraft fire while on a bombing run.
08/07/1943;05:20;Off Townsville, Australia;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Townsville - Brisbane;Douglas C-47-DL;41-7733;4212;27;27;0;Crashed into the ocean.
08/11/1943;;Fort Hertz, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas C-53;48;;3;3;0;The cargo plane was shot down by Japanese fighters.
08/27/1943;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;VASP;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;PP-SPD;5459;21;18;0;Struck a Naval Academy building while attemptin to take off. The plane then broke in two and fell into the harbor. The plane was named 'City of Rio de Janiero.'
09/10/1943;16:00;Off Galveston, Texas;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Boeing B-17F / Boeing B-17F;42-4621/42-6031;;22;22;0;Midair collision over the Gulf of Mexico while flying in formation. Eleven killed on each plane.
09/20/1943;08:50;Near Maxton, North Carolina;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-53D-DO;42-68729;11656;25;25;0;Crashed into a wooded area after nearly colliding with a glider being towed by another aircraft. The evasive maneuver caused the aircraft to stall and crash.
09/22/1943;06:00;Near Calcutta, India;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-53;42-6471;4923;20;20;0;Cashed into trees shortly after taking off.
10/15/1943;23:17;Near Centerville, Tennessee;American Airlines;63;Nashville - Memphis;Douglas DC3-G102;NC16088;1588;15;15;0;The aircraft struck the ground nose-first in a vertical attitude while en route and was completely demolished by the impact. Inability of the aircraft to gain or maintain altitude due to carburetor ice, propeller ice or wing ice or some combination of these icing conditions, while over terrain and in weather unsuitable for an emergency landing.
10/19/1943;;St. Donat, Quebec, Canada;Military - Royal Canadian Air Force;;;Consolidated B-24;;;24;24;0;The plane crashed in a snowstorm, on a cliff near the summit of Black Mountain, 60 miles north of its destination, Montreal. The wreckage was located three years later.
10/22/1943;;Hallo, Sweden;AB Aerotransport;;;Douglas DC-3;SE-BAG;2132;15;13;0;Shot down by a Ju88, German military aircraft.
10/22/1943;20:20;Columbus, Georgia;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-47-DL;42-5677;7371;20;20;0;Stalled when it was making a descending turn during a parachute exercise.
11/08/1943;;Poona, India;Military - Indian Air Force;;;;;;1;1;37;Crashed into a village.
11/19/1943;;Kunming, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas C-53;59;;3;2;0;The cargo plane crashed short of the runway in poor weather conditions.
11/19/1943;;Kunming, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas C-47;63;;3;3;0;A navigational error caused the cargo plane to strike a mountain.
11/26/1943;;Port Moresby, New Guinea;Qantas;;;Lockheed L-18-56 Lodestar;VH-CAB;;15;15;0;Flew into a hill shortly after talking off from Ward's Strip operated by Qantas for Allied Directorate of Air Transport.
12/18/1943;;Suifu, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas C-47;83;;3;3;0;The cargo plane struck a mountain while attempting a go-around.
12/19/1943;09:20;Canal Creek, Australia;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-47A-60-DL;43-30742;13893;31;31;0;
12/29/1943;15:00;Lakeside, Utah;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces / Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Wendover Field - Pocatello AAB;Consolidated B-24 / Consolidated B-24;42-7183/42-7408;;25;25;0;A midair collision occurred while on a cross-country flight flying in formation. Twelve kiled aboard 4207183 and thirteen aboard 42-7408. Faulty flying technique displayed by the pilot of 42-7183.
01/15/1944;;Belgrad, Yugoslavia;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-ADQW;640610;5;5;0;Pilot error.
02/10/1944;23:36;Memphis, Tennessee;American Airlines;2;Little Rock - Memphis;Douglas DC-3;NC21767;2166;24;24;0;The aircraft crashed into a river and sank ,18 miles southwest of Memphis, in a snowstorm, while en route from Little Rock. Cause undetermined.
02/20/1944;;China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas
C-47;75;;2;2;0;The cargo plane flew into a mountain
02/21/1944;;Eubeoa, Greece;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-ABAS;6561;16;16;0;The plane missing and never found.
03/22/1944;;New Guinea;Military - U.S. Army;;Port Moreaby - Nadzab;Consolidated B-24 Liberator;;;21;21;;Disappeared while en route on a non-combat mission. Wreckage found 39 years later on 4/30/1983.
04/06/1944;15:48;Near Nome, Alaska;Pan American World Airways;;Nome - Fairbanks;Pilgrim 100B;NC742N;;6;6;0;Crashed shortly after takeoff in a snow storm. Failure of the pilot to recognize his proximity to the ground due to heavy snow which entirely covered the terrain.
04/17/1944;;Belgrad, Yugoslavia;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-AOCA;640996;7;5;0;Shot down by allied fighters.
04/21/1944;;Frederikstad, Norway;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Douglas DC-3;D-AAIG;2095;20;9;0;Pilot error.
04/25/1944;;Montreal, Canada;Military - Royal Air Force;;Montreal, Canada - European air base;Consolidated Liberator;;;16;16;0;Crashed into a row of houses shortly after taking off from Dorval Airport.
05/26/1944;;Between Calcutta to Dinjan, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Calcutta - Dinjan;Douglas C-47;82;;12;12;0;While enroute the crew got lost and crashed into 22,000 foot mountain in Tibet. Bad weather prevented the pilot from getting a bearing on any radio station.
05/27/1944;;Off Calcutta, India;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas DC-3;;;14;14;0;Crashed at sea in poor weather conditions.
06/06/1944;01:30;Carentan, France;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-47A-DL;42-101035;19498;22;22;0;Shot down by anti-aircraft fire during the Normandy invasion.
06/06/1944;02:00;Flamanville, France;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-47A;42-100905;19368;22;22;0;Shot down by anti-aircraft fire during the Normandy invasion.
06/06/1944;01:15;Barneville, France;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-47A;42-93095;112969;22;22;0;Shot down by anti-aircraft fire during the Normandy invasion.
06/08/1944;;Kunming, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Dijan - Kunming;Douglas C-47;85;;6;6;0;The plane discintigrated in mid-aid. The jack pad had been removed from the right wing root. This left 4 large holes directly under the fuel tanks and directly in line with the exhaust. When the throttles were cut to descend, the flame only went as far back as the holes. There the flames went up around the fuel tank, igniting the fumes and blew the wing off.
06/18/1944;;Kweilin, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Kunming - Chungking,;Douglas C-47;71;;4;2;0;Diverted to Kweilin after Chunking was below minimums. After holding over Kweilin for 3 hours, the aircraft ran out of gas, hit mountain and was demolished.
06/20/1944;;Porto Alegre, Brazil;Varig;;;Lockheed 10C Electra;PP-VAG;1008;10;10;0;Crashed into a river.
07/26/1944;03:00;North AtlantiOcean;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;England - Long Island, N.Y.;Douglas C-54A-DO (DC-4);42-107470;7489;26;26;0;Disappeared while en route from Iceland to Newfoundland.
07/27/1944;16:00;Port Logan, Scotland;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Bristol - Preswick;Douglas C-47A-DK;42-93038;12905;22;22;0;As the aircraft approached land, it began a climb but was not able to gain sufficient altitude to clear a cloud shrouded cliff.
07/31/1944;;Funafuti, Gilbert Islands, PacifiOcean;Pan American Airways;;;Consolidated Catalina PB2Y-3R;7233;;24;22;0;While taking off in the dark, the aircraft's wingtip collided with the jackpole mast of an anchored liberty ship which had slipped anchor and drifted, unlighted, into the seaplane area. The aircraft then spun out of control, and crashed into the ocean and sank.
08/03/1944;20:30;Naper, Nebraska;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Bruning, NB - Pierre, SD;Douglas C-47A-DL;42-23652;9514;28;28;0;Crashed in a severe thunderstorm after possibly being hit by lightning and losing both engines.
08/08/1944;13:20;Off Antilla, Cuba;Pan American World Airways;218;Antilla - Miami;Sikorsky S-42 (flying boat);NC823M;4201;31;17;0;Crashed during the third attempt to lift from the water and sank into the ocean. Loss of control due to the captain's inexperience in handling the particular type of aircraft. The aircraft was named 'Hong Kong Clipper.'
08/12/1944;18:20;Blythburgh, England;Military - U.S. Navy;-;;Consolidated PB4Y-1;32271;;2;2;0;"Navy lieutenant Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., 29, brother of President John F. Kennedy, was killed while on a flying mission over England during World War II. Kennedy volunteered for operation Aphrodite after completing two full combat tours and was killed when the explosive-laden PB4Y he was flying blew up in air. He was intending to aim the ship and bail out, leaving another aircraft to guide the PB4Y via remote control to a German submarine pen on the French coast; it apparently exploded when he armed the switches. The photographichase plane had President Franklin Roosevelt's son, Elliot Roosevelt, on board."
08/23/1944;10:45;Freckelton, England;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Consolidated B-24H;42-50291;;3;3;58;The bomber crashed into a school and a cafe while attempting to land at Warton Air Depot in poor weather. The crash occurred during a thunderstorm with heavy rain and winds. Windshear.
08/28/1944;01:00;Preswick, Scotland;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-54A-DC (DC-4);42-72171;10276;20;20;5;Crashed into a residential area in poor visiblility while attemping to land after a trans-Atlantiflilght.
08/30/1944;;Sao Paulo, Brazil;Panair do Brasil;;;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;PP-PBI;2114;16;16;0;Crashed in fog.
09/02/1944;;Belgrad, Yugoslavia;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU52/3m;D-AUAW;641039;5;5;0;Shot down by allied fighters.
09/07/1944;;Near Mossman, Queensland, Australia;Military - Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force;;Merauke -- Cairns;C-47 Dakota DT-941;VH-RDK;;20;20;0;The plane went missing while en route from Merauke to Cairns. The last radio contact was 15 minutes before ETA. A scientifiexpedition found the wreckage in January 1989, 65 km northwest from Cairns at a height of 1,200 meters.
09/18/1944;07:42;Alaska;U. S. Air Force;;Elmindorf AFB, Anchorage - Ladd Field, Fairbanks;Douglas C-47A-90-DL;43-15738;20204;19;19;0;Struck the side of a mountain while in full flight. Cause unknown but weather conditions suspected.
09/21/1944;;Rio Doce, Brazil;Panair do Brasil;;;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;PP-PBH;2113;17;17;0;
09/27/1944;20:30;Near Dijon, France;Deutsche Lufthansa;;Stuttgart - Barcelona;Focke-Wulf FW 200;D-AMHL;20;9;9;0;Missing on a flight from France to Spain. Shot down by an American Bristol Beau allied night fighter.
06/30/1945;;Texas;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Boeing TB-29A Super Fortress;44-69943;;12;12;0;
10/07/1944;;Near Sadiya, India;China National Aviation Corporation;;Dinjan - Suifu;Douglas C-47;101;;3;3;0;Both wing of the cargo plane separated from the fuselage after the aircraft penetrated a thunderstorm.
10/10/1944;;Bosnia;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-AUSS;641382;7;7;0;
10/11/1944;;Sydney, Australia;Qantas;;;Short S-23 (flying boat);VH-ABB;S-877;30;1;0;On final approach with one engine shut-down, stalled 10 ft above the water and hull ruptured on impact.
10/16/1944;;Telemark, Norway;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-ADQV;640608;15;15;0;Crashed into a mountain in poor weather conditions.
10/17/1944;;Hungary;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;D-ASHE;640601;9;1;0;Shot down by British Mosquito fighters.
10/18/1944;15:40;Birkenhead, England;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Liverpool - New York;Consolidated B24H;42-50347;;24;24;0;Broke-up in flight either due to an explosion or catastrophistructural failure of the aircraft.
11/04/1944;17:15;Hanford, California;Trans Continental and Western Air;8;San Francisco - New York City;Douglas DC-3;NC28310;2251;24;24;0;The wing separated from the aircraft after entering a thunderstorm and encountering severe turbulence. The failure of the airplane's structure as a result of severe turbulence, an important contributing cause was the
fact that the airplane was undoubtedly in an abnormal attitude of flight, i.e., inverted, at the instant of structural failure. The cause of the airplane becoming inverted was not determined.
11/09/1944;;Seljord, Norway;Military - U.S. Army Air Corps;;;;42-52196;;;;;
11/19/1944;15:10;Lewes, England;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-47A-DL;43-15046;19512;30;25;0;Flying in low overcast, the aircraft struck a hill, exploded and burned.
11/29/1944;;Tegucigalpa, Nicaragua;TACA;;;Ford 5-AT-B Tri-Motor;XH-TAN;;16;16;0;
11/29/1944;;Kenya;BOAC;;;Lockheed 18 LodeStar;G-AGBW;;15;15;0;
11/29/1944;;Malmo, Sweden;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Focke-Wulf FW 200;D-ARHW;2994;10;10;0;Shot down by a German patrol boat.
11/30/1944;;Dinjan, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas C-47;56;;3;3;0;The cargo plane flew into Digboi Mountain after losing both engines.
12/01/1944;00:54;Van Nuys, California;Trans Continental and Western Air;13;San Francisco - Burbank - New York City;Douglas DC-3;NC17322;1965;17;9;0;The plane crashed and burned 6.5 miles west northwest of the Bubank Airport in dense fog. The pilot's deviation from the standard instrument approach procedure and descent below the established safe minimum altitude. A contributing factor was the company's failure to enforce adherence to company procedures.
12/03/1944;;AtlantiOcean;Trans-Canada Air Lines;;;Avro 683 Lancaster;CF-CMU;;5;5;0;
12/15/1944;14:00;English Channel;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Twinwood, England - Villacoublay, France;UC-64A Noorduyn Norseman;44-70286;550;3;3;0;Disappeared over the English Channel en route from Bedford England to Paris, France. Band leader and musician Glenn Miller, 40, killed along with flight officer John Morgan and Lt. Colonel Norman Baessell. It has been theorized the plane may have been hit by bombs being jettisoned over the English Channel by RAF bombers on their way home from an unsuccessful raid. Wreckage and bodies were never found.
01/06/1945;;Near Dinjan, India;China National Aviation Corporation;;Kunming - Tengchung;Douglas C-47;77;;4;4;0;The cargo plane crashed in strong winds
01/08/1945;21:16;Port of Spain, Trinidad;Pan American World Airways;161;Miami - Leopoldville;Martin M-130 (flying boat);NC14716;558;30;23;0;The aircraft crashed 1.25 miles short of the intended landing area in a nose-down attitude at too great a speed and broke up in the water. The first officer's failure to realize his proximity to the water and to correct his attitude for a normal landing and the lack of adequate supervision by the captain during the landing, resulting in the inadvertent flight into the water in excess of normal landing speed and in a nose-down attitude. The aircraft was named China Clipper.
01/10/1945;04:10;Burbank, California;American Airlines;6001;New York City - Juarez, Mexico - Burbank;Douglas DC-3;NC25684;2215;24;24;0;The aircraft, lost in fog, crashed into the Verdugo Mountains, while attempting to reach Palmdale Airport, its alternate landing site, after being unable to land at Burbank Airport. The company ground personnel failed to obtain and transmit important weather to the pilot. Improperly executed missed approach by the pilot. Actress Donna Reed was returning from Juarez where she obtained a divorce from her husband but was bumped from the flight just prior to takeoff to make room for a military officer holding a wartime-travel priority pass.
01/14/1945;;China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas C-47;70;;6;4;0;The cargo plane struck a mountain.
01/16/1945;;Near Kunming, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Chongqing - Kunming;Douglas C-47;;;3;3;0;
01/23/1945;;Timor, Indonesia;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;;Consolidated Liberator;A72-70;;11;11;0;
01/31/1945;;Redesdale, Australia;Australian National Airways;;;Stinson Model A;VH-UYY;;10;10;0;
02/02/1945;10:15;Near Montieri, Italy;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-47-DL;41-18603;4728;26;23;0;Crashed into a hill after encountering a fog bank and not climbing in sufficient time to avoid the terrain.
02/06/1945;10:05;Nunters Burgh, England;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47 Dakota;KG630;13390;23;23;0;Struck a mountain while flying in low clouds and poor visibility.
02/13/1945;06:30;Off Oakland, California;Military - U.S. Navy;;;Douglas R4D-6;50765;;24;24;0;Crashed into San Francisco bay shortly after taking off. The right wing struck to water as the plane made a wide turn.
02/15/1945;;Lagoa Santa, Brazil;Navegacao Aerea Brasileira;;;Lockheed 18 Loadstar;PP-NAE;2149;11;11;0;
02/23/1945;;Casablanca, Morocco;Military - United States Army Air Force;;;Curtiss C-46A;42-107377;27064;30;13;0;
02/23/1945;02:25;Marion, Virginia;American Airlines;9;New York City - Los Angeles;Douglas DC-3;N18142;2138;22;17;0;The aircraft flew into the summit of Glade mountain at 3,900 ft., in heavy rain and turbulence while en route. The pilot's failure to properly plan the flight and remain at a safe instrument altitude under existing conditions. A contributing cause of the accident was the company's laxity in dispatching and supervising the flight.
03/27/1945;;Coral Sea, off Australia;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-47A-90-DL;43-16011;20477;24;24;0;Disappeared en route.
04/09/1945;;Kunming, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Kunming - Sichang;Douglas C-47;88;;3;3;0;The cargo plane struck a mountain in the Himalayas under poor weather conditions.
04/14/1945;16:58;Morgantown, West Virginia;Pennsylvania Central Airlines;142;Pittsburgh - Morgantown;Douglas DC-3;NC25692;2262;20;20;0;The aircraft crashed against the slope of Cheat Mountain at 2,100 ft., 7 miles east northeast of Morgantown. The action of the pilot in continuing flight over mountainous terrain under instrument conditions, below the minimum authorized instrument altitude.
04/19/1945;05:35;Near Perth, Australia;Military - U.S. Navy;-;;Douglas DC-3;39067;;13;13;0;The transport crashed into a hillside as it took off in heavy fog at Guildford Airport.
04/20/1945;;;;;;Junkers JU-53/3m;D-ANAJ;;18;18;0;Missing on an evacuation flight from Berlin to Munich.
04/20/1945;06:40;Sweetwater, Texas;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Midland, TX - Nashville, TN;Douglas C-47-DL;41-18451;4513;25;25;0;Broke-up after entering an area of thunderstorms. Initial structural failure involved the elevator followed by the entire aircraft.
04/21/1945;;Munchen, Germany;Deutsche Lufthansa;;;Focke-Wulf FW 200;D-ASHH;;21;21;0;
04/23/1945;;North Barrule, Isle of Man, England;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Ridgewell - Nutts Corner;B17G Flying Fortress;43-38856;;31;31;0;
04/27/1945;12:40;Washington D.C.;Page Airways;;Washington, D.C. - New York, Ny;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;NC33328;2221;13;6;0;Lost an engine during takeoff, settled back on the runway, overran the runway, rolled to the right and crashed into a drainage ditch and burned. Engine failure during a critical point in the take-off followed by the pilot executing an emergency landing under unfavorable conditions. Contributing factors were the strong gusts and ground turbulence which prevailed at the time and the presence of a deep ditch near the runway.
05/05/1945;22:26;Manus Island, New Guinea;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-54E-DO (DC-4);44-9043;27269;21;21;0;Crashed into a hill shortly after taking off from Sorido airstrip. Cause unknown.
05/06/1945;12:55;Hindhead, England;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Curtiss-Wright C-46D-CU;44-77839;33235;30;30;1;Flying low because of poor visiblity, the aircraft struck a radar tower, lost its right wing, crashed and burned. Pilot error. Flying VFR in IFR conditions.
05/09/1945;1:30;Roye, France;Military -Royal Air Force;;England - Brussels;Avro Lancaster;RF230;;31;31;0;The aircraft went in to a spin and crashed in a wooded area and caught fire.
05/13/1945;15:00;Netherlands, New Guinea;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-47B-DK;43-49788;27049;23;20;0;Crashed into mountains.
05/30/1945;09:20;Off Drewin, Ivory Coast;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Accra,
Ghana - Monrovia, Liberia;Douglas C-47B-dK;44-76406;32738;21;21;0;Disappeared off the Atlanticoast after sending a distress message. A witness observed the plane hit the water at a 45 degree angle. No wreckage or bodies were ever found.
06/15/1945;;China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas C-47;81;;3;3;0;The aircraft crashed into a mountain in the Carstenz Range at an altitude of 14,200 ft. The wreckage was discovered in December 1970.
06/24/1945;;Gealdton, Australia;MaRobertson Miller Airlines;;;de Havilland DH-86A;VH-USF;2310;11;2;0;
06/25/1945;07:50;Swanage, England;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Consolidated LB-30A Liberator;JT985;;27;27;0;Crashed and burned on a hillside after experiencing engine failure.
06/29/1945;;Bangalore, India;Military - Royal Indian Air Force;;;;;;2;2;36;Crashed into a village exploding and destoying several houses.
07/04/1945;;North AtlantiOcean;Military -Royal Air Force;;Montreal, Canada - England;Consolidated LB-30A Liberator;JT982;;15;15;0;Disappeared on a trans-Atlantiflight from Montreal to England.
07/11/1945;;Near Kisumu, Kenya;Military - South African Air Force;;;Douglas C-47;6812;;28;28;0;Crashed shortly after take off into Lake Victoria.
07/12/1945;14:36;Near Florence, South Carolina;Eastern Air Lines / Military - U.S. Army Air Corps;45;Boston - NY - Washington DC - Jacksonville - Miami;Douglas DC-3-201C / Army A-26;NC25647;2235;10;3;0;After deviating off course 8 miles to avoid military traffic, the two planes collided at 3,000 ft. The commercial pilot landed the plane in a corn field. Two occupants of the A-26 (33-35553) were killed and one parachuted safely. One infant was killed on the DC-3. Lack of vigilance on the part of the pilots of both aircraft, resulting in the failure of each pilot to see the other aircraft in time to avoid a collision.
07/28/1945;09:49;New York, New York;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;North American B-25D bomber;43-0577;;3;3;11;A U.S. Army Air Force plane crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building in heavy fog. Lt. Col. William Franklin Smith Jr., the pilot, became disoriented while trying to land at Newark Airport. Lt. Smith was told he had a 3 hour wait to land at Newark. Impatient to get his plane on the ground, he falsely declared he had official business at La Guardia Airport with the intention of diverting to Newark as soon as he was cleared. The 12 ton plane smashed a 20 ft. hole in the building. Fuel from the ruptured gas tanks poured out and set two floors ablaze killing 10 people. One engine exited the south side of the building and plunged into a penthouse below. The second engine entered an elevator shaft and severed the cables plunging the car and the elevator operator 1,000 feet into a sub basement. Despite suffering a broken back and legs, she survived.
08/01/1945;;Near San Luis Potosi, Mexico;Lineas Aereas Mineras;;;Boeing 247D;XA-DUY;1723;12;12;0;Crashed into mountainous terrain.
08/03/1945;10:11;Fort de France, Martinique;Pan American World Airways;216;Port of Spain - Fort de France;Sikorsky S-43 (flying boat);NC15066;4306;14;4;0;The aircraft crashed while landing at Fort de France. The plane sank and 4 passengers drowned. The attempt by the pilot to land the aircraft in conditions of water surface not suitable for landing of a flying boat.
08/11/1945;;Ixtaccihuati, Mexico;Mexicana;;;Douglas DC-2-243;XA-DOT;2075;16;16;0;Crashed in poor weather conditions.
09/07/1945;02:13;Florence, South Carolina;Eastern Air Lines;42;Miami - New York City;Douglas DC-3;NC33631;4137;22;22;0;Fire was discovered on board the aircraft after having passed Florence. The fire originated in the general area of the right side of the rear cargo compartment and lavatory. The aircraft descended to a lower altitude while returning to Florence, struck two large trees and crashed. A fire of undetermined origin in the rear cargo compartment or lavatory which resulted in the inability of the pilot to maintain altitude long enough to effect an emergency landing.
09/11/1945;10:15;Near Milne Bay, New Guinea;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;Milne Bay - Dobodura;Douglas C-47A;A6556;25365;11;11;0;Left Milne Bay on routine flight to Dobodura at 10:15. Crashed into sea near Milne Bay.
09/15/1945;00:08;Near Kansas, Missouri;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-47B-DK;45-1011;34277;24;23;0;Failed to gain altitude while taking off, struck trees, lost both wings, exploded and burned. Engine failure.
09/18/1945;;Puncak Jaya, Papua New Guinea;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B-5-DK;A65-61;14554/25999;29;29;0;
09/28/1945;;Near Chihkiang, China;Military - United States Army Air Force;;;Curtiss C-46D;42-101183;30638;20;20;0;
10/05/1945;01:05;Lakeland, Florida;National Airlines;16;Miami - Jacksonville;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;NC18199;2265;15;2;0;Crashed into a lake while attempting to execute a missed approach. The faulty execution of a missed approach procedure resulting in settling of the aircraft into a water area beyond the landing runway.
10/05/1945;12:50;Elvetham, England;Military -Royal Air Force;;England - Prague;Consolidated LB-40-A Liberator;;;23;23;0;Cashed and burned shortly after takeoff after experiencing an engine fire in the No. 2 engine.
10/07/1945;00:30;Rennes, France;Military - Royal Air Force;;London - Cairo;Short Stirling IV;LJ668;;26;26;0;Lost altitude while in a turn and attempting to land and crashed and burned.
10/13/1945;20:45;Melsbroek, Belgium;Military -Royal Air Force;;Belgium - India;Consolidated LB-30-A Liberator;KL595;;31;31;0;The aircraft failed to gain speed or altitude and struck a hill at the end of the runway.
10/16/1945;11:30;Near Peking, China;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Hankou - Peking;Curtiss-Wright C-46F-CU;44-78591;22414;59;59;0;Struck a radio transmission tower while on approach for landing at Nanyman field.
10/20/1945;;Timor Sea, AtlantiOcean;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;Ambon, Indonesia - Darwin, Australia;Douglas C-47B;A65-83;16127/32875;25;25;0;Disappeared en route.
10/20/1945;;Between Shanghi and Canton, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Shanghai - Canton;Douglas C-47;;;31;31;0;Crashed into a mountain while en route.
10/23/1945;;Near Chiringa, India;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B;KJ957;14804/26249;14;14;0;Penetrated a thunderstorm and broke-up.
10/24/1945;;Tarapoto, Peru;Faucett;;;Faucett F-19;OB-PAG-139;24;5;5;0;Crashed on takeoff.
10/30/1945;19:15;Chihchiang, China;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Curtiss-Wright C-46A-CK;43-47228;299;50;45;0;Crashed and burned on takeoff striking a hill. Possible engine failure or overloading.
11/01/1945;15:30;Herrenalb, Germany;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-47A-DK;42-93041;12909;30;26;0;The crew descended through low overcast to obtain their position. Followed an river and crashed into wooded mountainside. Navigator error in not informing the pilot of high terrain.
11/03/1945;02:00;Near Chuka, India;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Chabua - Karachi;Douglas C-54G;45528A;;44;44;0;Crashed into the Himalaysas and burned while en route.
11/08/1945;20:00;Off Corpus Christi, Texas;Military - U.S. Navy / Military - U.S. Navy;;;Martin PBM-3S / Martin PBM-5;01710 / 69113;;27;22;0;The aircraft expierence a midair collision over Corpus Christi Bay while on a training flight.
11/09/1945;20:00;Near Boccadi, Italy;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Athens - Naples;Douglas C-47A-DL;42-24363;10225;24;24;0;The pilot radioed he was lost, shortly before impacting the ground while attempting to land in poor visibility.
11/11/1945;12:00;Near Picinisco, Italy;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;France - Athens;Boeing B-17G;43-9197;;20;20;0;The plane disappeared after the pilot radioed he was exeriencing heavy icing and asked to divert to Rome. The plane was found 5 months later on Mt. Meta.
11/11/1945;23:45;Near Castel, Libya;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Short Stirling;PJ950;;29;29;0;Crashed and burned after experiencing an engine fire.
11/11/1945;;Himalayas;Military
- U.S. Army;;Chabau, India - Karachi, Pakistan;Douglas C-54;;;44;44;0;Crashed into a mountain ridge 200 ft. short of the summit, bounced over the top and crashed down the other side while en route.
11/15/1945;09:14;New Britain Island, New Guinea;Military - Royal Australian Air Force;;;Douglas C-47 Dakota-DK;A6554;26640;28;28;0;Crashed into a 7,000 ft. mountain, 150 feet below the ridge, shortly after taking off.
11/22/1945;10:00;White's Farm, England;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Consolidated LB-30A Liberator;KH126;;27;27;0;The aircraft crashed into a hill shortly after takeoff after and making a turn, before reaching the prescribed altitude.
12/03/1945;13:30;Near Rochefort , France;Military -Royal Air Force;;India - Cambridge, England;Consolidated LB-30A Liberator;KH125;;28;28;0;Crashed in severe turbulence in thunderstorms after losing the right wing and breaking up.
12/05/1945;20:00;Off the Florida coast;Military - U.S. Navy;19;;Five Grumman TBM Avengers;;;14;14;0;The five aircraft, (23307) (73209) (46325) (46094) (45714), flying out of the U.S. Naval Air Station at Fort Lauderdale, on a training mission, became lost, ran out of fuel and crashed into the AtlantiOcean. No trace of the planes were ever found. This was the incident that began the 'Bermuda Triangle' legend.
12/08/1945;;Near Billings, Montana;Military - U.S. Army;;Newark, N.J. - Seattle, WA;Douglas C-47;;;21;17;0;Crashed into a field after hitting trees while attempting to land in a snowstorm.
12/18/1945;10:10;Voksenkollen, Norway;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B;KN413;16090/32838;17;15;0;Flew into the side of a hill.
12/25/1945;;Bangui, French Equatorial Africa;Air France;;;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;F-BALV;2380;8;8;0;
12/30/1945;21:13;New York City, New York;Eastern Air Lines;14;Philadelphia - New York City;Douglas DC-3;NC18l23;1999;12;1;0;The pilot, in the belief that he was encountering engine trouble, attempted a landing despite a landing approach which was too high and too fast. Initial contact with the runway was made at a point which provided insufficient room for a landing roll and at an airspeed considerable in excess of normal. The pilot was unable to bring the aircraft to a stop in time to avoid overshooting the runway. The decision of the pilot in attempting a landing from an approach which was too high and too fast.
01/06/1946;03:59;Birmingham, Alabama;Pennsylvania Central Airlines;105;New York City - Birmingham, AL;Douglas DC-3;N21786;4131;11;3;0;In worsening weather conditions, the plane landed fast and high while making an instrument approach to Birmingham, overran the runway, crashed through the barrier fence and into a creek. The action of the pilot in committing himself to a landing from an approach which was too high and too fast.
01/09/1946;;Changchun, China;Military - Chinese Air Force;;;Douglas C-47;;;18;18;0;
01/15/1946;18:25;Marseilles, France;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47 Dakota;KN557;33171;25;23;0;Crashed into a mountainside in a snowstorm.
01/18/1946;11:03;Cheshire, Connecticut;Eastern Air Lines;16B;New York - Boston;Douglas DC-3-201E;NC19970;3254;17;17;0;The aircraft lost control and spiraled into the ground after the No. 1 engine caught on fire and the left wing separated from the aircraft. The fire, caused by the failure of a fuel line or fuel line connection, led to failure of the left wing.
01/19/1946;;Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada;Mililtary - Royal Canadian Air Force;;Comox, BC - Greenwood,NS;Douglas DC-3 Dakota;;;7;7;0;Collided with Mt. Ptolemy while en route.
01/30/1946;;Near Le Mans, France;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B;KN500;16277/33025;11;11;0;
01/31/1946;02:47;Mt. Elk, Wyoming;United Air Lines;14;Boise - Denver;Douglas DC-3-194H;NC25675;2147;21;21;0;The aircraft crashed into Elk Mountain after the crew made an unauthorized deviation from the prescribed route at an altitude insufficient to assure adequate clearance over Elk Mountain. Flight had originally filed for 13,000 ft. But later amended the flight plan to 11,000 ft. Elk Mountain is 11,152 ft. MSL.
02/05/1946;;Negros, Philippines;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Iloilo - Cebu;Douglas C-47;;;20;20;0;Crashed into mountainous terrain while en route.
02/21/1946;;Charlottetown, PE, Canada;British Overseas Airways;;;Consolidated 32-2 Liberator II;G-AGEM;26;14;1;0;Crashed while attempting to land. Icing.
03/03/1946;08:12;Live Oak Springs, California;American Airlines;6-103;Dallas - Tucon - San Diego;Douglas DC-3-227B;NC21799;2203;27;27;0;While on approach to San Diego, the aircraft flew into Tierra Blanca Mountain at an altitude of 4,500 feet in fog, exploded and burned. The crew descended into instrument conditions to an altitude below that required to maintain clearance over Thing Mountain. The reason for the descent was not determined.
03/05/1946;;Near Prague, Czechoslovakia;Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie;;Paris - Prauge;Junkers JU-52/3m;OK-;;14;10;0;Crashed while approaching Ruzyne Aerodome to land.
03/10/1946;20:55;Off Hobart, Tasmania;Australian National Airways;;Hobart - Melbourne;Douglas DC-3 (C-47DL);VH-AET;6013;25;25;0;The aircraft crashed 10 mins after takeoff from Hobart. Inadvertent engagement of the autopilot instead of the fuel crossfeed.
03/17/1946;;Near Nanking, China;Military - Chinese Air Force;;Shanghai - Nanking;;;;20;20;0;Crashed into mountainous terrain in low visibility while en route.
03/18/1946;;Between Chungking and Shanghai, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Chunking - Shanghai;;139;;;;;Disappeared while en route. Plane never located.
03/19/1946;11:45;Hobart Mills, California;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Stockton, CA - Ogden, UT;Douglas C-47B;45-1085;;26;26;0;The aircraft lost its right wing and disintegrated over Donner Summit for reasons unknown.
03/23/1946;;Ceylon, Cocos Islands, Indian Ocean;British Overseas Airways /Qantas;;Karachi - Australia;Avro 691 Lancastrian 1;G-AGLX;1178;10;10;0;Disappeared between Ceylon and the Cocos Islands while en route. Aircraft owned by BOAC and operated by both airlines on Sydney-London services (BOAC crews operated London-Karachi and Qantas crews Karachi-Sydney).
04/05/1946;11:15;Rabat, Malta;Military - Royal British Navy;;;Vickers Wellington bomber;HE-274;;4;4;16;The Wellington was engaged in exercises with a Spitfire fighter. The fighter was using the Wellington as a dummy target and the Wellington was to take evasive action. When the bomber was between 4,000 and 5,000 feet altitude, it turned to port and started diving at 20 degrees. It kept on loosing altitude till it crashed into houses in the center of Rabat. No distress signal was transmitted to either the fighter pilot or ground control. The probable cause of the accident was leakage of hydraulifluid which somehow heated and released fumes in the cockpit rendering the crew unconcious.
04/08/1946;;Near Shensi, China;;;Shensi - Yenan;;;;14;14;0;
04/22/1946;;Liberiad, Nicaragua;TACA;;;;AN-ACC;;21;19;0;Crashed on takeoff.
04/30/1946;;Pindi-Khut ,India;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47A;FZ559;12094;12;12;0;Broke up in midair and crashed.
05/10/1946;;Munson, Florida;Military U.S. Navy / Military - U.S. Navy;;;PBY4-2 Privateer / PB4Y-2 Privateer;;;28;28;0;Collided in midair while a fighter made practice diving maneuvers on the formation.
05/16/1946;01:00;Richmond, Virginia;Viking Air Transport;;Richmond - Atlanta;Douglas DC-3;NC53218;19626;27;27;0;Engine trouble after takeoff forced the crew to return to Richmond. While the crew was attempting to land a second time, an engine was shut down because it was running rough. The pilot apparently shut down the wrong engine. The plane stalled and crashed to earth, nose first. Inability of the crew to maintain adequate control of the aircraft to effect an emergency single-engine instrument approach under adverse weather conditions.
05/22/1946;;Oslo, Norway;DNL;;Oslo - Stockholm;Junkers JU-52/3m;LN-LAB;6048;13;13;0;Crashed into Oslo Fjord shortly after takeoff.
06/01/1946;07:40;Off Amalfi, Italy;Military -
U.S. Army Air Forces;;Cairo - Rome;Douglas C-54-DO (DC-4);44-9078;27304;38;30;0;A fire of undetermined origin erupted in the cockpit. The crew was unable to control the smoke and flames, lost control and the aircraft and crashed. Eight aboard parachuted to safety.
06/09/1946;13:15;Near Abeokuta, Nigeria;Military -Royal Air Force;;Kano - Ikeja;Douglas C-47 Dakota;KG747;25291;18;18;0;Flying low to avoid poor weather, the aircraft crashed while en route from Kano to Ikeja.
06/09/1946;10:30;Taboga Island, Panama;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-54D-DC (DC-4);43-17231;22181;23;23;0;Crashed into a summit after flying below the prescribed altitude.
06/29/1946;;Off Malaya;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B;KJ918;14641/26086;18;18;0;Disappeared.
06/29/1946;;Pau, France;Air France;;;Junkers Ju-52/3m;F-BAJS;AAC020;3;2;0;The cargo plane struck power lines and crashed while attempting to take off.
07/09/1946;20:10;Holyoke, Massachusetts;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Boeing B17G;43-39136;;25;25;0;Struck a slope on Mt. Tom during an approach to land at Westover Field.
07/11/1946;;Reading, Pennsylvania;Trans Continental and Western Air;513;Training flight;Lockheed L-049 Constellation;NC86513;2040;6;5;0;The flight crashed due to an in-flight fire caused by failure of a generator lead-through stud installation in the baggage compartment causing intense heat due to electrical arching, ignition of fuselage insulation and creation of smoke rendering the crew incapable of controlling the aircraft. The plane crashed into powerlines and trees and burst into flames. The accident led to a 30-day grounding of all L-049s. The plane was named Star of Lisbon. Training flight.
07/13/1946;;Tsinan, China;Central Air Transport;;;Curtiss C-46;;;49;13;0;The aircraft crashed 1 mile from the airfiend shortly after takeoff due to engine failure.
07/17/1946;;Cuenca, Ecuador;ANDESA;;Guayaquil - Cuenca;Curtiss C-46D-10-CU;HC-SCA;32982;30;30;0;Overshot the runway. The pilot was unable to regain altitude and the plane crashed into a hill and burst into flames.
07/18/1946;21:10;Goodland, Kansas;Military - U.S. Army Air Corps;;Topeka - Denver;Douglas C-47;;;13;13;0;Crashed into a field during a thunder and lightning storm.
07/20/1946;12:15;Off the Panama coast;Military - (2) U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Boeing B-17G / Boeing B-17G;4485624/4485626;;20;20;0;The two aircraft collided in midair, 20 miles north of the Panamanian island of Coiba while searching for a missing plane. Ten died aboard each aircraft.
07/25/1946;;Bassein, Burma;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47 Dakota;KN585;33219;22;22;0;Crashed into a swamp soon after taking off after suffering structural failure of the left wing in adverse weather conditions.
08/07/1946;;Oslo, Norway;British European Airways;;Northolt - Oslo;Douglas C-47A-10-DK;G-AHCS;12348;16;3;0;Flew into trees on Mistberget mountain at 2,000ft. while on approach to Oslo. Pilot error. Descended too early. Inexperience in radio range flying and inadequate equipment.
08/09/1946;;Lakehurst, New Jersey;AtlantiCentral Airlines;;AtlantiCity - Newark;Lockheed 18-56 Lodestar;;;6;4;0;Crashed and burned while attempting to glide in for an emergency landing at Lakhurst Field.
08/14/1946;;Malta-Luqa, Malta;BOAC;;;Douglas C-47A;G-AGHT;10103;5;1;0;The port engine and, later, the starboard engine failed as the result of fuel starvation. Circumstantial evidence suggests strongly that this was caused by the inadvertent selection of the auxiliary fuel tanks which at that time contained only a small amount of fuel.
08/20/1946;;Rouen, France;British Overseas Airways;;;Avro 691 Lancastrian 1;G-AGMF;1186;9;8;0;Descended through clouds and crashed. Premature descent by the crew without establishing their position. Training flight.
08/21/1946;04:19;Moline, Illinois;Trans Luxury Airlines;878;Teterboro - Chicago - San Francisco;Douglas C-47-DL;N51878;4542;25;2;0;While the aircraft was flying near Moline, the No. 1 engine failed. The prop was feathered and a descent initiated for an emergency landing.The aircraft overshot the landing and a go-around was executed. A left turn was made with the gear and flaps extended. The left wing touched the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled. The engine failure was caused by a No. 5 cylinder fracture.
08/24/1946;;Cairo, Egypt;Misrair;;;Avro Anson;SU-ADJ;1272;9;6;0;Crashed and caught fire.
09/03/1946;;Holtug, Denmark;Air France;;Copenhagen - Paris;Douglas DC-3 (C-53D-DO);F-BADB;11714;22;22;0;Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed into a field 40 miles south of Copenhagen, exploding and bursting into flames.
09/04/1946;09:15;Le Bourget, France;Air France;;Paris - Croydon;Douglas DC-3;F-BAXD;42975;26;20;1;Lost altitude after losing an engine on takeoff and crashed into a factory yard.
09/05/1946;02:00;Elko, Nevada;Trans-Luxury Airlines;850;New York City - San Francisco;Douglas DC-3 (C-47-A5-DL);NC57850;9214;22;21;0;The aircraft lost contact with the ground in fog and crashed into a hillside while attempting to land at Elko Airport. A two-year-old boy was the only survivor.
09/06/1946;;Bathurst, Gambia;British South American Airways;;Bathrust, - Argentina;Avro 685 York I;G-AHEW;1300;24;24;0;The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff after a loss of control by the captain. Loss of control by the captain for unknown reasons with mishandling of the controls the most likely explanation. The aircraft was named 'Star Leader.'
09/07/1946;;Nome, Alaska;Mt. McKinley Airfreight;;;Douglas C-47A;;;4;4;0;The cargo plane went off course and struck a fog covered mountain as it circled to land.
09/15/1946;;Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada;Military - Royal Canadian Air Force;;;Douglas C-47A Dakota;962;12544;21;21;0;The pilot lost control of the aircraft after attempting a go-around maneuver.
09/17/1946;01:17;Brussels, Belgium;Sabena;;Brussels - Croydon;Douglas C-47-DL;OO-AUR;4549;7;1;0;During its climb the plane rolled and crashed into hangers. Loss of airspeed for undetermined reasons.
01/22/1947;;Puesto Araujo, Colombia;AVIANCA;;Bogota - Barrancabermeja;Douglas DC-3 ( C-47-DO);C-108;4829;17;17;0;Crashed in the jungles of the Magdalena river valley.
09/18/1946;07:42;Near Gander, Newfoundland;Sabena;;Brussels - Shannon - Gander - New York City;Douglas DC-4-1009;OO-CBG;42986;44;27;0;The aircraft crashed 24 mi SW of the runway at Gander. Improper approach by pilot in poor weather.
09/19/1946;;Near Tripoli, Libya;Military -Royal Air Force;;St. Mawan, England - Almaza, Egypt;Avro Lancaster;NX690;;25;25;0;Crashed after possibly being hit by lightning.
09/20/1946;;Lochi Mountain, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;;;;31;31;0;Crashed into a 14,000 ft. mountain.
09/25/1946;09:31;Near Hong Kong International Airport;Military - Royal Air Force;;Hong Kong - Singapore;Douglas C-47B-25-DK;KN414;16091/32839;19;19;0;The aircraft departed Hong Kong, Runway 31, climbing to a height of 700-800 feet. At that point the airplane lost control and crashed. The Dakota possibly stalled after encountering turbulence from the foothills.
09/27/1946;;Rio Doce, Brazil;Panair do Brasil;;Belo Horizonte - Rio de Janerio;Douglas DC-3A-228D;PP-PCH;4087;25;25;0;Crashed into a mountainside north of Rio de Janerio.
10/03/1946;03:30;Stephenville, Newfoundland;American Overseas Airlines;;Gander - Shannon;Douglas C-54E-5-DO;NC90904;27290;39;39;0;Took off from Gander and flew in a straight line into a mountain ridge 71 miles from the airport. The aircraft was named 'Flagship New England.' It can be concluded that the captain was not alert to the procedure necessary for a safe climb from the runway. The action of the pilot in maintaining the direction of take-off toward higher terrain over which adequate clearance could not be gained.
10/06/1946;07:30;Off Penang, Malaya;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Avro 685 York 1;MW125;;21;21;0;Crashed in the Strait of Malacca while en route.
10/07/1946;11:20;Apeldoorn, The Netherlands;Military - Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service;;;Fairey Firefly MK1;PP526;;1;1;22;The
pilot of the single engine fighter made an unauthorized flight to Apeldoorn and began flying low to attract attention. The aircraft lost altitude during a maneuver and crashed into a high school killing 22 on the ground.
10/08/1946;04:33;Cheyenne, Wyoming;United Air Lines;28;San Francisco - Cheyenne - Chicago;Douglas DC-4;N30051;10471;41;2;0;After two landing attempts, the pilot tried to land on a different runway. The wing struck the ground and the plane skidded 800 ft. A loss of altitude during a turn preparatory to a final approach while the pilot was manoeuvring in an attempt to land. The aircraft was named 'Mainliner Lake Michigan.'
10/10/1946;;Near Sefrou, Morocco;Air Ocean;;Paris - Casablanca;Junkers Ju-52/3m;F-BCAA;AAC281;16;16;0;Crashed into a mountain while en route.
10/17/1946;00:57;Laramie, Wyoming;National Air Transport Services;942;Oakland - Chicago;Douglas DC-3;NC38942;12971;13;13;0;Crashed during a snowstorm into prairie lands while attempting to land at Laramie. Weather conditions were deteriorating rapidly and worse than predicted. 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.
10/17/1946;;Near Chitral, India;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B;KN236;15659/27104;11;11;0;Struck an 11,000 ft. mountain.
10/23/1946;;Gebel Kalamoun, Egypt;Socotra;;Paris - Cairo;Junkers JU-52/3m;F-BCHD;AAC311;24;1;0;The plane crashed into a hill after attempting to make a forced landing after running out of fuel.
11/01/1946;;St Leger-la-Montagne, France;CTA LanguedoRoussillon;;Paris - Toulouse - Casablanca;AAC-1 Toucan;F-BCAD;284;27;23;0;Crashed into mountains while en route. The pilot descended to lower altitiude to rid the plane of ice.
11/11/1946;03:30;Cleveland, Ohio;United Air Lines;404;Chicago - Cleveland;Douglas DC-3 (C-53D-DO);N19947;4873;20;2;0;Struck power lines and trees and crashed 500 feet short of the runway. The error of the pilot in establishing an approach toward an area not cleared for landing as a result of having mistaken the end markers of Runway 23 for those of Runway 31. A contributing factor was the failure of the pilot to abandon his attempt to land at Cleveland Airport when confronted with weather conditions below the minimums prescribed for that airport.
11/13/1946;03:41;Lebec, California;Western Airlines;23;Palmdale - Burbank;Douglas C-53D-DO (DC-3);NC18645;11662;11;11;0;The aircraft crashed into White Mountain at an elevation of 6,000 feet, in rain and 70 mph winds after being blown off course while on a heading from Palmdale to Newhall. Possible downdraft. The action of the pilot in making an instrument letdown without previously establishing a positive radio fix. This action was aggravated by conditions of severe static, wind in excess of anticipated velocities, preoccupation with an unusual amount of radio conversation, and the inoperative Newhall radio range.
11/13/1946;08:18;Near Cofre de Perote, Mexico;Empressa Commun. Aéreas de Veracruz;;Mexico City - Veracruz;Douglas DC-3;XA-FOZ;;15;15;0;Crashed into an 11,000 ft. mountain obscured by clouds.
11/14/1946;;Amsterdam, Netherlands;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;London - Amsterdam;Douglas C-47A-90 DL (DC-3);PH-TBW;20122;26;26;0;The flight crashed during a third landing attempt in inclement weather. The pilot, not lined up with the runway, made a sharp left turn. The wing hit the ground and the aircraft exploded in flames.
11/16/1946;23:30;North PacifiOcean;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;Guam - Iwo Jima;Douglas C-47;;;23;23;0;Made a 360 degree turn and dove into the sea, 15 miles off Iwo Jima .
11/26/1946;10:30;San Jose, Costa Rica;Lineas Aéreas Costarricenses LACSA;;;Douglas DC-3 (C-47A-90-DL);RX-76;20590;22;22;0;Struck Cedrel mountain while making an approach to San Jose.
11/30/1946;;El Palomar, Argentina;Fuerza Aérea Argentina;;;Vickers 620 Viking 1;T-1;113;18;5;0;Following engine failure, the captain lost control and crashed while trying to land.
12/04/1946;;Meshed, Iran;Aeroflot;;Meshed - Teheran;Lisunov Li-2;;;24;24;0;Crashed shortly after takeoff from Meshed airport.
12/10/1946;;Toledo, Washington;Military - U.S. Marine Corps;;Miramar NAS, California - Sand Point NB, Seattle;Curtiss-Wright R5C-1;39528;;32;32;0;The crew reported picking up ice before disappearing without a trace while en route. The last reported positon was 30 miles south of Toledo, Washington. Found 11 months later at Mt. Rainer.
12/10/1946;13:10;Near Osaka, Japan;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Curtiss-Wright C-46F-CU;44-78604;22427;24;24;0;Crashed 3 miles southwest of Itami Air Base shortly after taking off. Loss of engine power for reasons unknown.
12/14/1946;;Mt. Banahaur, Philippines;Far Eastern Air Transport;;Grace Park AF - Lucena;Douglas DC-3 (C-47-B-1-DK);PI-C-1;25436/13991;14;12;0;Crashed into tree tops on Mt. Banahaur. The pilot and 1 passenger survived.
12/17/1946;;Caribbean, AtlantiOcean;Winged Cargo Inc.;;Kingston, Jamaca - San Jose;Douglas C-47A;NC88876;9249;7;7;0;Disappeared en route. Never found.
12/23/1946;;Near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;FAMA (Argentina);;London - Buenos Aires.;Avro 685 York I;LV-XIG;1365;21;21;0;Poor weather at the destination airport forced the crew to divert to Rio de Janeiro. While approaching to land the aircraft flew into a mountain, 14 miles from the airport.
12/24/1946;19:19;Near San Diego, California;Western Airlines;44;Holtville - San Diego;Douglas DC-3 ( C-53D-DO);NC45395;42-68715;12;12;0;Crashed east slope of Cuyapaipe Mountain at 6,120 ft. in San Diego County in poor weather conditions. The conduct of the flight at an altitude which would not clear obstructions, due to an error by the pilot in determining his position with respect to Laguna Mountain.
12/25/1946;;Lunghwa, Shanghai, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Curtiss C-46, C-47, DC-3;115;;;87;4;Various accidents involving three aircraft unable to land in dense fog and a ground collision involving a fourth plane led to 91 deaths.
12/28/1946;09:19;Michigan City, Indiana;American Airlines;2207;Buffalo - Chicago;Douglas DC-3 (C-50A-DO);N15577;4805;21;2;0;Crashed after loosing power in both engines due to fuel starvation. The accumulation of carburetor ice following the loss of power in both engines as a result of fuel starvation. The reason for fuel starvation could not be determined.
12/28/1946;;Walshville, Illinois;Kansas City Southern Skyways;;Flint, MI - Washville, IL;Douglas C-47A;NC58024;9378;2;2;0;The cargo plane crashed after both engines failed. Fuel exhaustion.
12/28/1946;02:09;Near Shannon, Ireland;Trans Continental and Western Air;6963;Paris - Shannon;Lockheed 049 Consellation;NC86505;2026;23;13;0;Crashed 1 mile from the airport on an island situated on the Fergus River. Inaccurate altimeter reading caused by the reversal of the primary and statisource lines which resulted in the pilot making his approach at too low an altitude. Also, restriction of vision from the cockpit because of fogging of an unheated windshield.
01/03/1947;;Sao Paulo, Brazil;Panair do Brasil;;;Sikorsky S-43B (flying boat);PP-PBN;4315;14;11;0;Crashed into the Solimoes extension of the Amazon river.
01/05/1947;20:00;Carmel, New Jersey;Nationwide Air Transport;;Miami - Raleigh - Washington;Douglas DC-3;N50046;34373;23;3;0;The aircraft diverted from Washington to Millville because of heavy traffiin the Washington area. Near fuel exhaustion forced the crew to carry out an emergency landing. While maneuvering to find a suitable location during heavy snow, the aircraft struck trees and crashed. Failure of the Weather Bureau to anticipate below minimum conditions north and south of Washington. Failure of CAA to transmit the flight plan to Millville in sufficient time to alert that station to the arrival of the flight.
01/05/1947;;Tsingtao,
China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Shanghai - Tsingtao;Douglas DC-4;XT-T51;;38;38;0;Crashed into a mountain while on approach.
01/11/1947;;Off Laoag, China;Far Eastern Air Transport;;Shanghai - Manila;Douglas DC-4 (C-54A-DO);PI-C100;3106;42;7;0;The plane ditched into the PacifiOcean 80 miles west of Laoaq after a fire broke out in the No. 2 engine.
01/11/1947;;Near Lympne, England;British Overseas Airways;;London - Bordeaux;Douglas C-47A-1-DK;G-AGJX;12014;16;8;0;Ran out of fuel and crashed after not being able to land at Bordeaux or Paris and attempting to land at Lympne. Poor planning and operation by the crew. Poor weather conditions encountered throughout the flight. Crew unfamilar with route.
01/12/1947;01:38;Near Galax, Virginia;Eastern Air Lines;665;Akron, OH - Winston/Salem, NC;Douglas DC-3;NC88872;3274;19;18;0;The aircraft flew into the ground at an altitude of 2,500 ft., 63 miles northwest of Winston-Salem. The pilot took an unapproved route and let down without having positively determined the position of the aircraft. A contributing factor was the erroneous navigation of the pilot which on at least two occasions led him to believe that he was farther south than he actually was.
01/14/1947;09:00;Near Puebla, Mexico;Military - Mexican Air Force;;Puebla - Oaxaca;Lockheed C-60 Lodestar;60-03;;21;21;0;Crashed and burned moments after takeoff. Failure of the right engine.
01/25/1947;;Chongqing, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Canton - Chungking - Hong Kong;Douglas DC-3;;;19;19;0;Crashed into mountains 120 miles south of Chunking.
01/25/1947;;Croydon, Surrey, England;Spencer Airways / Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie;;Guangzhou - Chongqing;Douglas C-47 / Douglas DC-3;VP-YFD/OK-WDB;19979 / 9503;23;12;0;Just after becoming airborne, the plane never gained altitude, overran the runway and crashed into a Ceskoslovenske Dakota. Twelve killed on the Spencer Airways none on the Ceskoslovenske. Loss of control by the captain of the Spencer Airways plane, who, when attempting to take-off a heavily loaded aircraft in poor visibility allowed it to become airborne in a semi-stalled condition.
01/25/1947;;Hong Kong;Philippine Air Lines;;;Douglas C-47A;PI-C12;13508;4;4;0;The cargo plane struck Mt. Parker on approach.
01/26/1947;15:30;Copenhagen, Denmark;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Kobenhavn - Stockholm;Douglas C- C47A-30DK;PH-TCR;25479;22;22;0;During takeoff from Kobenhavn-Kastrup Airport, ,the aircraft rose to a height of 150 feet and then crashed to the ground in a fireball. Failure to remove the elevator locking pins prior to takeoff. Singer Grace Moore, 48, and Swedish crown prince, Gustav Adolf, 41, among those killed.
01/28/1947;;Near Hankow, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;Shanghai - Hankow - Chungking;Curtiss C-46;;;26;25;0;Crashed while en route about 30 minutes after takeoff.
02/01/1947;;Near Lisbon, Portugal;Air France;;Paris - Bordeaux - Lisbon;Douglas DC-3C;F-BAXQ;25251;16;15;0;Crashed into Cintra mountain while on approach in poor weather condtions.
02/05/1947;;Harrington, Delaware;International Air Freight;;New York, NY - Raleigh, NC;Douglas DC-3;NC54451;13873/25318;3;1;0;The cargo plane diverted to Harrington after a No. 2 engine rpm reduction. The plane approached downwind, overshot and struck some trees. Fuel contamination.
02/06/1947;;Pedro Bernardo, Spain;Aerovias Cuba International;;Havana - Lisbon - Madrid;Douglas C-54B-15-DO;NC44567;18386;12;12;0;Crashed in Gredos mountain range about 100 miles west of Madrid while en route. The plane was named 'Ruta de Colon.'
02/14/1947;04:20;Denver, Colorado;Slick Airways;;Omaha, NE - Denver, CO;Curtiss C-46E;NC59486;2944;2;2;0;Cargo flight. The momentary loss of control or overcontrol by the pilot at a critically low altitude in the final stages of an ILS approach. A contributing factor was the failure of the safety pilot to remain alert to the altitude of the aircraft.
02/15/1947;09:30;Off Terracina, Italy;Military - Corrieri Aerei Militari;;Rome - Cairo;Savoia-Marchetti SM-95;I-ABQH;41003;16;16;0;Disappeared and crashed into the ocean just off the coast of Terracina in clear weather. On board were an Egyptian Princess and her court. The cause remains unknown although sabotage is a possibility.
02/15/1947;12:18;Near Bogota, Colombia;AVIANCA;;Barranquilla - Bogota;Douglas DC-4;C-114;10439;53;53;0;The plane crashed into Mt. El Tabalazo at 10,500 feet in fog while en route.
02/21/1947;16:00;Chungking, China;Military - Chinese Air Force;;Sichang - Chungking;Douglas C-47;;;21;21;0;Crashed while attempting to land. Ran into heavy icing. One wing broke off.
02/26/1947;;China Sea, PacifiOcean;Military - Royal Air Force;;Singapore - Siagon;Douglas C-47B;KK120;15129/26574;12;12;0;Disappeared while en route.
03/08/1947;;Cordillera, Colombia;VIARCO;;Villavicencio - Bogota;Douglas C-47-DL;C-400;4792;9;9;0;Crashed in the Cordillera mountain range while en route.
03/08/1947;;L'isola di Ischia, Italy;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B;KK122;15131/26576;13;13;0;Struck a mountain.
03/14/1947;14:00;Mt. Moucherolles, France;Air France;;Lyons - Nice - Paris;Douglas DC-3 (C-47A-90-DL);F-BAXO;20488;23;23;0;Flew into 4,000 foot Mt. Moucherolles, 25 miles south of Grenoble. The crash started an avalanche which buried most of the wreckage.
03/17/1947;08:05;Near Medellin, Colombia;TACA;;Medellin, Colombia - San Jose, Costa Rica;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;YS-28;2450;8;8;0;Crashed shortly after taking off.
03/18/1947;;Negombo, Sri Lanka;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Avro York C1;MW198;;15;11;0;Failed engine on takeoff. Could not maintain altitude, lost control, struck trees and crashed.
04/08/1947;;Near Caracas, Venezuela;Linea Aeropostal Venezolana;;;Douglas C-47A;YV-C-ALO;;27;27;0;Crashed 40 miles east of Caracas while en route.
04/13/1947;;Off Dakar, Senegal;British South American Airways;;Lisbon - Dakar;Avro 685 York I;G-AHEZ;1303;15;6;0;The plane crashed while making a third landing attempt. Unwise decision to try a third landing attempt. No approach lights. No radio facilities.
04/22/1947;10:40;Columbus, Georgia;Delta Air Lines;;;Douglas DC-3 (C-47DL) /Vultee BT-13;N49657 / N55312;9066;10;10;0;A private plane landed on top of the DC-3 while it was taking off. After rising to a height of 150 ft., the tail of the DC-3 was forced down and both planes crashed in flames. All 9 killed aboard the DC-3 and one aboard the private plane were killed. The failure of the pilot in the BT-13 to fly a standard left hand pattern in his approach to the airport and to keep a diligent lookout for other traffic.
02/24/1949;08:00;Near Cuzco, Peru;TAM (Peru);;Cuzco - Lima;Douglas C-47;;;26;22;0;The aircraft lost control and crashed following a blown tire on takeoff.
04/28/1947;23:13;Near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;Trans Canada Air Lines;3;Lethbridge - Vancouver;Lockheed 18 Loadstar;CF-TDF;18-2248;15;15;0;The aircraft disappeared while en route from Lethbridge, Alberta to Vancouver, British Columbia. The last known position was over Vancouver Airport. The wreckage was discovered and identified in September 1994 in a remote area, 10 miles north of Vancouver near Mt. Seymour.
05/11/1947;09:39;Delaware Bay, New Jersey;Trans Continental and Western Air;;Training;Lockheed L-049 Constellation;NC86508;2029;4;4;0;Went into a turn and lost control, spiraled into the ground. Loss of control of the aircraft for reasons undetermined.
05/29/1947;;Hjedinsfjordur, Iceland;Flugefelag;;Reykjavík - Akureyri;Douglas DC-3;TF-ISI;13389;25;25;0;Crashed on the north coast of Iceland in poor weather.
05/29/1947;22:45;Atsugi, Japan;Military - U.S. Army Air Forces;;;Douglas C-54D-DC (DC-4);42-72553;10658;40;40;0;Turned the wrong way while attempting to land and slammed into a mountain, bursting into flames.
05/29/1947;19:05;La Guardia Airport, Queens, New York;United Air Lines;521;New York City - Cleveland;Douglas C-54B;NC30046;18324;48;43;0;The aircraft overran the runway during an attempted takeoff, crashed and caught fire. Either the failure of the
pilot to release the gust lock before take-off or his decision to discontinue the take-off because of apprehension resulting from rapid use of a short runway under a possible calm wind condition.
05/30/1947;17:41;Port Deposit, Maryland;Eastern Air Lines;605;Newark - Baltimore - Miami;Douglas C-54B-15-DO;NC88814;18380;53;53;0;While on approach to Baltimore at 4,000 ft., the plane suddenly went into a nose dive, inverted and crashed. Possible problems with the elevator. The official cause was never determined.
06/04/1947;23:00;Near Gemenos, France;Air France;;Marseille - Lyon;Junkers Ju-52;F-BANB;AAC136;2;2;0;The cargo plane struck high ground while en route.
06/11/1947;;Natal, Argentina;Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina;;Buenos Aires - Natal;Avro Lancaster;LV-ACS;;18;5;0;Struck an obstacle on landing.
06/13/1947;18:16;Leesburg, Virginia;Pennsylvania Central Airlines;410;Pittsburgh - Washington D.C.;Douglas DC-4 (C-54-DO);NC88842;3112;50;50;0;The aircraft crashed into a ridge at Lookout Rock, 8 miles SE of Charles Town, WV during a rainstorm. The action of the pilot in descending below the minimum en route altitude under conditions of weather which prevented adquate visual reference to the ground. A contributing cause was the faulty clearance given by ATC.
06/19/1947;23:40;Al Mayadin, Syria;Pan American World Airways;121;Karachi - Istanbul;Lockheed 049-46-21 Constellation;NC88845;2045;36;14;0;While on a flight originating in New York and making its inaugural westbound flight of round-the-world service, the aircraft's No. 1 engine failed half-way on a leg from Karachi to Istanbul. Due to closed airports and inadequate repair facilities, the pilot chose to continue to its destination. Several hours later, the remaining engines overheated and the No.2 engine caught fire causing the plane to crash. Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek) was a deadheading Pan Am pilot aboard, who helped rescue many of the passengers. The crash was blamed on Pan Am's failure to replace the No. 2 engine which had experienced several problems earlier. A fire which resulted from an attempt to feather the No. 2 propeller after the failure of the No. 2 engine thrust bearing. The aircraft was named Clipper Eclipse.
07/01/1947;;Near Eaeka, French Cameroons;Air France;;Yaounde - Douala;Junkers JU-52/3m;F-BALF;091;13;13;0;Crashed while en route.
07/13/1947;04:30;Melbourne, Florida;Burke Air Transport;;Newark - Miami;Douglas DC-3;NC79024;9887;36;14;0;The aircraft, on a charter flight from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico, crashed into a swamp while attempting to make an emergency landing. Loss of an engine due to a fuel flow problem led to loss of altitude and a crash landing. Six spark plugs in the right engine were found to be defective. A defect found in the carburetor may have contributed to excessive fuel loss. Crew fatigue contributed to the accident.
07/15/1947;;Vichy ,France;Aero Cargo;;Paris - Vichy;Junkers Ju-52/3m;F-BCHH;AAC323;19;1;0;Lost control while landing and crashed.
07/16/1947;;Az-Zubair, Iran;British Overseas Airways;;Cairo - Basrah;Avro 685 York;G-AGMR;1219;6;6;0;During a fourth landing attempt the plane touched down, power was applied but the plane crashed in a wooded area beyond the runway. An error on the part of the pilot in continuing the flight in unsuitable weather conditions coupled with lack of cooperation by the ATC.
07/25/1947;;Moron, Argentina;Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina;;Test flight;Avro 685 York I;LV-XIH;1366;6;2;2;Struck a truck while attempting to land.
07/31/1947;;Near Yumen, China;Military - Chinese Air Force;;Tihua - Lanzhou;Douglas C-47;;;26;26;0;Disappeared while en route.
08/02/1947;17:40;Andes, Argentina;British South American Airways;;Buenos Aires - Santiago;Avro 691 Lancastrian 3;G-AGWH;1280;11;11;0;Crash in the Andes mountains in poor weather while flying from Mendoza, Argentina to Santiago, Chile. The plane was found on the south slope of Tupungato peak at the 18,000 ft. level on January 19, 2000, 53 years later. Possibly icing or possibly the aircraft, being capable of flying over 20,000 feet, encountered strong head winds and began a descent thinking they were over their destination when they were not. The plane was named 'Star Dust.'
08/06/1947;;North PacifiOcean;Military - U.S. Navy;;Kodiak - Dutch Harbor;Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina;34032;;20;20;0;Disappeared while en route. The last message from the aircraft was it was 150 miles from its destination and battling strong head winds.
08/08/1947;18:49;New York, New York;American Airlines;;New York - Buffalo;Douglas DC-3C;NX88787;19639;5;3;0;Cargo flight. Lost an engine on takeoff and decided to return to the airport. Following an attempted landing, a miss approach procedure was attempted for a second landing without sufficient air speed for single engine operation.
08/09/1947;;Malmo, Sweden;AB Aerotransport;;Amsterdam - Malmo;Douglas DC-3F;SE-BAY;19559;5;1;0;The cargo plane overran the runway and crashed into high ground.
08/13/1947;;Bucharest, Romania;Transporturile Aeriene Romano-Sovietice;;Constanta - Bucharest;Lisunov Li-2;YR-TAV;18423801;3;3;0;
08/21/1947;06:11;Hanksville, Utah;Slick Airways;;;Curtiss C-46E;NC59488;2935;3;3;0;The cargo plane entered a thunderstorm and struck Blue Bell Knoll Mountain. The continuation of the flight into instrument weather conditions over mountainous terrain at an altitude too low to clear the mountains en route.
08/23/1947;;Bahrain, Persian Gulf;British Overseas Airways;;Karachi - Bahrain;Short Sandringham 5 (flying boat);G-AHZB;SH-38C;26;10;0;Heavy water landing. The captain misjudged the approach and allowed the aircraft to touchdown heavily, short of the flarepath. He then failed to maintain control during the bounce and the aircraft struck the water in a nose-down attitude.
08/28/1947;;Harsiad, Norway;Norwegian Airlines;;Tromso - Oslo;Short Sandringham (flying boat);LN-IAV;SH-48C;35;35;0;Crashed into 13,000 foot mountain.
10/08/1947;07:55;Near El Paso, Texas;American Airlines;311;New York City - Dallas - Los Angeles;Douglas DC-4;NC90432;10314/DC45;54;0;0;While cruising at 8,000 ft. in clear weather, the aircraft went into steep dive which the co-pilot was able to pull out of at 350 feet from the ground. As a prank, a captain riding in the jump seat, engaged the gust lock in flight. The command pilot, not knowing the gust lock was engaged, rolled the elevator trim tab with no response. When the jump seat captain disengaged the gust lock,the aircraft went into a steep dive, executed part of an outside roll and become inverted. Neither the command nor jump seat captain had seat belts on and they accidentally feathered No. 1, 2 and 4 engines when they hit the controls with their heads. No one realized it at the time but the feathering reduced power and allowed the co-pilot, who was strapped in, to pull out of the dive.
10/16/1947;;Sylva, North Carolina;Stratofreight;;Charlotte, NC - Gainsville, GA;Douglas DC-3;;;3;3;0;The cargo plane struck a mountain en route.
10/16/1947;;Off Cartegena, Spain;Societe Aerienne du Littoral;;Marseille - Oran;Bristol 170 Freighter I;F-BCJN;12788;43;41;0;Crashed into the sea following engine failure.
10/24/1947;12:29;Bryce Canyon, Utah;United Air Lines;608;Los Angeles - New York City;Douglas DC-6;NC37510;42875/17;53;53;0;Fire was reported on board the aircraft before it crashed. An almost identical accident with the same cause occurred on 11/11/47. The flight crew transferred fuel either intentionally or inadvertently from the No. 4 alternate tanks to the No. 3 alternate tanks and failed to stop the transfer process in time to avoid overflowing the No. 3 alternate tank. Gasoline flowed through the No. 3 alternate vent line, out the vent, and was carried back by the slip stream, entering the cabin heater combustion air intake scoop. When the cabin heater came on an explosion and fire occurred. The fire was fueled by magnesium flares strored in the cabin heater compartment. Caused by a design flaw in the aircraft which allowed vented
fuel to be carried back into the cabin heater air intake.
10/26/1947;13:45;Annette Island, Alaska;Pan American World Airways;923;Seattle - Juneau;Douglas DC-4A;NC88920;10317;18;18;0;The aircraft crashed into Tamgas Mountain after abandoning an approach to Annette Island because of extreme turbulence and radioing its intentions to proceed to Juneau. Possible severe turbulence or icing. Official cause unknown. The aircraft was named Clipper Talisman II.
10/26/1947;17:20;Near Mt. Hymettus, Greece;AB Aerotransport;1629;Istanbul-Athens-Rome-Geneve-Copenhagen-Stockholm;Douglas DC-4-1009;SE-BBG;42930/45;44;44;0;The aircraft crashed into Mt. Hymettus while on approach to Hassani Airport in a severe rainstorm. The captain, John Douglas, probably tried to force the landing due to the weather conditions, when the belly of the aircraft hit the summit, resulting in loss of control, crash and fire. The pilot did not properly follow IFR procedures. The wreckage was found the next morning with the corpses of the victims plundered (the victim's pockets were found to be turned inside-out). The aircraft was named 'Sunnan.'
10/31/1947;;Srinagar, India;Military - Royal Indian Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B;M1965;;25;25;0;
11/02/1947;;Off Barrio Rizal, Philippines;Philippine Air Express;;;Douglas DC-3;;;5;5;0;The cargo plane crashed into the ocean.
11/11/1947;;Gallup, New Mexico;American Airlines;10;San Francisco - Chicago - New York;Douglas DC-6;NC90741;43046/92;25;0;0;The aircraft was on a flight from San Francisco to Chicago when fire was reported on board. The aircraft crashed landed but there were no fatalities. An almost identical accident with the same cause occurred on 10/24/47. The flight crew transferred fuel either intentionally or inadvertently from the No. 4 alternate tanks to the No. 3 alternate tanks and failed to stop the transfer process in time to avoid overflowing the No. 3 alternate tank. Gasoline flowed through the No. 3 alternate vent line, out the vent, and was carried back by the slipstream, entering the cabin heater combustion air intake scoop. When the cabin heater came on, an explosion and fire occurred. Caused by a design flaw in the aircraft design which allowed vented fuel to be suck into the fresh air inlet.
11/13/1947;;Near Bouchox, France;Société Auxiliare de Navigation Aérienne;;;Junkers Ju-52/3m;F-BDYH;AAC401;2;2;0;The cargo plane struck a mountain en route.
11/18/1947;;Ravello, Italy;Trafik-Turist-Transportflyg;;Catania - Rome;Bristol 170 Freighter XI;SE-BNG;12792;25;20;0;Strayed off course, stuck tree tops and then crashed into Mt. Santa Maria del Monte. Pilot's failure to realize the plane strayed off course and was in mountainous territory.
11/18/1947;13:00;Newcastle, Delaware;Trans Continental and Western Air;;Training;Lockheed L-049-46-26 Constellation;NC86507;2028;5;5;0;Crashed short of the runway and burst into flames. The inadvertent landing of the aircraft short of the runway.
11/21/1947;;Phouznicie, Romania;TARS;;Bucurest - Prague;Lisunov Li-2;YR-TAI;18423509;26;13;0;Crashed and burned on 2,000 ft. Tabor Peak in fog.
11/27/1947;;Yakutat, Alaska;Columbia Air Cargo;;Anchorage - Yakutat;Douglas DC-3;NC95486;6065;13;13;0;Crashed into trees while on approach to Yakutat. Failure to follow the approved instrument approach procedures while making an initial approach at an altitude insufficient to clear trees along the flight path.
11/27/1947;04:20;Montenegrin Mountains, Yugoslavia;JAT Yugoslav Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;YU-ABC;;22;22;0;The aircraft crashed and burned 2 miles from Titograd airport while attempting to land in a snowstorm.
11/27/1947;;;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Douglas DC-3;;;3;2;0;The cargo plane was shot down by communist anti -aircraft fire.
11/28/1947;14:10;Near Trappa, Italy;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B;43-48736;;20;20;0;Drifting 30 miles off the prescribed course, the aircraft crashed into snow covered mountains. The wreckage was discovered 8 months later.
11/30/1947;14:25;Seattle, Washington;Alaska Airlines;009;Anchorage - Seattle;Douglas C-54A;NC-91009;7453;28;8;1;The plane attempted to land at Boeing Field but aborted the landing because of low ceiling and visibility. During a second landing attempt, the aircraft touched down 2,748 feet beyond the approach end of Runway 20, ran past the end of the runway, hit an automobile killing one person, crashed into a ditch and burst into flames. Caused by the landing of the airplane too far from the approach end of a wet runway and at a speed too great to accomplish a full stop on the runway.
12/10/1947;00:20;Near Goose Bay, Labrador;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Goose Bay - Westover Field, MS;Douglas C-54D-DC (DC-4);42-72572;10677;29;23;0;The aircraft crashed and burned in a wooded area shortly after taking off from Goose Bay. Snow falling at the time of the accident was a factor.
12/11/1947;18:10;Near Memphis, Tennessee;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-47-DK;44-76366;32698;20;20;0;After preparing to land, the aircraft went into a right-hand spiral and crashed for reasons unknown.
12/23/1947;;Kunming, China;Air Transport;;;Short S-29 Stirling V;OO-XAC;;30;25;0;
12/27/1947;;Korangi Creek, India;Air India;;Karachi - Bombay;Douglas DC-3 (C-47);VT-AUG;4175;23;23;0;The aircraft lost control and crashed just after taking off. The captain losing control in conditions of poor visibility, resulted in the aircraft flying into the ground. The loss of control was most likely caused by inadequate illumination of the flying instruments due to faults in the lighting system. Decision to take off in poor weather conditions and faulty lighting system.
12/28/1947;12:00;Leon, Mexico;Servicio Aéreo Panini;;Dorango - Leon - Mexico City;Douglas DC-2-172;XA-GEE;1408;9;5;3;Crashed near the Leon publisquare and destroyed 3 homes. Lost an engine while taking off and was attempting to return to the airport.
01/06/1948;;Paris, France;Air France;;Brussels - Paris;Douglas DC-3D;F-BAXC;42972;16;16;0;Crashed into trees a few hundred yards away from the runway while attempting to land at Le Bourget Airport.
01/06/1948;;Ruislip, England;British European Airways;;Renfrew - Northolt;Vickers 610 Viking 1B;G-AHPK;148;18;1;0;After two or three failed approaches, the plane struck trees and crashed into a field. Poor judgment on the part of the pilot attempting to land in VFR conditions in limited visibility and poor weather conditions and not diverting to another airport.
01/07/1948;07:45;Near Savannah, Georgia;Coastal Air Lines;;Charlston - Savannah;Douglas DC-3;N60331;12968;27;18;0;After both engines stopped in flight and attempts to restart them failed, the aircraft banked sharply, stalled and crashed 10 miles east northeast of Savannah. The fuel selector valves were positioned so that both engines were supplied fuel from only one of the auxilliary tanks until the fuel was exhausted and control of the plane was lost.
01/08/1948;;Near Palestro, Algeria;Transport Comp. Algerienne de T.A.;;Algiers - Biskra;Douglas DC-3;F-BDLG;0275;9;9;0;Crashed into a mountainside.
01/11/1948;;Ciudad Havajillo, Dominican Republic;Dominicana;;;Douglas DC-3;HI-6;4735;31;31;0;
01/13/1948;04:36;Oxon Hill, Maryland;Eastern Air Lines;572;Atlanta - Washington D.C.;Douglas DC-3-201F;NC28384;4092;9;5;0;The aircraft crashed during approach, 5.2 miles short of the runway, in poor weather conditions. Failure of the crew to follow prescribed procedures and maintain a safe altitude during an ILS approach.
01/20/1948;;Near Mukden, China;China National Aviation Corporation;;;Curtiss C-46;;;11;3;0;The heavily loaded plane rose 50 ft. into the air, nosed down and crashed in a snowstorm
08/09/1949;;Salalah, Oman;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Douglas C-47B;KN336;15901/32649;12;12;0;Crashed short of the runway.
01/28/1948;10:50;Diablo Mts., California;Airline Transport Carriers;;Burbank - Oakland;Douglas DC-3 (C-47B-DK);NC36480;16850/33598;32;32;0;The crew took the wrong plane which was scheduled for maintenance. An in-flight fire caused the
engine and then wing to separate from the aircraft and crash out of control. Tests showed a fuel pump was broken in the left engine and would spray gasoline out where it could be ignited by the exhaust. The failure of the left wing in flight as a result of damage by fire which had its source in a defective left engine driven fuel pump.
01/30/1948;03:00;AtlantiOcean, NE of Bermuda;British South American Airways;;London - Havana;Avro 688 Tudor I;G-AHNP;1349;31;31;0;The aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed into the AtlantiOcean, 340 miles from Bermuda, after running into strong headwinds and being blown off course while flying the leg from the Azores to Bermuda. Official cause unknown. The aircraft was named Star Tiger.
02/07/1948;13:27;Off Jacksonville, Florida;Eastern Air Lines;611;;Lockheed L-649 Constellation;NC112A;2533;69;1;0;The No. 3 propeller failed and penetrated the fuselage killing a purser.The failure of a propeller blade due to high stresses induced by accumulative engine malfunctioning.
02/12/1948;;Ubrichstein, Germany;Det Danske Luftfartselskab;;Giessen - Bad Homberg;Douglas DC-3;OY-DCI;7330;21;12;0;Crashed while on approach to Frankfurt.
02/20/1948;;Collesalvetti, Italy;Società Aerea Teseo;;Florence - Rome;Douglas C-47-DL;I-REGI;4312;10;7;0;The pilot chose to fly the short distance between Florence and Rome below the cloud base. The weather suddenly became worse and the plane entered clouds at low level, drifted off course and struck a hill.
02/21/1948;;Off St. Marcouf, France;Latecoere Airlines;;;Latecoere 631;F-BDRD;07;14;14;0;The aircraft was seen at Ste. Mere l'Eglise where it passed very low in poor weather and snow showers before crashing into the sea.
02/23/1948;;Davao, Philippines;Commercial Airways;;;Douglas DC-3;PI-C262;;12;12;0;Crashed 5 minutes after taking off from Mati.
02/25/1948;06:00;Columbus, Ohio;Bruning Aviation;;Pittsburgh, PA - Columbus, OH;Douglas C-47A;NC36498;12527;2;2;0;The cargo plane struck trees while attempting to land.The continuation of an instrument approach below an altitude sufficient to clear the terrain en route.
02/27/1948;;Near Belem, Brazil;Military - Brazilian Air Force;;Rio de Janerio, Brazil - Cayenne, French Guianan;Douglas C-47;C-47-2040;;26;23;0;The plane, carrying Brazilian service personnel and their dependents crashed and burned while en route.
03/02/1948;;Off Perpignan, France;Société de Transports Aériens;;;Junkers Ju-52/3m;F-BBYC;AAC223;4;4;0;The cargo flight crashed into the sea.
03/02/1948;21:14;Heathrow Airport, London, England;Sabena;;Brussels - London;Douglas DC-3;OO-AWH;43154;22;20;0;The plane crashed during a ground control approach in poor weather conditions. Misjudgement by the pilot when attempting to land at night in conditions of low visibility. Last DC-3 built.
03/07/1948;;Near Skalafell, Iceland;Loftleidir IcelandiAirlines;;;Avro Anson;TF-RVL;4185;5;5;0;Crashed into a mountain.
03/10/1948;22:58;Chicago, Illinois;Delta Air Lines;700;Chicago - Miami;Douglas DC-4;NC37478;18390;13;12;0;During takeoff, the aircraft went into a near vertical climb to an altitude of 500 - 800 feet, stalled and crashed. Loss of longitudinal control of the airplane for reasons undetermined.
03/12/1948;21:14;Mt. Sanford, Alaska;Northwest Orient Airlines;4422;Anchorage - New York City;Douglas DC-4 (C-54G-1-DO);NC95422;35966/DO360;30;30;0;On a charter flight from Lunghwa Airport, Shanghai to La Guardia Airport, New York the plane crashed into the western slope of Mt. Sanford at an altitude of 11,000 feet after taking off from Anchorage, Alaska. Pilot's failure to see Mt. Sanford due to obscuring clouds or aurora borealis while flying a course off the airway.
03/13/1948;;Sierra Cristais, Brazil;Cruzeiro;;;Douglas DC-3;PP-CBX;11658;6;6;0;Struck the Sierra Cristais.
03/15/1948;;Villa Pinzon, Colombia;Agencia Interamericana de Aviada;;;Douglas DC-3 (C47-DL);C-1002;6252;15;14;0;
03/27/1948;;Monte Cardo, Corsica, France;Indian National Airlines;;Delhi - London;Vickers 604 Viking 1B;VT-CEL;166;19;19;0;Crashed into a 7,800 ft. mountain while en route.
04/05/1948;;Near Berlin, Germany;British European Airways / Military - Soviet Air Force;;;Vickers Viking 1B & Soviet YAK-3 fighter;G-AIVP;229;15;15;0;The aircraft was circling Gatow in preparation for landing when the DC-3 collided head on with the Russian Air Force Yakovlev 3 fighter, which was performing aerobatics. A total of 14 killed on the Vickers Viking and one on the YAK fighter. The collision was caused by the action of the Yak fighter's pilot, which was in disregard of the accepted rules of flying.
04/15/1948;02:35;Shannon, Ireland;Pan American World Airways;1-10;Belgium - Shannon;Lockheed L-049-46 Constellation;NC-88858;2058;31;30;0;While executing a second instrument approach at Shannon Airport, the aircraft struck the ground 2,380 feet from the approach end of the intended runway, broke apart and burned. Continuation of an instrument approach to an altitude insufficient to clear the terrain. The failure of a fluorescent light may have been a contributing cause. The plane was named Clipper Empress of the Skies.
08/13/1949;;Near Bogota, Colombia;SAETA;;Bogota - Ibague;Douglas C-47;HK-1200;;32;32;0;Crashed in the Andes mountains while en route.
05/13/1948;11:00;Near Magazini, Belgian Congo (Zaire);Sabena;;Leopoldville - Libenga;Douglas DC-4-1009;OO-CBE;42932;32;31;0;While cruising, the aircraft penetrated a very turbulent line of clouds, lost height and crashed into a forest. The aircraft apparently flew into a tornado at low altitude.
05/13/1948;;Mount Coron, France;Skyways of London;;;de Havilland Dove 1;G-AJOU;04058;10;10;0;The aircraft crashed in a storm. Kathleen Kennedy Cavendish, 28, sister of President John F. Kennedy, killed.
05/15/1948;;Vrede, South Africa;Mercury Aviation;;Durban - Johannesburg - London;Douglas DC-3-455;ZS-BWY;6341;13;13;0;Crashed into Spitzkop mountain after drifting off course in poor weather. The aircraft was named 'Miss France.'
05/16/1948;20:42;Columbus, Ohio;Slick Airways;;Newark, NJ - Chicago, IL;Curtiss C-46E;NC59489;2938;2;2;0;Cargo flight. The in-flight failure of the fuselage carry-in structure beneath the fin, due to extreme turbulence.
05/20/1948;;Near Bovingdon, England;Air Transport Charter;;;Douglas C-47A;G-AJBG;14003/25448;4;3;0;Cargo flight. While maneuvering at night under the base of low cloud prepatory to landing, the aircraft lost height and struck the ground. The cause of the accident cannot be determined.
05/25/1948;;Albacete, Spain;Alpha Airways;;;Handley Page Halifax C-8;G-AKBA;1303;4;4;1;Crashed on takeoff.
06/10/1948;;Ile of Man;Hargreaves Airways;;;de Havilland DH-89A Dragon Rapide;G-AIUI;6675;8;6;0;
06/17/1948;12:41;Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania;United Air Lines;624;Chicago - New York City;Douglas DC-6;NC37506;42871/12;43;43;0;The plane crashed after an in-flight fire in cargo hold. The crew discharged carbon dioxide extinguishers into the cargo hold in response to the fire warning. When the plane's nose was lowered for an emergency descent, the carbon dioxide, being heavier than air, accumulated in the cockpit and asphyxiated the crew. The aircraft crashed through high voltage lines and exploded on a hillside. After the crashes of 10/24/47 and 11/11/47, were a design flaw allowed vented fuel to enter the intake for the cabin heating system, the CAA also ordered carbon dioxide extinguishers installed. Earl Carroll, U.S. theatrical impresario killed. Douglas aircraft company knew of the carbon dioxide danger after two of its test pilots were almost overcome during test flights. They suppressed reports to the CAA which resulted in only a warning being added to the flight manual. The aircraft was named Mainliner Utah.
06/26/1948;;Maiquetia, Venezuela;Linea Aeropostal Venezolana;;;Douglas DC-3;YV-C-AHI;16992/34254;17;1;0;Crashed during a landing attempt.
07/01/1948;;Keerbergen, Belgium;Avio Linee Italiane;;Milano - Brussels;Fiat G.212CP;I-ELSA;04;12;8;0;Crashed after overrunning the runway.
07/04/1948;;Northolt,
Middlesex, England;Scandinavian Airlines (SAS);;;Douglas DC-6 / RAF York MW248;SE-BDA;43119/111;32;32;0;A midair collision occurred between a SAS DC-6 and a Royal Air Force Avro York MW248. Thirty-two killed on the DC-6, seven on the York. ATC error.
07/07/1948;;Djiring, French Indo-China;Aigle Azur;;Saigon - Da Lat;Douglas DC-3;F-BCYP;9158;16;16;0;Crashed into mountains 50 miles southwest of Da Lat.
07/14/1948;;Belem, Brazil;Aerovias Brasil;;;Douglas C-47A;PP-AVO;19113;5;5;0;The cargo plane lost control and crashed shortly after leaving the runway. The pilot did not apply the procedure recommended by the airline and attempted to make a turn after takeoff below the specified altitude of 100 meters.
07/16/1948;;PacifiOcean between Hong Kong and Macao;Cathay PacifiAirways;;Macau - Hong Kong;Consolidated OA-10 Catalina;VR-HDT;;26;25;0;The flight crashed after being hijacked and losing control during a struggle in the cockpit. The crew was incapacitated by armed hijackers. First airliner to be hijacked.
07/24/1948;;Cap-des-Rosiers, Quebec, Canada;Rimouski Airlines;;Port Meunier - Gaspé;Douglas DC-3;CF-FKY;6246;26;26;0;The aircraft hit a mountain top at Cap-des-Rosiers, 12 miles from its destination in fog and burned.
07/29/1948;;Buenos Aires, Argentina;ALFA;;Rosario - Bueno Aires;Short Sandringham 2 (flying boat);LV-AAP;SH-02C;24;18;0;Crashed and sank near the shore of the River Plate while attempting to land in fog.
07/29/1948;;Tsingtao, China;Civil Air Transport;;;Curtiss C-46D-20-CU;XT-822;22355;24;19;0;Crashed during a landing attempt.
08/01/1948;;1,200 miles off Dakar, AtlantiOcean;Air France;;Fort de France - Port Etienne;Latecoere 631 (flying boat);F-BDRC;06;52;52;0;Disappeared in the Atlantion a flight from Fort. de France, Martinique to Port Etienne, Mauritania. The United States Coast Guard cutter Campbell reported finding debris on August 4 with no survivors.
08/01/1948;;Karachi, Pakistan;Onzeair;;;Avro 691 Lancastrian;AP-ACM;;4;4;0;Cargo flight. An error in judgement on the part of the pilot in allowing the aircraft to stall while coming in to land. The contributory causes were probably overload, badly loaded with CofG too far aft, movement of load due to it not being secured.
08/09/1948;;Port Underwood, New Zealand;New Zealand National Airways;;;Douglas C-47B;ZK-AOE;16383/33131;2;2;0;Cargo flight.
08/20/1948;;La Guaira, Venezuela;Avensa;;La Guaira - Las Piedras;Douglas C-47A;YV-C-AVN;19985;3;3;0;The cargo plane disappeared en route.
05/24/1950;;Near Pasto, Colombia;LANSA;;Popayan - Ipiales;Douglas C-47;HK-307;10194;26;25;0;Struck the side of Galeras Volcano.
08/29/1948;17:05;Near Winona, Minnesota;Northwest Orient Airlines;421;Chicago - Minneapolis;Martin 202;NC93044;9165;37;37;0;Crashed following the separation of the left wing after the aircraft entered a thunderstorm. Loss of the outer panel of the left wing which separated as a result of a fatigue crack which was induced by a faulty design of a wing flange, aggravated by severe turbulence of the thunderstorm.
08/31/1948;;Near Elizabethville, Belgium Congo;Sabena;;Manono - Elizabethville;Douglas DC-3 (Douglas C-47A-10-DK);OO-CBL;12420;13;13;0;Crashed en route. Reasons undetermined.
09/02/1948;;Near Quirindi, Australia;Australian National Airways;;Brisbane - Sidney;Douglas DC-3;VH-ANK;9999;13;13;0;Strayed off course and struck Square Peak Mountain at an altitude of 4,600 feet.
10/02/1948;;Near Trondheim, Norway;Norwegian Airlines;;Fornebu - Hommelvik;Short Sandringham 6 (flying boat);LN-IWA;SH-52C;45;19;0;Crashed while attempting to land in crosswinds and high seas.
10/20/1948;23:32;Prestwick Airport, Scotland;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Amsterdam - Prestwick - New York City;Lockheed 049-46-25 Constellation;PH-TEN;2083;40;40;0;The aircraft was on a flight from Amsterdam to New York with a stopover at Prestwick Scotland. The aircraft attempted to land on Runway 32 but the crew choose to go-around due to strong cross winds and asked to land on Runway 26. While circling to line up with the runway, the aircraft ran into a heavy fog bank and crashed into high voltage power lines at an elevation of 400 feet and burst into flames. The crashed occurred 5 miles east-northeast of the airport. Improper flight procedures by the crew. Lack of information supplied to the crew by the tower. The aircraft was named Nijmegen after the old Dutch town close to the West German border.
10/23/1948;;Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand;New Zealand National Airways;;Palmerston - Hamilton;Lockheed 10A Electra;ZK-AGK;1128;13;13;0;Crashed 700 feet from the summit of a mountain while en route.
10/27/1948;16:50;Near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;Northwest Orient Airlines;6427;Edmonton - Anchorage, AK;Douglas C-54A;NC88785;10406;5;2;0;Cargo flight. The captain's action in undertaking simulated emergency procedures at a dangerously low altitude.
11/03/1948;10:50;Near Glossop, England;Military - U.S. Air Force;-;RAF Scrampton - Burtonwood AFB;Boeing B-29 Superfortress;44-61999;;13;13;0;Twenty-five minutes into the flight, the pilot descended prematurely and collided with a cloud covered mountain.
11/04/1948;05:44;Cape Spencer, Alaska;PacifiAlaska Air Freight;;Yakutat - Annette;Douglas DC-3;N66637;11800;17;17;0;Lost contact with the aircraft after the crew reported passing Cape Spencer. The wreckage was never found. Cause undetermined.
11/08/1948;07:40;Mt. Macedon, Australia;Australian National Airways;;Melbourne - Denilquin;Douglas DC-3;VH-UZK;2003;23;3;0;Crashed into Mt. Macedon hidden in fog. The pilot deviated off course from his flight plan and failed to follow VFR flight rules.
11/11/1948;;Liverpool, England;Mannin Airways;;;de Havilland DH-89A Dragon Rapide;G-AKOF;6538;9;8;0;Crashed after running out of fuel.
11/26/1948;;Vehari, Pakistan;Pakistan Airways;;Karachi - Lohore;Douglas DC-3;AP-ACE;12775;21;21;0;The plane crashed shortly after taking off and climbing to 7,000 feet. The aircraft was seen trailing smoke before crashing in flames. The omission of a sealing washer on the carburetor fuel filter of the port engine resulting in fuel leaking on to the ignition systems, culminating in a severe oil fire which finally involved the main port fuel tanks.
12/05/1948;;Kiangwan, China;Central Air Transport;;;Curtiss C-46;XT-538;;40;9;0;Overshot runway, crashed and burned.
12/06/1948;;Milan, Italy;;;Milan - Brussels;Douglas C-47;I-ETNA;4396;7;7;0;The aircraft crashed during takeoff in fog.
12/12/1948;;Taipei, Taiwan;China National Aviation Corporation;;Shanghai - Taipei;Douglas DC-3;;;10;2;0;Crashed while attempting to land.
12/15/1948;;Near Bogata, Colombia;LANSA;;Bogota - Barranquilla;Douglas C-47;C-310;13807;30;30;0;Crashed shortly after taking off from Bogata.
12/21/1948;;Near Pilos, Greece;Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie;;Rome - Athens;Douglas DC-3;OK-WDE;12894;23;23;0;Crashed in the Taigetos Mountains while en route.
12/21/1948;;Basalt Island, Hong Kong;China National Aviation Corporation;;Shanghai - Hong Konk;Douglas C-54B-5-DO;XT-104;18348;33;33;0;Crashed on Balsalt Island while attempting a visual approach through clouds. The pilot came down through a hole in the overcast but became trapped when the weather closed in. He reversed course but crashed into a small mountain. Pilot error. Quentin Roosevelt, son of Teddy Roosevelt killed.
12/23/1948;;Near Madrid, Spain;Iberia Airlines;;Madrid - Barcelona;Douglas DC-3 (C-47-DL);EC-ABK;4256;27;27;0;Crashed into Pandols Mountain while en route.
12/28/1948;04:13;Off San Juan, Puerto Rico;Airborne Transport;;San Juan - Miami;Douglas DC-3;N16002;1496;32;32;0;Radio contact was lost after the crew reported being 50 nm south of Miami. Departure from San Juan with known electrical problems and discharged batteries. Ditched in the Gulf of Mexico after it ran out of fuel. Offical cause unknown.
12/31/1948;17:52;Mt. Argentari, Italy;Pan African Air Charter;;Athens - Nice;Douglas DC-3;ZS-BYX;12587;12;12;0;Crashed into Mt. Arbetello in poor visibility. Poor visibility and geographical features made recognition of terrain
difficult and likely mislead the pilot into believing he was out at sea.
01/02/1949;22:05;Seattle, Washington;Seattle Air Charter;;Seattle - New Haven;Douglas DC-3 (C-47A-DL);NC79025;10181;30;14;0;The aircraft took off in fog with a group of Yale University students returning to school following their Christmas vacation. About midway down the runway the plane swerved to the left and became airborne. The left wing dropped the wing tip dragged on the runway. After about 750 feet, the tail wheel made contact with the runway. The engines were cut and the plane skidded for 700 feet until it hit a hanger and burst into flames. The accident was caused by the crew's attempt to take off in an airplane which had formations of ice and frost on the surfaces of the wings. In addition, the plane was overloaded by 1,500 lbs.
01/05/1949;;Caravelas Bay, Brazil;British South American Airways;;;Avro 685 York 1;G-AHEX;1301;17;3;0;A blown tire during takeoff led to damage to the landing gear, engine and oil line. Lack of oil caused loss of the engine and the crew was not able to feather the prop. This led to overspeeding and an engine fire. The plane made a spiral descent and crashed to the ground.
01/06/1949;07:20;Brandywine, Maryland;Coastal Cargo;;Raleigh, NC - Boston, MA;Douglas C-47A;NC53210;13777;2;2;0;Cargo plane. The loss of control of the aircraft which resulted from an icing condition, turbulence, and lack of alertness on the part of the crew. As a result, the aircraft spun, and during the spins, or attempted recovery from the spins, severe airloads were encountered which failed the left horizontal stabilizer and the elevators.
01/11/1949;;Near Pelotas, Brazil;Viacao Aerea Gaucha S.A.;;Porto Alegre - Sao Borja;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;PP-SAC;;12;12;0;The aircraft crashed shortly after taking off. Engine failure due to fuel contamination.
01/15/1949;;Ras-el-Tin, Egypt;Pan African Air Charter;;;Douglas C-54 Skymaster;ZS-AYB;19584;30;30;0;Ditched in a lagoon.
01/16/1949;;Balihal Pass, India;Dalmia Jain Airways;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-CDZ;14145/25590;13;13;0;
01/17/1949;13:40;AtlantiOcean, off Bermuda;British South American Airways;;Bermuda - Kingston;Avro 688 Tudor 4B;G-AGRE;1253;20;20;0;Lost at sea on a flight from Bermuda to Kingston, Jamaica. The last radio message reported the plane was crossing 30 degrees N. Nothing further was heard from the plane. No wreckage was ever found. The weather was good at the time. The plane was named Star Ariel. Cause undetermined.
01/17/1949;09:50;Near Succoth Glen, Lochgoilhead, Scotland;Military - U.S. Air Force;;RAF Scampton - Keflavik - Kansas;Boeing B-29A Superfortress;44-62276;;20;20;0;The aircraft, part of the 301st BG 15 AFW, cashed into mountains after encountering icing conditions.
01/20/1949;20:05;Homer, Alaska;Alaska Airlines;8;Homer - Anchorage;Douglas DC-3C;N91006;20208;6;5;0;The aircraft departed Homer at night under VFR conditions contrary to company and federal regulations, strayed off course and struck a 3,000 ft. mountain, 27 miles northeast of Homer. The action of the pilot in proceeding off the designated airway at an altitude insufficient to clear the terrain.
01/30/1949;16:22;Port Washington, New York;Pan American World Airways;100;;Lockheed L-749 / Cessna 140;NC86530/NC76981;2528 /;35;2;0;Midair collision. Two killed on the Cessna, none on the Lockheed which laned safely. The joint failure of the Constellation pilots to observe and avoid the Cessna aircraft in flight and of the Cessna pilot, while on an airway and in an area where a heavy concentration of trafficould be expected, to remain alert and avoid the Constellation.The aircraft was named Clipper Monarch of the Skies.
02/02/1949;;Trinity Bay, Newfoundland;Saint Lawrence Airways;;;Avro Anson;CF-FEO;3708;6;6;0;
02/04/1949;;Castel Benito, Libya;Skyways of London;;Khartoum - Castel Benito;Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster;G-AJPL;7464;53;1;0;The No. 4, followed by the No. 3 engines failed on initial approach. The plane lost altitude and crashed into trees. Failure of the captain to maintain a safe height, by utilizing the available power of the starboard engines after power failure in the port engine. The reason for this failure by the captain cannot be determined. The power failure in the port engines was caused by fuel starvation brought about by an insuffuciency of fuel in the port tanks. This fuel shortage was the result of the wing tanks being allowed to become progressively unbalanced during the last stage of the flight.
02/05/1949;;Buenaventura Bay, Colombia;AVIANCA;;;Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina;HK-134;;14;3;0;Crashed while attempting to land.
02/08/1949;19:56;Off Copenhagen, Denmark;Scandinavian Airlines (SAS);;Paris - Copenhagen;Vickers 628 Viking 1B;OY-DLU;199;27;27;0;Crashed in the sea off the Swedish coast after the pilot was told to enter a holding pattern for Copenhagen, since it was closed to inbound traffic. The aircraft was directed to land on Runway 22 but failed to make the landing. The wreckage was found a month later on the bottom of the ocean. Cause undetermined.
02/10/1949;;Near Huanuco, Peru;Faucett;;Tingo Maria - Huanuco;Douglas DC-3;OB-PAV-223;15374/26819;16;16;0;Struck a mountain as the plane approached Huanuco.
02/19/1949;;Near Coventry, Warks, England;British European Airways / Military - British;;London - Glasgow;Douglas DC-3 / Avro Anson;G-AHCW/VV243;13308;14;14;0;Midair collision between a DC-3 and a RAF Avro Anson at 4,500 feet. Both planes disintegrated and fell to the ground. Ten killed on the DC-3, four on the Avro Anson. Failure on the part of the pilot of each aircraft to ensure the maintenance of an effective lookout.
02/24/1949;;Braemar Resevoir, Hong Kong;Cathay PacifiAirways;;Manila, Philippines - Hong Kong;Douglas DC-3;VR-HDG;20576;23;23;0;Crashed near Braemar Resevoir after a go-around in poor weather.
11/15/1951;;Near Lodz, Poland;LOT Polish Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;SP-LCG;1965;16;16;0;Crashed during takeoff.
03/10/1949;09:50;Coolangatta, Australia;Queensland Airlines;;Coolangatta - Brisbane;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;VH-BAG;2194;16;16;0;Crashed on takeoff from Coolangatta. After becoming airborne, the aircraft was seen to climb very steeply and stall when at a height of 300 ft., roll to the left and crash.
03/15/1949;;Berlin, Germany;Skyways;;;Avro 685 York I;G-AHFI;1316;3;3;0;The cargo plane crashed while attempting to land.
03/18/1949;09:40;Near Waikanae, New Zealand;New Zealand National Airways;;Auckland - Wellington;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;ZK-AKX;2382;15;15;0;Crashed into a hill while on approach.
05/04/1949;17:04;Superga, Italy;Avio Linee Italiane;;Barcelona - Torino;FIAT G-212CP;I-ELCE;5;31;31;0;The aircraft was returning on a flight from Lisboa to Milan with the Torino Soccer Team when the crew decided to land directly at Turin, homebase to the team. In low visibility, rain and thunderstorms, the left wing of the plane struck a wall surrounding the sanctuary of Superga, a mountain near Turin. The aircraft then pivoted, and disintegrated next to the sanctuary killing all aboard. Error in navigation and poor visiblity.
05/07/1949;16:00;Sibuyan Sea, off the Philippine island of Elalat;Philippine Air Lines;;Daet - Manila;Douglas DC-3;PI-C-98;16743/33491;13;13;0;The plane was on a flight from Daet, Camarines to Manila when it crashed after experiencing a violent explosion in the tail of the aircraft. Two ex-convicts confessed to planting a time bomb aboard the flight in order to kill the husband of a woman involved with another man.
06/06/1949;;Malahasa Attica, Greece;Tech - Aeronautical Explotiation;;Kavallo - Athens;Douglas DC-3;SX-BAI;12162;22;22;0;Crashed into a mountainside 30 miles northeast of Athens.
06/07/1949;14:00;Near Florianpolis, Brazil;Military - Brazilian Air Force;;Florianpolis - Porto Alegre;Douglas C-47B;C-47-2023;;27;27;0;The aircraft crashed into a mountain shortly after taking off from Florianpolis.
06/07/1949;00:25;San Juan, Puerto Rico;Strato Freight;;San Juan - Miami;Curtiss C-46D-5-CU;N92857;30506;81;53;0;The aircraft
crashed into the AtlantiOcean during takeoff after a loss of the No. 2 engine. The loss of power in the right engine before the aircraft could attain the optimum single engine climb speed, which together with being overloaded resulted in the aircraft losing altitude and ditching into the ocean. Incorrect spark plugs installed on the No. 2 engine.
06/23/1949;;Off Bari, Italy;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Batavia - Amsterdam;Lockheed 749-79-33 Constellation;PH-TER;2541;33;33;0;Crashed into Bari Harbor while en route from Cairo via Athens to Rome. Witnesses observed smoke from an engine followed by smoke from the other engines and fuselage prior to the crash. The plane broke-up in flight.
07/02/1949;;Near Guildford, Australia;MaRoberston-Miller Airlines;;Guildford - Darwin;Douglas C-47A-20-DL;VH-MME;9350;18;18;0;The plane crashed and burst into flames into a housing camp south of Guildford shortly after taking off.
07/12/1949;03:50;Near Bombay, India;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Delhi - Bombay;Lockheed L-749-79-33 Constellation;PH-TDF;2558;45;45;0;While circling in a blinding monsoon rainstorm, the aircraft crashed into 674 ft. high Ghatkopar hill, 3 miles ENE of the airport. Crew error. Pilots decision to land in weather below prescribed minimums in an area he was not familiar with.
07/12/1949;07:43;Chatsworth, California;Standard Airlines;897R;Albuquerque - Burbank;Curtiss C-46E-1-CS;N79978;2936;48;35;0;The plane was flying in level flight with the gear down. The right wing tip brushed the side of a hill pulling the plane around 90 degrees. It hit the ground and bounced 300 feet into the air and crashed. Pilot's action in descending below the prescribed minimum altitude while executing an ILS approach.
07/19/1949;21:01;Seattle, Washington;Air Transport Associates;;Seattle - Chicago;Curtiss C-46F-1-CU;N5075N;22463;32;2;4;A power failure occurred in the No. 1 engine on takeoff and the pilot cut power to both engines and discontinued takeoff. He then apparently changed his mind and applied power. The left engine continued to malfunction and the aircraft collided with power lines and crashed into houses. Use of improper fuel necessitated operating the aircraft's engines in excess of operating limits resulting in engine failure. Decision to takeoff after the failure of the left engine.
07/30/1949;10:45;Chesterfield, New Jersey;Eastern Air Lines / Military - USN;557;New York City - Wilmington;Douglas DC-3 -201D/ F-6-F- 5 Hellcat;N19963/BU72887;2260 /;16;16;0;Midair collision with a US Navy F-6F. The F-6F was buzzing a small private aircraft which was cruising below the DC-3. The F-6F had pulled up into a climbing turn and collided with the DC-3. All fifteen killed on the DC-3, and one on the F-6F. Reckless conduct of the Navy pilot in performing aerobatimaneuvers on a civil airway.
08/02/1949;11:30;Jaquirana, Brazil;Varig;;Sao Paulo - Porto Alegre;Curtiss C-46D-10-CU;PP-VBI;33100;36;5;0;Twenty minutes before arriving a Porto Alegre, a fire was discovered in cargo hold 'G.' The pilot executed an emergency descent while the crew tried to extinguish the flames to no avail. As the plane attempted to land, the panicking passengers rushed to the front of the plane to escape the flames causing the center of gravity to change, resulting in a hard landing. The cause of the fire in the hold 'G' was not determined.
08/03/1949;;Sao Francisco Bay, Brazil;Lineas Aéreas Brasil;;;Douglas DC-3;PP-AJB;9971;30;5;0;Both the No. 1 and No. 2 propellers detached in flight which led to the crew ditching the plane close to shore.
08/06/1949;;Salasaca, Ecuador;Shell Co of Ecuador;;Mers Nueva - Ambato;Bristol 170 Freighter 21;HC-SBU;12739;34;34;0;The aircraft was part of relief efforts of the Ecuador earthquake.
08/15/1949;;Off Lurga Point, Ireland;Transocean Air Lines;;Rome - Shannon;Douglas DC-3 (C-54A-DO);N79989;3076;58;8;0;Fuel exhaustion forced the plane to ditch in the AtlantiOcean, 15 km off the coast of Ireland. The plane stayed afloat for 15 minutes but 8 occupants died due to exposure or drowning. Failure of the captain to properly supervise the crew while en route.
08/19/1949;12:00;Oldham, England;British European Airways;;Belfast - Manchester;Douglas DC-3;G-AHCY;12355;24;24;0;Crashed into a cloud shrouded 1,500 ft. mountain 15 nm short of its destination. Navigational error and improper approach procedure. Failure to check the position of the aircraft accurately before descent from a safe altitude.
08/21/1949;23:30;Near Bigstone Lake, Manitoba;Military - Royal Canadian Air Force;;Churchhill - Winnipeg;Consolidated Canso (amphibian);11057;;21;21;0;Crashed and burned in a wooded area after entering an area of thunderstorms.
08/27/1949;;Leopoldville, Zaire;Sabena;;Leopoldville - Elizabethville;Douglas C-47B-5-DK;OO-CBK;14600/26045;20;5;0;The aircraft did not achieve a proper climb rate after taking off and crashed while making a low altitude right turn. Water in the fuel and excessive lead on the spark plugs.
09/09/1949;10:45;Sault-aux-Cochons, PQ, Canada;Canadian PacifiAir Lines;;Montreal - Comeau Bay;Douglas DC-3;CF-CUA;4518;23;23;0;The aircraft disintegrated in flight 40 miles outside of Quebec. Detonation of a dynamite bomb in the forward baggage compartment. Planted by Albert Guay, a jeweler, in a plot to kill his wife who was a passenger on the plane. Guay, who assembled the bomb, had his accomplice, Marguerite Pitre, air express the bomb on the aircraft. Ms. Pitre's brother, a clockmaker, helped make the timing mechanism. The insurance policy was for 10,000 dollars. All three were hanged for their crimes.
09/26/1949;;Mt. Popocatepetl, Mexico;Mexicana;;Tapacula - Mexico City;Douglas DC-3;XA-DUH;11725;24;24;0;Crashed into a 15,000 ft. snow covered volcano, Mt. Popocatepetl.
09/27/1949;;Near Castilla, Argentina;Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina;;;Douglas C-54A-1-DO;LV-ABI;7445;27;5;0;Crashed after an in-flight fire. The plane tried to make a forced landing but crashed before reaching the air strip. Returning from a mercy mission in Ecuador for earthquake relief.
10/09/1949;;Cheyenne, Wyoming;Slick Airways;11-8;Las Vegas - Denver;Curtiss C-46E-1-CS;N59485;2939;4;4;0;Diverted to Cheyenne, while on approach, the aircraft crashed 2.5 miles short of the runway after encountering severe turbulence and icing. Loss of control of the aircraft during an instrument approach to Cheyenne, under conditions of heavy icing and severe turbulence.
10/28/1949;02:50;San Miguel Island, Azores;Air France;;Paris - Santa Maria - New York City;Lockheed 749-79-33 Constellation;F-BAZN;2546;48;48;0;While attempting for the third time to land at Santa Maria, the aircraft, flew into Redondo Mountain at 2,950 ft. on San Miguel Island. Crew error. Failure to carry out either of the two approach procedures adopted for Santa Maria airport. False position report give by crew. Inadequate navigation. Failure to identify Santa Maria airport when flying in VFR conditions. French middleweight boxing champion Marcel Cerdan, 33, and French violinist, Ginette Neveu killed.
11/01/1949;11:45;Arlington, Virginia;Eastern Air Lines / Military - Bolivian Air Force;537;Boston - Washington D.C. - New Orleans;Douglas C-54B / P-38;N88727/NX26927;18365 /;55;55;0;Midair collision. The P-38 hit the airliner from above. Both planes crashed into the PotomaRiver. The pilot of the P-38 survived and was accused of causing the accident by executing a straight in approach without proper clearance. He was later tried and cleared of the charges. ATC error. George Bates, U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and Michael Kennedy, U.S. Representative from New York killed. Helen Hokinson, 56, cartoonist for the New Yorker magazine, also among the dead.
11/04/1949;21:34;Akron, Ohio;Harrington's Inc;;Philadelphia - Cleveland;Douglas DC-3;NC29086;4304;3;3;0;The cargo plane collided with trees short of the runway while attempting to land. The improper execution of an instrument approach which resulted in the aircraft being flown to the right of the proper approach
path at an altitude too low to clear the terrain.
11/20/1949;16:56;Near Oslo, Norway;Aero Holland;;Brussels - Oslo;Douglas C-47A;PH-TFA;13462;35;34;0;Crashed while en route.
11/28/1949;16:45;Chaleyssin, France;Air France;;Paris - Lyons - Tunis;Douglas DC-4;F-BELO;10391;38;5;0;Crashed while on approach to Lyons.
11/29/1949;05:49;Dallas, Texas;American Airlines;157;New York City - Mexico City;Douglas DC-6;N90728;42895/58;46;28;0;During a pull-up for a go-around, after attemping a landing approach with the No. 1 engine feathered, the No. 4 engine lost power then came on with a surge. The flight engineer feathered the No. 4 engine without instructions from the captain. The aircraft stalled, then collided with wires and a building. Crew's improper handling of the aircraft after an engine failed.
12/01/1949;;Taquaracucu, Brazil;REAL;;Sao Palo, Brazil - Jacarezinho, Panama;Douglas DC-3 (C-47-DL);PP-YPM;4241;22;20;0;Crashed into a mountainside while circling to land. Crew error. Lack of flight discipline. Poor decision by Chief of Operations in allowing the aircraft to continue flight in poor weather conditions.
12/07/1949;17:15;Vallejo, California;Arrow Airlines;;Burbank - Oakland - Sacramento;Douglas DC-3;NC60256;9201;9;9;0;Struck a 1,200 ft. hill obscured by clouds, during a rainstorm, 6 miles east of Vallejo, California. The pilot failed to fly at the assigned altitude of 4,000 feet on his flightplan.
12/09/1949;;Near Lanchow, China;Civil Air Transport;;;Curtiss C-46D-CU;XT-820;22354;38;38;0;
12/10/1949;;Near Hoikow, China;Civil Air Transport;;Chengdu - Hoikow;Curtiss C-46D-CU;XT-814;22347;40;17;0;Crashed on the outskirts of Hoikow, Hainan Island.
12/12/1949;21:51;Jungshahi, Pakistan;Pakair;;;Douglas DC-3;AP-ADI;4841;26;26;0;Hit a mountain and burned 30 miles north of Karachi airport. Navigational error.
12/12/1949;20:45;Washington, D.C.;Capital Airlines;500;New Port News - Washington D.C.;Douglas DC-3-313A;NC-25691;2556;23;6;0;The aircraft crashed 1,875 feet, short of the runway threshold, into the PotomaRiver while approaching Washington National Airport. Immediately before the accident and during the execution of an instrument approach, the aircraft was stalled at too low an altitude to effect recovery.
12/16/1949;;Orizaba, Mexico;Mexicana;;Mexico City - Merida;Douglas DC-3;XA-DUK;11721;17;17;0;Crashed into a mountain while en route.
12/18/1949;20:30;Aulnay-sous-Bois, France;Sabena;;;Douglas C-47A-60-DL;OO-AUQ;10241;8;8;0;Crashed after the wing failed during takeoff.
12/30/1949;;Comilla, Pakistan;Bharat Airways;;Agartala - Calcutta;Douglas C-54A-DO;VT-CYK;3089;7;7;0;Crashed and burned after attempting an emergency landing.
01/18/1950;;Albacete, Spain;Ejercito del Aire;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;;;16;16;0;The military plane crashed on the southeast coast of Spain.
01/20/1950;12:00;Near Vacas, Bolivia;Military - Bolivian Air Force;;Valle grande - Cochabamba;Douglas C-47;TAM-10;;32;32;0;Crashed while en route in the Andes mountains after encountering a thunderstorm.
01/24/1950;;Near Tamatave, Madagascar;Societe Transatlantique Aerienne;;Antananarivo - Tamatave;Douglas C-47A-50-DL;F-BFGD;10046;14;14;0;Crashed into a mountain 30 miles west of Tamatave.
01/24/1950;;Iloilo,Philippines;Philippine Air Lines;;Iloilo - Manila;Douglas DC-3;PI-C22;;4;4;0;Cargo plane.
01/26/1950;;Near Snag, Yukon Territory;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Elmendorf - Great Falls, MT;Douglas C-54D-DC (DC-4);42-72469;10574;44;44;0;Operated by the StrategiAir Command, the transport disappeared while flying between Elmendorf AFB and Great Falls, Mt. There were 44 persons aboard. All were American military personnel except for two passengers, a civilian dependent and her infant child. Last radio contact was at 17:09 near Snag, YT. It took Amber Airway No.2 over Canada, but failed to arrive at its destination. The wreckage still had not been found by 1951.
02/02/1950;;North Sea;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Amsterdam - London;Douglas DC-3;PH-TEU;13396;7;7;0;Crash into the ocean during a night mail flight shortly after takeoff, 40 miles off the Dutch coast.
02/27/1950;;Near Prague, Czechoslovakia;Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie;;Ostrava - Prague;Douglas C-47A-15-DK;OK-WDY;12725;5;5;0;The aircraft crashed into a mountain while en route.
03/07/1950;20:59;Minneapolis, Minnesota;Northwest Orient Airlines;307;Rochester Minn. - Minneapolis;Martin 202;N93050;9134;13;13;2;Crashed into a flag pole, well marked by red neon obstruction lights, on approach in blowing snow. Pilot's attempt to land visual rather than ILS after visual reference to the ground was lost.
03/10/1950;;Saigon, Vietnam;Societe Indochinoise de Transport Aeriens;;Hue - Tourane;Bristol 170 Freighter 21;F-BECR;12782;4;4;0;Cargo plane.
03/12/1950;14:50;Llandow Airport, Cardiff, Wales;Fairflight Ltd.;;Llandow - Dublin;Avro 689 Tudor 5;G-AKBY;1417;83;80;0;During the approach to Runway 28 at Llandow Airport, it appeared to witnesses that the aircraft was going to touch down prematurely. This was followed by an application of power. Climbing to 300 ft. the aircraft stalled and crashed into a field. Due to the placement of luggage in relation to passenger load, the center of gravity was such that there was insufficient elevator control remaining to counteract the rise of the nose upon full application of power.
03/25/1950;;Ankara, Turkey;Devlet Hava Yollairi;;;Douglas DC-3;TC-BAL;19423;15;15;0;Crashed and caught fire during landing at Etimeagut airport.
03/28/1950;;Off Cap-Ferret, France;SEMAF;;;Latecoere 631 (sea plane);F-WANU;03;12;12;0;Loss of control after mechanical failure and crashed into the sea. Failure of the aileron control couplings resulting from severe vibration.
04/05/1950;;Hatiara, India;Deccan Airways;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-CJD;12826;3;3;0;The cargo plane lost an engine on takeoff and attempted an emergency return but crashed. Overloaded.
04/15/1950;;Santa Ana, Colombia;Lineas Aéreas Nacionales;;;Douglas C-47 (DC-3);HK-309;;25;25;0;
04/21/1950;23:25;Near Atsugi, Japan;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Philippines - Japan;Douglas C-54D;42-72704;;35;35;0;Flew off its prescribed course and crashed into Mt. Tanzawa in a rainstorm.
05/02/1950;;Chimborcza, Ecuador;AVIANCA;;Quito - Guayaquil;Douglas C-47DL;HK-120;4314;15;15;0;Flew into a mountain.
05/17/1950;20:59;Lagens Air Force Base, Azores;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Bermuda - England;Boeing B-29;;;16;16;0;Crashed while attempting to land after being diverted to Lagens due to engine trouble.
05/23/1950;10:20;Myrtle Beach, South Carolina;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Curtiss C-46D;44-77577;32973;39;39;0;Lost the left aileron after taking off, lost control and crashed.
05/27/1950;17:30;Teterboro, New Jersey;Regina Cargo Airlines;;;Curtiss C-46F-1-CU;N9406H;22582;2;1;0;The cargo plane lost an engine on takeoff and crashed. Overloading of the aircraft due to faulty loading and dispatch procedures coupled with engine malfunctioning due to inadequate maintenance.
05/30/1950;;Near Iheus, Brazil;Aerovias Brasil;;Victoria - Salvador;Douglas DC-3;PP-AVZ;9156;15;13;0;During descent into dense cumulonimbus clouds, severe turbulence was encountered which caused displacement of freight that led to an uncontrolled dive which resulted in the wings separating from the fuselage. Structural failure due to severe turbulence during a thunderstorm. Pilots decision to descend without clearing the turbulent area of weather.
06/05/1950;22:03;AtlantiOcean off Florida;Westair Transport;;San Juan - Wilmington NC;Curtiss C-46-F-1-CU;N1248N;22496;65;28;0;Ditched into the Atlanti300 miles east of Melbourne, Florida on a flight from San Juan, Porto Rico to Wilmington, North Carolina due to failure of both engines. It sank in one of the deepest areas of the Atlantiand could not be recovered. Failure of both engines for reasons unknown.
06/09/1950;19:00;Near Fonseca, Colombia;New Tribes Mission;;Kingston, Jamacia - Maracaibo, Venezuela;Douglas DC-3-178;N16030;1546;15;15;0;Crashed and burned 19 miles east northeast of Fonseca well off course. Cause
unknown.
06/12/1950;21:52;Off Bahrain;Air France;;Saigon - Paris;Douglas DC-4-1009;F-BBDE;42937;52;46;0;While making a final approach for Bahrain, the aircraft crashed into the sea. The pilot did not keep a accurate check of his altitude and rate of descent during the approach. Crew error, possibly due to fatigue. An alternate probable cause may been windshear. It was not know at the time that windshear conditions existed at temperature inversion levels for several days after Shamal dust storms. The aircraft may have run out of adequate forward speed at an altitude of 400 feet after descending through a headwind level into a tailwind level when committed to land. With surface winds relatively calm and in 2,000 meters of sand haze, the winds at 400 ft. may have been in excess of 80 knots.
06/14/1950;21:55;Off Bahrain;Air France;;Saigon - Paris;Douglas DC-4-1009;F-BBDM;42990;53;40;0;The aircraft crashed into the Persian Gulf while on approach on a flight from Saigon to Paris. Improper approach. Crew error. An alternate probable cause may been windshear. It was not know at the time that windshear conditions existed at temperature inversion levels for several days after Shamal dust storms. The aircraft may have run out of adequate forward speed at an altitude of 400 feet after descending through a headwind level into a tailwind level when committed to land. With surface winds relatively calm and in 2,000 meters of sand haze, the winds at 400 ft. may have been in excess of 80 knots.
06/23/1950;23:25;Lake Michigan, 18 NNW of Benton Harbor, Michigan;Northwest Orient Airlines;2501;New York City - Minneapolis-St. Paul;Douglas DC-4;N95425;10270;58;58;0;En route from New York to Minneapolis, the aircraft crashed into Lake Michigan. The DC-4 was last reported at 3,500 ft. The crash occurred shortly after the aircraft entered an area of severe turbulence with thunderstorm activity. The wreckage was located in 150 feet of water but was not recoverable because it was in 30 feet of silt. The forecast of a squall line in the areas was not made available to the crew. Cause unknown.
06/26/1950;23:00;York, Australia;Ansett ANA;;Guildford - Melbourne;Douglas DC-4-1009;VH-ANA;42910;29;29;0;The airliner experienced trouble with all four engines. The crew attempted to return to Guildford but in the dark, while in a 15 degree turn to port, the aircraft barely cleared a ridge line, struck a tree 30 feet off the ground and ploughed into a downward slope shredding itself and contents into small pieces. The aircraft was named 'Amana.'
07/07/1950;;Busan, South Korea;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-54G;45-0518;35971;23;23;0;Struck a mountain.
07/09/1950;;Casablanca, Morocco;Aigle Azur;;Paris - Dakar;Douglas DC-3;F-BFGL;13824;29;22;0;Crashed on climb-out.
07/17/1950;;Near Patharkot, India;Indian National Airlines;;Delhi - Sringagar;Douglas DC-3;VT-ATS;20359;22;22;0;The left wing separated from the plane in extreme turbulence from a thunderstorm.
07/18/1950;;Near Bocoio, Angola;DTA Angola Airlines;;Nova Lisboa - Lobito;Douglas DC-3;CR-LBK;13769;9;9;0;
07/27/1950;04:30;Off O-shima Island, Japan;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-47D;44-76439A;;26;25;0;The aircraft took off from O-shima and reached an altitude of 3,500 feet after which a sudden unexplained descent was made until it crashed into the sea. The surviving witness stated the aircraft hit two moderate bumps followed by dimming of the lights before the descent.
07/28/1950;;Porte Alegre, Brazil;Panair do Brasil;;Rio de Janeiro - Porte Algegre;Lockheed 049 Constellation;PP-PCG;2962;50;50;0;The aircraft flew into power lines during a landing attempt after running out of fuel while in a holding pattern.
07/29/1950;;Tunbukta, Algeria;Cie Air Transport;;Algiers - Gao;Bristol 170 Freighter 21;F-BENF;12738;26;26;0;An explosion in the left wing fuel tank tore off the upper wing surface leading to loss of control of the aircraft.
08/05/1950;22:00;Near Fairfield, California;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Boeing B-29MR;46-87651;;20;12;7;The No. 2 propeller began to overspeed during the takeoff. This was followed by overspeeding of the No. 3 propeller. The No. 3 propeller was successfully feathered but then the landing gear would not retract. The aircraft was unable to gain altitude and the pilot slid the aircraft to the left to avoid a trailer park at the end of the runway. The aircraft stalled, fell to the ground and broke-up. Killed in the accident was Brigadier General Robert E. Travis. The installation was later renamed Travis Air Force Base in his honor.
08/25/1950;;Kampong Jenera, Malaysia;Military - Royal Air Force;;Changi, Singapore - Kota Baru;Douglas C-47B;KN630;16538/33286;12;12;0;The plane crashed in the steep forested foothills in the Gua Musang district.
08/31/1950;00:03;Near Wadi Natrun, Egypt;Trans World Airlines;903;Cairo - Rome;Lockheed 749A Constellation;N6004C;2636;55;55;0;While en route from Cairo to Rome, witnesses observed the aircraft on fire. After turning back toward Cairo, it crashed and burned. Failure of the rear master rod bearing in the No. 3 engine that led to an uncontrollable fire. The aircraft was named 'Star of Maryland.'
09/04/1950;14:10;Utica, New York;Robinson Airlines;32;Utica, NY - Newark, NJ;Douglas DC-3;N18936;2011;23;16;0;Engine parts were observed falling from a height of 3,000 feet. Soon after, the plane was seen losing altitude until it crashed into trees 1.5 miles southeast of Oneida County Airport. Failure of the left engine shortly after takeoff coupled with increased drag due to loss of the left cowling and reduced power output of the right engine resulting from the high pitch position of the right propeller.
09/14/1950;;Tehran, Iran;Iran Air;;;Douglas DC-3;EP-AAG;9813;8;8;0;Crashed during takeoff.
09/20/1950;05:20;Kwajalein, Marshall Islands;Military - U.S. Navy;;Kwajzalein - Tokyo;Douglas R5D-3;56496;10624;26;26;0;Crashed into the sea and exploded 3 minutes after taking off from Kwajalein. Possible vertigo experienced by the pilot or malfunction of the instruments.
09/21/1950;;Near Zagreb, Yugoslavia;JAT Yugoslav Airlines;;Belgrad - Paula;Douglas DC-3;YU-ABD;13311;11;10;0;Crashed during landing.
09/23/1950;;Karlstad, Sweden;Svenska Aero;;Karlstad - Stockholm;Avro Ninteen I;SE-BRS;1321;10;10;0;Reached an altitude of 200 feet, stalled and crashed to the ground.
09/26/1950;01:00;Near Kyushu Island, Japan;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Ashiya AB - Kimpo AB;Douglas C-54D-DC (DC-4);42-72457;10562;51;23;0;Crashed in the Korea strait 1mile from the end of the runway after taking off from Ashiya Air Base.
10/13/1950;;Casablanca, Morocco;Air Atlas;;Casablanca - Algiers;Douglas DC-3;F-BAXM;20245;7;4;0;
10/13/1950;;Almelund, Minnisota;Northwest Orient Airlines;;Training;Martin 202;NC93037;9158;6;6;0;Crashed after making a steep right turn. The unwanted reversal of the right propeller during flight, as a result of which the crew was unable to maintain control of the aircraft.
10/17/1950;;London, England;British European Airways;;London - Glasgow;Douglas C-47A;G-AGIW;12186;29;28;0;Crashed into trees on Mill Hill after engine failure during takeoff. Everyone except one flight attendant was killed.
10/31/1950;19:54;London Heathrow, England;British European Airways;;Paris - London;Vickers 610 Viking-1B;G-AHPN;155;30;28;0;Crashed in fog in an overshoot after deciding on a go-around. Although it cannot be established with certainty, the probable explanation of the known facts may be that the captain deliberately came down below break-off point and then at 100 ft. or less came into fog which abruptly reduced the visibility of the runway lights and that then and not till then he started overshoot procedure with fatal results.
11/03/1950;09:43;Mont Blanc, France;Air India;245;Bombay - Cairo - Geneva - London;Lockheed 749 Constellation;VT-CQP;2506;48;48;0;The aircraft crashed in a snowstorm 200 meters below Mont Blansummit. The crew was warned by a Geneva controller to climb immediately. They acknowledged the message but
soon after struck the mountain. The exact cause of the accident remains undetermined. Most likely the aircraft was caught in violent gust while trying to overfly the summit. The plane was named 'Malabar Princess.'
11/06/1950;08:15;Butte, Montana;Northwest Orient Airlines;115;Helena - Butte;Martin 202;N93040;9161;21;21;0;The pilot failed to follow the carrier's prescribed instrument approach to Butte Airport and crashed into a mountain at about the 8,250 foot level. Captain's failure to follow prescribed approach procedures.
11/13/1950;18:00;Mt. Tete de L'Obiou, France;Curtiss-Reid Flying Services Ltd. (Canada);;Rome - Paris;Douglas C-54B-1-DC;CF-EDN;10518;52;52;0;The aircraft drifted 50 miles off the prescribed route and struck Mt. Tete de l'Obiou at 6,740 feet. The pilot probably realized the deviation and tried to take corrective action but did not see the mountain in time.
11/17/1950;;Surabaya, Indonesia;Garuda Indonesia Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;PK-DPB;19005;23;2;0;Veered off the runway and crashed into a ditch..
11/21/1950;;Near Moran Junction, Wyoming;New Tribes Mission;;Chico, CA - Billings, WY;Douglas DC-3;N74586;19711;21;21;0;The aircraft crashed into Mt. Moran at 11,200 ft., in a snowstorm while flying in IMC conditions. The accident was attributed to flight into IMC conditions with probable electrical failure due to a malfunctioning voltage regulator.
11/23/1950;;Cuzco, Peru;Faucett;;Maldorado - Quincemil;Douglas DC-3;OB-PAU-201;15992/32740;9;9;0;Crashed into a hill in poor weather conditions while en route.
11/25/1950;;Khitka, Bhutan;Indamer;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-COI;14037/25482;3;3;0;Failure of the pilots to remain alert and maintain a proper look out resulting in the aircraft flying into the side of a hill.
12/01/1950;;Near Chamaran, Iran;Iran Air;;;Douglas DC-3;EP-AAJ;13572;8;8;0;Flew into a mountain.
12/08/1950;;Ruig Piner, France;Air Atlas;;Casablanca - Perpignan;Douglas DC-3;F-BAXY;16100/32848;7;5;0;Flew into a mountain in the Pyrenees.
12/08/1950;;Bangui, French Equatorial Africa;T.A. Intercontinentaux;;;Douglas C-54A;F-BELB;3084;56;46;0;Crashed into a mountain in the Pyrenees 5 minutes after takeoff. Crew error. Excessive low rate of climb at night in an unknown region and premature change of heading.
12/13/1950;;Katagiri, India;Air India;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-CFK;14604/2604;21;21;0;Flew into a mountain due to a navigational error.
12/13/1950;;Londrina, Brazil;VASP;;;Douglas DC-3;PP-SPT;20543;9;9;3;The aircraft crashed after losing its No. 1 engine on takeoff. Engine failure during takeoff. Pilot error. Short takeoff procedure used on an airfield where such a maneuver was not necessary.
12/15/1950;13:30;Valera, Venezuela;Avensa;;Merida - Caracas;Douglas C-47-DL;YC-C-AVU;4432;31;31;0;The aircraft crashed into mountains shortly after taking off. Pilot error. The captain decided to cross the Seven Lagoons mountain range in severe overcast, thinking that he was 30 kms further north, where the range drops to 2,000m. Instead, he flew into 4,000m cliffs. In the last seconds, he realized he was in trouble and tried to gain altitude. For a hundred meters or so he cut through small trees, but finally crashed. A small fire followed.
12/19/1950;07:30;Near Baguio, Philippines;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Naha AB - Clark AB;Douglas C54E-DO (DC-4);44-9096;27322;38;38;0;Proceeding on instruments, the aircraft crashed into Mt. Tabayowhile en route. Navigation error.
12/22/1950;13:53;Penticton, British Columbia, Canada;Canadian PacifiAir Lines;4;Vancouver - Penticton;Douglas DC-3;CF-CUF;12855;18;2;0;Struck trees on Mt. Okanagan while making an approach to Penticton. Drifted below the minimum altitude permissible.
12/30/1950;;Santiago del Estado, Argentina;Aerolineas Argentinas;;Mar del Plata - Buenos;Douglas DC-3;LV-ACH;13027;18;17;0;Crashed 60 miles north of the airport after taking off from Mar del Plata.
01/12/1951;;Ixopo, South Africa;United Airways;;;de Havilland Dove 1;ZS-DDW;04017;12;12;0;Broke up in turbulence.
01/13/1951;;Mt. Bukit, Besar,Thailand;Air Carriers;;Butterworth - Kota Bharu;Douglas DC-3;VR-HEP;15782/32530;10;10;0;Crashed into Bukit Besar Mountain while en route.
01/14/1951;14:13;Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;National Airlines;83;Newark - Philadelphia;Douglas DC-4-1009;N74685;43102;28;7;0;The plane overshot the landing, ran into a ditch and caught fire. Pilot error in electing to land long, on a wet and snow covered runway instead of executing a missed approach.
01/16/1951;12:14;Near Reardon, Washington;Northwest Orient Airlines;115;Minneapolis - Seattle;Martin 202;N93054;9144;10;10;0;While cruising at 6,000 ft., the aircraft when out of control and into a dive, hitting the ground at 340 mph. Officially the cause was never determined. Possible in-flight fire, explosion, structural failure or conrol system failure.
01/17/1951;14:36;Near Civitavecchia, Italy;Alitalia;;Paris - Rome;Savoia Marchetti SM-95;I-DALO;10;17;14;0;The aircraft plunged to the ground from 6,500 feet after being struck by lightning. Lightning ignited a mixture of air and fuel fumes in the fuel tank.
01/28/1951;08:40;Near An tung, Taiwan;Military -Royal Air Force;;Hong Kong - Iwakuni, Japan;Short Sunderland 9 (flying boat);PP107;;16;16;0;Crashed into mountainous terrain while en route. Most likely weather related.
01/31/1951;16:45;Off Hafnarfjorour, Iceland;Icelandair;;Vestmannaeyar Island - Reykjavík;Douglas DC-3;TF-ISG;12482;20;20;0;Crashed into the sea 2.5 miles north of the airport after a second landing attempt in snow. The first attempt was aborted because the runway lights were not visible. The crew attempted a second landing but contact was lost with the aircraft. Wreckage was found in the ocean 10 miles from the airport.
02/01/1951;;Off Terceira, Portugal;Military - Portuguese Air Force;;;Douglas C-54;282;;14;14;0;Ditched in the ocean while on approach.
02/03/1951;;Near Mt. Cameroun, Buea, Nigeria;Air France;;Douala - Niamey;Douglas DC-4;F-BBDO;42992;29;29;0;Crashed into a mountain at 8,500 feet. Navigation error. Incorrect procedures followed by crew. The crew followed a different and inaccurate course.
02/14/1951;;Yali, Colombia;Lineas Aéreas Nacionales;;;Curtiss C-46A;HK-333;;2;2;0;Cargo plane.
03/02/1951;09:12;Sioux City, Iowa;Mid Continent Airlines;16;Kansas City, MO - Omaha, NB - Sioux City, Iowa;Douglas DC-3;N19928;7400;25;16;0;After a missed ILS approach , the pilot stalled the plane and crashed in poor weather conditions. A stall during a left turn too close to the ground to effect a recovery. Pilot error.
03/11/1951;;Mt. Butler, Hong Kong;PacifiOverseas Airways;;;Douglas DC-4;HS-POS;10396;24;24;0;Crashed into hills shortly after takeoff. Crew error. The pilot taking off under VFR, lost visual contact with the ground and attempted to return to IFR procedure too late to avoid the hills. The aircraft was named 'City of Ayudhya.'
03/21/1951;;Corozal, Colombia;LANSA;;;Douglas C-47;HK-315;9073;27;27;0;Crashed while on a flight to Cartagena.
03/22/1951;23:50;Over the North Atlantic;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Loring AFB - Lakeheath AFB;Douglas C-124A Globemaster;49-244;43173;53;53;0;The aircraft suffered an catastrophiexplosion and crashed into the sea approximately 750 miles west of Limerick, Ireland. Cause unknown
07/15/1966;;Pakistan;Military - Pakistan Air Force;;;Lockheed C-130B Hercules;24142;3768;10;10;0;Struck a mountain.
03/22/1951;;Off Florianopolis, Brazil;Cruzeiro;;;Douglas DC-3;PP-CCX;7341;14;3;0;The No. 2 engine failed on a go-around in reduced visibility and rain and the aircraft crashed into the ocean.
03/26/1951;;Rio Grande, Argentina;Aerolineas Argentinas;;Ushuaia - Buenos Aires;Douglas DC-3;LV-ACY;12291;20;11;2;Crashed shortly after takeoff.
04/02/1951;;Bogota, Colombia;AVIANCA;;;Douglas DC-3;HK-142;1957;26;26;0;
04/06/1951;20:30;Refugio Pass, near Santa Barbara, California;Southwest Airways;7;Santa Maria - Santa Barbara - Oxnard - Los Angeles;Douglas DC-3;N63439;20229;22;22;0;The plane crashed into the north slope of Santa Ynez peak, 23 miles northwest
of Santa Barbara, in poor weather. Failure of the crew to maintain minimum altitude for the route being flown for reasons unknown.
04/08/1951;11:35;Near Charleston, West Virginia;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Godman AFB - Charleston, WV;Douglas C-47B-DK;43-48298;25559;21;21;0;The aircraft crashed into a wooded area, 8 miles NE of Charlston, after making a final turn to land at Kanawha County Airport. Both wings were sheared off and the aircraft burst into flames.
04/09/1951;;Cape d'Arguilar, Hong Kong;Siamese Airways;;Bangkok - Hong Kong;Douglas DC-3;HS-SAE;;16;16;0;The pilot lost control of the aircraft while attempting too steep a turn and too low a speed while making an approach at night in dense fog and rain and struck the ground.
04/25/1951;11:49;Key West, Florida;Cubana de Aviacion / Military - US Navy;493;Miami - Havana;Douglas DC-4 /Beechcraft SMB-1;CU-T188/39939;10368;43;43;0;The plane, on a flight from Miami to Cuba, collided with a US Navy Beechcraft at 4,000 feet. Thirty-nine killed on the DC-4, four killed on the Beechcraft. Failure of both crews to maintain sufficient vigilance under VFR conditions to prevent a collision.
04/28/1951;19:32;Fort Wayne, Indiana;United Air Lines;129;Cleveland - Fort Wayne - South Bend - Chicago;Douglas DC-3;N16088;1927;11;11;0;The aircraft crashed after being caught in a squall line with 65-85 mph winds and heavy rain. Windshear. The severe downdraft encountered which caused the aircraft to strike the ground in a near level attitude.
05/06/1951;12:30;Near Albuquerque, New Mexico;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Convair B-36D;49-2660;;25;23;0;The aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Kirkland AFB in gusty winds. The pilot appeared to have difficulty keeping the wings level. The plane crossed the threshold left of the center line. When the pilot corrected, the right starboard jet pod and No. 6 propeller struck the runway. The pilot attempted a go-around with the No.6 engine afire but crashed to earth bursting into flames.
05/08/1951;;Bordeaux, France;Hunting Air Travel;;Bordeaux - Bovingdon;Vickers 639 Viking 1;G-AHPD;134;32;2;0;No. 1 engine failed shortly after taking off. Altitude could not be maintained and an emergency belly landing was made in a field. The disconnecting of the articulated control rod of the propeller governor due to the lack of a split pin on the governor spindle and to the nut of the ball-joint of the control spindle having been unscrewed by force.
05/18/1951;;Rancharia, Brazil;VASP;;Santa Cruz de Rio Prado - Presidente Prudent;Douglas DC-3;PP-SPL;17011/34274;6;6;0;Hit a mountain in fog. Pilot's decision to fly VFR in unfavorable weather conditions.
06/03/1951;;New Boston, Texas;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Fairchild C-82;;;10;10;0;Struck by lightning and crashed.
06/06/1951;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Lineas Aéreas Trans. Brasileira;;;Douglas DC-3D;PP-NAL;42979;19;2;0;Crashed into high ground while on a VFR apporach in IFR conditions. The pilot attempted a descent over an area where the minimum safe altitude was 1,200 ft.
06/15/1951;;Medellin, Colombia;Sociedad Aeronautica Medellin;;;Douglas C-47A;HK-504;10062;3;3;0;Cargo plane.
06/22/1951;03:25;Near Sanoyea, Liberia;Pan American World Airways;151;Johannesburg - Accra - Monrovia - New York;Lockheed 049 Constellation;N88846;2046;40;40;0;The plane crashed into a hill at 1000 ft. in a level descending attitude, 54 miles from the airport. The pilot descended below en route minimum altitude without knowing the aircraft's position. The aircraft was named Clipper Great Republic.
06/29/1951;;Near Rijeka, Yugoslavia;JAT Yugoslav Airlines;;Rejeka and Zagreb;Junkers 52/3m;YU-ACE;316;14;14;0;Crashed en route.
06/30/1951;02:00;Rocky Mountain Nat. Park, near Ft. Collins, Colorado;United Air Lines;610;Salt Lake City - Denver;Douglas DC-6B;N37543;43144/155;50;50;0;En route from San Francisco to Denver after passing the Cheyenne radio range the aircraft turned south in the wrong heading. Flying in darkness, the aircraft continued on this course until it hit Crystal Mountain. The captain may have depressed the wrong control switch or may have turned his ADF in such a way that it was affected by the radio range station at Fort Bridger, WY. Officially, the flight for reasons undetermined, failed to follow the prescribed route to Denver and continued beyond the boundary of the airway on a course which resulted in the aircraft striking mountainous terrain.
07/12/1951;;Near Tezpur, India;Indamer;;;Douglas C-47B;VT-CHT;20662;3;3;0;Cargo plane.
07/12/1951;;Aracaju, Brazil;Loide Aereo Nacional;;Maceio - Aracaju;Douglas DC-3;PP-LPG;14822/26267;33;33;0;Crashed during a landing attempt in adverse weather conditions under VFR and hit high ground. The pilot attempted a visual approach and made a turn at low altitude in adverse weather conditions.
11/13/1951;;Puy-de-Dôme, France;Military - U. S. Air Force;;Frankfort - Bordeaux;Fairchild C-82 Packet;45-57801A;10171;36;36;0;Flew into Mt. Dore.
07/12/1951;22:45;Lyneham AFB, England;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Vickers Valetta C-1;VW194;;10;10;0;One engine caught fire. The propellers of the working engine were feathered. The plane crashed.
07/16/1951;;Off Lae, New Guinea;Qantas;;;de Havilland DHA-3 Drover II;VH-EBQ;5003;7;7;0;Crashed into the Huon Gulf after the center propeller failed.
07/20/1951;;Thudamot, China;Air Outre-Mer;;Pakse, Laos - Saigon, Vietnam;Douglas C-47A;F-OABX;19634;3;3;0;Cargo plane.
07/21/1951;00:00;Near Sitka, Alaska;Canadian PacifiAir Lines;;Vancouver - Tokyo;Douglas C-54A;CF-CPC;10327;37;37;0;Disappeared with no trace over the PacifiOcean while flying from Vancouver to Tokyo. The last message was received while the aircraft was near Yakutat, Alaska with no reports of probems. Cause undetermined.
07/24/1951;;Gao, Mali;Sabena;;;Douglas DC-3;OO-CBA;6327;3;3;0;The failure of the right engine during takeoff. A rupture of the hydraulicircuit with oil projection in the cockpit would have increased maneuver difficulties by restricting visibility in the cockpit
07/29/1951;;Cochabamba, Bolivia;Loide Aéreo Nacional;;Cochabamba - Rio de Janeiro;Curtiss C-46A;CB-39;26488;7;7;0;Crashed on takeoff.
08/08/1951;;Barilla Bay, Australia;Trans Australia Airlines;;;;VH-TAT;13083;2;2;0;Cargo plane. Loss of lateral control during a turn at low altitude soon after takeoff. The probable cause of the loss of lateral control was the presence of ice on the aircraft surface.
08/11/1951;09:25;Moisville, France;Air France;;Training;Douglas DC-3D;F-BAXB;42971;5;5;0;Abnormal flight maneuver made when the crew experienced difficulty in resuming normal flight on the two engines. Overspeed, reduction of pitch or difficulty in restarting the engine may have created a dangerous situation and caused the aircraft to stall in dissymmetrical flight, thus subjecting the airframe to stresses accompanied by buffeting which was either alternating or exceeded the design limits of the structure and caused the tail-plane to break off.
08/17/1951;;Ubatuba, Brazil;REAL;;;Douglas DC-3;PP-YPX;9154;10;10;0;
08/24/1951;04:28;Decoto, California;United Air Lines;615;Boston - Hartford - Cleveland - Chicago - Oakland;Douglas DC-6B;N37550;43260/180;50;50;0;Cleared for an approach to Oakland Municipal Airport, the aircraft crashed 15 miles SSE of the airport into Tolman peak. Patches of fog obscured the terrain. The aircraft struck a hill at an elevation of about 1,000 ft. at 225 to 240 mph. Neither of its 2 low-frequency receivers were tuned to the Oakland station and the captain may have attempted to fly by visual reference using the ADF. As a result, the flight was 3 miles off course and well below the minimum prescribed altitude. The failure of the captain to adhere to instrument procedures in the Newark area during an approach to the Oakland Municipal Airport.
09/08/1951;;Sao Paulo, Brazil;VASP;;;Douglas DC-3;PP-SPQ;1559/27036;13;13;3;Crashed into a house shortly after taking off from Congonhas Airport.
09/12/1951;10:46;Off Redwood City, California;United Air Lines;;;Boeing
377 Stratocruiser 10-34;N31230;15970;3;3;0;The aircraft, with the No. 4 propeller feathered, stalled and dived into San Francisco Bay. An inadvertent stall at a low altitude from which recovery was not effected.
09/12/1951;12:30;Off Ialas Baeares, Spain;Societe Alpes Provence;;Perpignan - Oran;Douglas DC-3;F-BEIZ;15985/32733;39;39;0;Crashed into the Mediterranean due to structural failure following loss of control in severe weather.
09/15/1951;;Bangalore, India;Air India;;Bangalore - Trivandrum;Douglas C-47A-30-DK Dakota III;VT-CCA;13853/25298;28;22;0;Lost control and crashed when attempting to take off. Attempted to take off with the autopilot engaged.
09/29/1951;;La Paz, Bolivia;Frigorifico Cooperativo Los Andes;;;Curtiss C-46D-15-CU;CB-43;33346;27;27;0;
10/08/1951;;Cerro Blanco, Mexico;Aero Transportes;;Mexico City - Villahermossa;Douglas DC-3;XA-GOR;14007/25452;8;8;0;Flew into a mountain.
10/15/1951;;East Griqualand, South Africa;South African Airways;;Port Elizabeth - Durbin;Douglas DC-3;ZS-AVJ;6891;17;17;0;Crashed into Mt. Ingeli.
10/15/1951;;North Atlantic;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Azores - Westover AFB;Boeing C-97A Stratofreighter;49-2602;16224;12;12;0;Went missing en route.
10/17/1951;18:55;Mt. Benson, BC, Canada;Queen Charlotte Airlines;;Kildala - Vancouver;Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina;CF-FOQ;400;23;23;0;While flying VFR in adverse weather conditions, the pilot mistook Nanaimo for Vancouver. The plane crashed into Mt. Benson, 20 miles west of Vancouver.
10/22/1951;;Skopje, Yugoslavia;JAT Yugoslav Airlines;;Belgrad - Skopje;Douglas DC-3;YU-ACC;13014;12;12;0;Crashed while en route.
10/27/1951;19:00;Near Flores, Guatemala;Military - Guatemalan Air Force;;;Douglas C-47;FAGO961;;27;25;0;Crashed and burned in jungle 170 miles north northeast of Guatemala City. It is theorized a passenger may have started a fire in the aircraft's cabin with a cigarette.
11/05/1951;09:29;Near Tucumcari, Arazona;Transocean Air Lines;CAM5763;Oakland - Albuquerque;Martin 202;N93039;9160;29;1;0;Crashed while attempting to land at Albuquerque in marginal weather conditions. The captain's attempt to land during less than minimum visibility, rather than proceed to his alternate. A military contract flight.
11/19/1951;;Cairo, Egypt;Devlet Hava Yollari;;Ankara - Cairo;Douglas DC-3;TC-ACA;7352;5;5;0;Crashed into a sand dune while attempting to land.
11/21/1951;;Calcutta, India;Deccan Airways;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-AUO;13265;17;16;0;The aircraft struck trees in fog during a missed approach 3 miles north of Dum Dum airport as the crew descended too low in poor visibility.
11/24/1951;;Zurich, Switzerland;El Al;;Zurich - Rome;Douglas DC-4;4X-AND;10512;7;6;0;The cargo plane crashed on approach.
11/27/1951;;San Luis Acatlan, Mexico;Lineas Aereas Unidas;;;DC-2-243;XA-DOQ;2077;21;13;0;
12/04/1951;07:25;Denver, Colorado;United Air Lines;;Training;Douglas DC-3A;N17109;4999;3;3;0;Stalled, entered a spin and crashed. An inadvertent spin at an altitude too low for recovery.
12/13/1951;;Yaramunda, Papua New Guinea;Qantas;;;de Havilland DH-84;VH-UR;;3;3;0;
12/16/1951;15:09;Elizabeth, New Jersey;Miami Airlines;;Fort Smith - Newark;Curtiss Wright C-46F;N1678M;22572;56;56;1;Shortly after taking off from Newark Airport the control tower noticed smoke emanating from the right engine. Minutes later the aircraft gradually descended, its left wing dropped and the aircraft struck the roof of a vacant building. Hold-down studs in the number 10 cylinder of the right engine failed due to fatigue. Fire erupted at the base of the failed cylinder. Extension of the landing gear and loss of the right engine led to the aircraft stalling at the height of about 200 ft. The aircraft was also overloaded by 117 pounds. A stall with the landing gear extended following a serious loss of power from the right engine. This loss of power was caused by the failure of the hold-down studs of the No. 10 cylinder, precipitating a fire in flight which became uncontrollable.
12/23/1951;;Tehran, Iran;Misrair;;;SNCASE Languedoc;SU-AHH;41;22;22;0;Crashed at Mehrabad airport during a third landing attempt.
12/29/1951;22:25;Near Little Valley, New York;Continental Charters;44-2;Pittsburgh - Buffalo;Curtiss C-46A-50-CU;N3944C;30466;40;26;0;Proceding at a low altitude to maintain reference with the ground, the plane drifted off course and crashed into a hill 15 miles east of the direct route. Flying VFR under IFR condtions. The captain's poor judgement in attempting a flight by visual reference during instrument weather conditions.
12/30/1951;22:07;Near Fairbanks, Alaska;Transocean Air Lines;501;Umiat - Fairbanks;Curtiss C 46F-CU;N68963;22485;4;4;0;The flight made an authorized left turn while outbound on the east leg of the Fairbanks radio range and subsequently struck Chena Dome, northeast of the station while on a westerly heading. The failure of the pilot to follow procedures and utilize properly the radio facilities for approach and letdown at Fairbanks with the result that the flight became lost.
12/30/1951;15:40;Near Phoenix, Arizona;Military - U.S. Air Force;;New York - Williams AFB;Douglas C-47D;47-76266;;28;28;0;Crashed into a mountainside at an altitude of 7,000 ft. while en route.
12/31/1951;;Calcutta, India;Kalinga Airlines;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-COA;13859/25304;3;3;0;The cargo plane crashed on takeoff.
01/02/1952;;Andapa, Madagascar;Air France;;;Junkers JU-52/3m;F-BAMQ;106;11;6;0;
01/10/1952;19:15;Com Edno, Wales;Aer Lingus;;Northolt - Dublin;Douglas DC-3;EI-AFL;16699/33447;23;23;0;The aircraft lost control in severe turbulence and downdrafts and crashed in a soft peat bog 1 mile east of Llyn Gwynant. The encountering of strong down-currents of air on the lee side of Snowdon which forced the aircraft down into an area of strong turbulence where control was lost.
01/19/1952;01:38;Off Sandspit, BC, Canada;Northwest Orient Airlines;324;Tokyo - Elmendorf AFB;Douglas DC-4;N45342;27279;43;36;0;The crew chose to divert to Sandpit after the No. 1 engine was shut down. The aircraft crashed into the PacifiOcean one mile offshore after overshooting the runway during the emergency landing. A nose gear retraction difficulty in connection with an icing condition or a power loss, which made the aircraft incapable of maintaining flight. Most of the fatalities were from exposure to the frigid water.
01/22/1952;15:43;Elizabeth, New Jersey;American Airlines;6780;Buffalo - Newark;Convair CV-240-0;N94229;054;23;23;7;The aircraft crashed into an apartment house during its approach, 3 miles short and right of the runway. The plane crashed while level laterally but in a steep descending attitude. Most likely cause was carburetor icing. Official cause unknown.
02/04/1952;;Kikwit, Belgian Congo;Sabena;;;Douglas DC-3;OO-CBN;13450;15;15;0;In-flight failure of a propeller which damaged control cables causing loss of control of the aircraft. The control cables in the fuselage were sheared by the right propeller which broke loose following a shaft failure caused by the sudden stopping of the engine caused by fatigue failure of No. 6 piston lug.
02/07/1952;;Kaneko, Japan;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Boeing B-29;;;17;17;;Hit power lines and crashed into houses. Seventeen killed including civilians.
02/11/1952;00:20;Elizabeth, New Jersey;National Airlines;101;;Douglas DC-6;N90891;43055/37;63;29;4;The aircraft crashed into an apartment complex shortly after taking off. The last message from the pilot was 'I've lost an engine and am returning to field.' Reversal in flight of No. 3 propeller and subsequent feathering of No. 4 propeller at too low an altitude to effect a recovery.
01/07/1953;20:55;Issaquah, Washington;Flying Tiger Line;841;San Francisco - Seattle;Douglas C-54B-10-DO;N86574;18350;7;7;0;The plane trees and high ground while on approach. The flight's deviation from the established approach procedure.
02/16/1952;17:34;Near Burgio, Italy;Hunting Air Travel;;Nice - Malta;Vickers 614 Viking 1;G-AHPI;142;31;31;0;Hit the north slope of La Cinta mountain range
while en route. Pilot did not maintain a safe altitude. The pilots ignorance of wind conditions which allowed the aircraft to drift 3 degrees off course.
02/19/1952;;Near Yaounde, Cameroon;STAAP;;;Consolidated 32 Liberator II;F-BEFX;12;9;9;0;
02/19/1952;02:23;Nagpur, India;Deccan Airways;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-AXE;19160;16;3;0;Banked left and struck trees 2,000 ft. short of the runway. Pilot error. The pilot misjudged the approach, undershot and hit the tops trees. A contributing factor was the setting of the pilot's altimeter to QNH, rather than the customary QFE during the final approach.
02/28/1952;;Uberlandia, Brazil;Panair do Brasil;;Rio de Janeiro - Guiana;Douglas DC-3A;PP-PCN;3284;8;8;0;The right wing struck trees after attempting a go-around. Pilot error.
03/03/1952;08:10;Nice, France;Air France;;Nice - Paris;SNCASE Languedoc;F-BCUM;43;38;38;0;After taking off, the plane was observed turning to the left until it turned on its back and crashed. Malfunction of ailerons. The gear chain of the co-pilot's control column slipped off the sprocket and jammed the aileron controls.
03/10/1952;;Cebu, Philippines;Philippine Air Lines;;;Douglas C-47A-35-DL;PI-C5;9754;3;3;0;The cargo plane lost altitude and crashed into a house.
03/12/1952;;Near Sequin, Texas;Military - U.S. Air Force / U.S. Air Force;;Training;Boeing B-29 / Boeing B-29;;;15;15;;While on a training mission and flying blind on instruments the planes collided. One plane struck the ground and disintegrated. The other glided down several miles away, exploded and burned. Both planes crashed on ranches several miles apart about 18 miles from San Antonio . Six killed on one plane and seven on the other.
03/22/1952;;Near Gaspe, Quebec, Canada;Maritime Central Airways;;St. Johns - Goose Bay;Douglas C-47-DL;CF-BXZ;4695;4;4;0;The cargo plane disappeared en route. Found 5 months later.
03/22/1952;10:45;Frankfurt, Germany;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Rome - Frankfort;Douglas DC-6;PH-TPJ;43111/102;47;44;0;Crashed and burst into flames two miles short of the runway in rain and fog during the approach. Cause unknown. The aircraft was named 'Koningin Juliana.'
03/24/1952;03:10;Gao, French West Africa;Société Aérienne de Tr. Tropicaux;;;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;F-ARTE;2005;21;17;0;Crashed after taking off. Pilot failed to maintain altitude after taking off for reasons unknown. May have been pilot fatigue.
03/26/1952;;Moscow, Russia;Aeroflot;;;;;;70;70;0;The plane overshot the runway and collided with a military aircraft killing at least 70 people.
03/29/1952;;Near San Felipe, Venezuela;TACA;;;Douglas DC-3;YV-C-AZU;;12;12;0;Crashed into the summit on Cerro Grande Mountain.
03/30/1952;;Baguio, Philippines;Philippine Air Lines;;;Douglas DC-3;PI-C270;13808;29;10;0;Crashed during takeoff.
04/05/1952;08:25;New York, New York;US Airlines;4-2;;Curtiss C-46F-1-CU;N1911M;22464;2;2;3;Violent engine surges and turbulence during a missed ILS approach caused the crew to loose control of the aircraft and crash at 171st St. and 89th Ave. in Queens. The no.1 engine fuel feed valve diaphragm failed due to deterioration.
04/09/1952;08:07;Mihara Volcano, Japan;Japan Air Lines;;Tokyo - Osaka;Martin 202;N93043;9164;37;37;0;On an early morning flight, under instrument conditions, the crew flew the route segment from Tokyo to Oshima Island 1,000 ft. below the minimum instrument altitude. At Oshima Island the aircraft crashed into the side of Mihara volcano.
04/10/1952;;Agartala, India;Kalinga Airlines;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-DFN;13628;4;4;0;The cargo plane crashed while en route after losing an engine and attempting an emergency landing.
04/11/1952;12:20;North of San Juan, Puerto Rico;Pan American World Airways;526A;San Juan - New York City;Douglas DC-4;N88899;10503;69;52;0;After taking off from Isle Grande Airport the crew had engine problems.The aircraft then crashed into the AtlantiOcean. The ditching took place in turbulent seas. The tail broke off on impact and the aircraft stayed afloat for only 3 minutes and sank. The company's inadequate maintenance in not changing the No. 3 engine which resulted in its failure immediately subsequent to takeoff and the persistent action of the captain in attempting to re-establish a climb, without using all available power, following the critical loss of power to another engine. This resulted in a nose-high attitude, progressive loss of air speed and the settling of the aircraft at too low an altitude to effect recovery. The aircraft was named Clipper Endeavor.
04/18/1952;03:34;Near Whittier, California;North Continental Airlines (Robin Airlines);416W;Kansas City, MO - Phoenix - Burbank;Curtiss C-46F-1CU;N8404C;22466;29;29;0;The plane was on a flight from New York City to Burbank, California. Due to poor visibility and fog, the flight was diverted to Los Angeles Airport for an ILS approach. While on approach, the plane crashed into the Puente Hills and burned. The pilot voluntarily descended below the minimum altitude for which he was cleared and attempted an approach at too low an altitude to clear the terrain. The pilot in command was flying with a restricted medical certificate. An emergency suspension was placed on the airline and it was discovered the airline had allegations of more than 40 violations listed against it including charges of overweight planes, excessive flying time for crews and failure to use approved seats and safety belts.
12/15/1953;;Aviateca;Aviateca;;Brownsville, TX - Guatemala City;Curtiss C-46D;TG-AQA;33589;2;2;0;The cargo plane flew into a mountain at 8,000 ft.
04/29/1952;04:40;Near Carolina, Brazil;Pan American World Airways;202;Rio de Janeiro - New York City;Boeing 377-10-26 Stratocruiser;N1039V;15939/12;50;50;0;The flight crashed into the jungle about 887 nm NNW of Rio de Janerio. Separation of the propeller blade leading to separation of the No. 2 engine due to highly unbalance forces, leading to the distintegration of the aircraft. The aircraft was named 'Clipper Good Hope.'
04/30/1952;;Delhi, India;Deccan Airways;;Madras - Delhi;Douglas DC-3;VT-AUN;13405;9;9;0;Lost an engine while on approach and crashed. Fuel starvation caused when the plane banked to make a turn and the tank being used had very little fuel in it.
05/05/1952;;Near Skien, Norway;Fred Olsen Flyveselskap;;Amsterdam, Netherlands - Jarsberg, Norway;Douglas C-47A;LN-NAD;12148;29;11;0;Crashed on a mountain slope while en route. There were mainly whaling crews aboard, returning from the antarctic. Crew navigational error.
05/09/1952;;Ipoh, Malaysia;Garuda Indonesia Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;PK-DPA;42954;17;17;0;Crashed shortly after taking off.
05/13/1952;;Sao Paulo, Brazil;VASP;;Sao Paulo - Bauru;Douglas DC-3;PP-SPM;16894/34151;22;5;0;Crashed while attempting to make an emergency landing after experiencing an engine failure. Failure of the port engine due to accessory drive failure. Failure of the starboard engine due to seizure as a result of deficient maintenance. Error on the part of the crew in lowering the landing gear in emergency conditions.
05/24/1952;;Near Manaus, Brazil;Loide Aéreo Nacional;;;Curtiss C-46A;PP-LDE;446;6;6;0;The cargo plane lost an engine while taking off, stalled and crashed. Failure of maintenance staff to remove the flying control locks. Failure of one engine for reason undetermined.
05/26/1952;08:45;Near Atar, Mauritania;British Overseas Airways;251;Tripoli - Kano;Handley Page HP-81 Hermes IV;G-ALDN;HP-81/15;18;1;0;The crew became lost in the desert, ran out of fuel and made a forced landing. Survivors had to be led by a rescue team 15 miles to an oasis before they could be evacuated. The co-pilot died 5 days later from head injuries suffered in the accident. Navagational errors by the crew. Improper adjustment of the parameters of the gyroscopicompass CL2 Gyrosyn by the navigator. Absence of radio assistance and incorrect use of the compasses. Captain's decision to use the gyroscopicompass in the place of the magneticompass which was inoperative. The aircraft was named 'Horus.'
06/13/1952;11:29;BaltiSea;Swedish
Air Force;;Radio surveillance mission;Douglas DC-3;79001;9001;8;8;0;Shot down by a Mig-15 Russian Air Force fighter over the BaltiSea in international waters while on a radio surveillance mission. Wreckage found 06/17/2003, recovered 03/19/2004.
06/24/1952;;Lakenheath AFB, England;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Boeing B-50;;;11;11;0;Crashed and burned between two farms.
06/25/1952;;Off Northumberland, North Sea;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Avro Shackleton MR-1;VP261;;13;11;0;Crashed into the North Sea near Holy Island while participating in North AtlantiTreaty maneuvers
07/27/1952;11:46;Off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Pan American World Airways;201;Rio de Janeiro - Buenos Aires;Boeing 377 Stratocruiser;N1030V;15939;27;1;0;A woman was suck out of the plane . The flight engineer's failure to recognize an unsafe condition of the cabin door despite three completely separate warnings of that condition and the captain's action in continuing flight while pressurized despite the several warnings that the main cabin door was not properly locked.
08/12/1952;;Palmeira de Goias, Brazil;Transportes Areos Nacionales;;Rio Verde - Goiania;Douglas DC-3;PP-ANH;20187;24;24;0;Exploded in midair. A bomb exploded aboard.
08/21/1952;01:00;Off Trapani, Italy;Airwork;;Blackbushe - Malta - Khartoum;Handley Page HP-81 Hermes 4A;G-ALDF;HP-81/7;57;7;0;After failure of all four engines the plane ditched into the Mediterranean Sea. The initial failure of the No. 1 and 2 engines for reasons unknown.
08/26/1952;07:00;Near Khewra, West Pakistan;Military - Pakistan Air Force;;Khewra - Peshawar;Bristol 170 Freighter;G783;;18;18;0;Crashed shortly after taking off from Khewra. Possible engine failure.
08/29/1952;21:05;Kosti, Sudan;Phoenix Airlines;;Juba - Wadi Halfa;Douglas DC-2-115B;ZS-DFW;1322;4;2;0;Extremely bad weather forced the captain of the cargo plane to divert from his original destination. No proper preparation had been made for a possible landing at an alternate airfield prior to commencement of flight. The secondary cause was due to the Captain's attempt to execute a landing at Kosti aerodrome which was not equipped with night landing facilities. The Captain landed on the runway but was unable to align himself with the center line and in consequence ran off the runway and struck a steel windsock support and thereafter struck various obstructions such as trees which lay in the path.
09/06/1952;15:40;Near Farnsborough, England;Private - de Havilland Aircraft;;;de Havilland 110;WG235;;1;1;52;One of two engines of the aircraft fell into a crowd at a performance at the Farnborough air show. The aircraft crashed to the ground 1.5 miles from the grandstands killing the Chief test pilot of de Havilland Aircraft Corporation, John Derry and an observer, Tony Richards. In addition, fifty two people on the ground were killed and over 60 injured. The cause was a structural design fault in the D shaped leading edge section of the wing. When Derry pulled a high G turn, the wing buckled.
09/10/1952;;San Blas, Panama;SAM Colombia;;;Curtiss C-46;;;46;46;0;
12/17/1953;06:50;Guam, Mariana Islands;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Boeing B-29;44-87741;;16;11;8;The aircraft crashed into an officer's housing area after attemping to make an emergency landing with an engine out,at Anderson Air Force Base on Guam.
09/15/1952;;Wadi Halfa, Sudan;Kalinga Airlines;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-CGB;9945;3;3;0;A navigational error on the part of the captain. This error was severely aggravated by the lack of proper radio aids from the destination airport, the unserviceability of the aircraft R/T equipment, and to a lesser degree the physical condition of the crew. The secondary cause was the cargo plane coming into close proximity of high ground due to the captains uncertainty of his position.
10/08/1952;;Off Tarbat Ness, Scotland;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Avro Shackleton MR-1;VP286;;14;14;0;Was on air-sea practice when it crashed near Tarbat Ness.
10/14/1952;;San Fransisco do Paula, Brazil;REAL;;Sao Paulo - Porto Alegre;Douglas DC-3;PP-AXJ;6177;28;14;0;After being cleared to land the aircraft struck high ground and burst int flames. Navigational error in not knowing where the aircraft was located. Poor weather.
10/16/1952;;Off Kangnung, South Korea;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Curtiss-Wright C-46D-CU;44-77538;32934;25;25;0;The aircraft crashed into the Sea of Japan while en route. No signs of the wreckage were ever found and only two bodies were recovered when they washed ashore.
10/29/1952;08:30;Near Flagstaff, Arizona;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter;52-2711;16733;16;16;0;Struck Gray Mountain in poor visibility while en route.
11/06/1952;;Lake Chad, Chad;Union Aeromaritime de Transport;;Fort Lamy - Beirut;Douglas C-54B-1-DC;F-BFVO;10498;6;5;0;
11/07/1952;03:00;Near Summit, Alaska;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Elmendorf AFB - Big Delta;Fairchild C-119C;51-2560A;10518;19;19;0;A course deviation led to the aircraft crashing into Mt. McKinley at an elevation of 12,000 ft.
11/14/1952;14:45;Near Seoul, South Korea;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Fairchild C-119C;51-2551A;;44;44;0;Struck a mountain at an elevation of 2,000 ft. as it prepared to land at U.S. military base K-16. The mountains were obscured by low clouds.
11/15/1952;;Near Anchorage, Alaska;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Elemndorf AFB - Kodiak NAS;Fairchild C-119C;51-2570;10528;20;20;0;Disappeared while en route. No trace of the aircraft was ever found.
11/17/1952;;Shepard, Montana;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Great Falls - Denver, Colorado;Fairchild C-119C-23-FA Flying Boxcar;;;16;9;0;While en route, a propeller failed and punctured the fuselage after which vibrations caused the No. 1 engine to fall off. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing. The plane crashed and came to rest in a muddy field.
11/22/1952;20:15;Mount Gannett, Alaska;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-124A Globemaster;51-107A;464096;52;52;0;Bound for Elmendorf Air Force Base, the aircraft struck the south slope of Mount Gannett. The plane drifted off course due to high winds.
11/28/1952;00:50;Near Tacoma, Washington;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-54G (DC-4);;;38;37;0;Crashed in poor visibility and fog after diverting to Great Falls. The No. 3 engine failed and the plane crashed into trees approximately 1 mile southwest of the airport. An 8-year old boy was the only survivor.
12/06/1952;;Near Sofia, Bugaria;TABSO;;Sofia - Varna;Lisunov Li-2;;;18;18;0;Crashed en route.
12/06/1952;04:40;Off Bermuda-Kindley Field, Bermuda;Cubana de Aviacion;;Madrid - Azores - Bermuda - Havana;Douglas DC-4;CU-T397;10319;41;37;0;Crashed dived into the sea approximately 5 miles from the airport shortly after taking off. Cause unknown. The plane was called 'The Star of the East.'
12/20/1952;06:30;Moses Lake, Washington;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-124A Globemaster;50-100;43238;115;87;0;Within two minutes after takeoff the aircraft began to lose altitude. It crashed and burned into a snow laden field at the end of the airstrip. Failure of the pilot to remove the rudder and elevator locking pin prior to taking off.
12/21/1952;;Off Miami, Florida;Rutas Aéreas Nacionales SA;;;Curtiss C-46D;YV-C-ARC;33486;3;3;0;Disappeared over the Atlantic. Never found.
12/25/1952;;Off Caracas, Venezuela;Avensa;;;Douglas DC-3;YV-C-AVX;7391;5;3;0;Lost altitude and ditched near shore after taking off.
12/25/1952;;Tehran, Iran;Iran Air;;Abadan - Tehran;Douglas DC-3;EP-ACJ;9692;29;27;0;Crashed while landing.
12/30/1952;;Chinmen Island, Taiwan;Philippine Air Lines;;;Douglas DC-3;PI-C38;;10;2;0;After takeoff from Laoag an armed man forced his way into the cockpit. He pulled .45-caliber pistol and demanded that the plane be brought to Amoy, in mainland China. The captain took over control from the co-pilot and put the plane into a steep dive. The hijacker did not lose his balance and instead shot and killed the captain. The co-pilot took over control and meanwhile the steward had come up to the cockpit to find out what was going
on. As he knocked, the hijacker shot him twice through the cockpit door, killing him. The co-pilot changed course to China and continued at 6000 feet over the China Sea until two Chinese Nationalists T-6 Harvard planes showed up. Both planes chased the DC-3 and sprayed machine gun fire. The pilot managed to escape until he met with other Nationalist planes, who forced the flight to land at Quemoy. At Quemoy the hijacker was arrested.
01/05/1953;20:53;Belfast, Northern Ireland;British European Airways;;Northolt - Belfast;Vickers Viking 610-1B;G-AJDL;262;35;27;0;Crashed into approach lights while attempting to land. Error of judgement on the part of the pilot.
02/13/1970;;Pin-la-Garenne, France;Avia-Taxi;;;Cessna 402;F-BPJA;402-0100;10;10;0;
01/07/1953;04:12;Fish Haven, Idaho;Associated Air Transport;1-6-6A;Boeing Field - Cheyenne;Curtiss C-46;N1648M;22395;40;40;0;The plane crashed into mountains while en route. Upon entering an area of turbulence, the plane was unable to climb and crashed into trees. Found 5 months later. The inadvertent descent into an area of turbulence and icing which resulted in the pilot's inability to regain a safe altitude.
01/15/1953;04:48;25 nm off Agrigento, Italy;Military -Royal Air Force;-;;Vickers Valetta Mk1 / Avero Lancaster;VX562 / TX270;;26;26;0;
01/26/1953;;Sinnai, Sardinia, Italy;Linee Aeree Italiane;;Cagliari - Rome;Douglas DC-3;I-LAIL;4308;19;19;0;Crashed after a wing failed due to overstressing.
02/02/1953;05:30;Off Newfoundland, Canada;Lancashire Aircraft Corporation (Skyways);;Lajes, Azores - Gander;Avro 685 York 1;G-AHFA;1304;39;39;0;Last know coordinates 46' 15' N, 46'31'W, over the North Atlantic. A distress message was received. No trace of the aircraft or its occupants were ever found.
02/03/1953;;Muong Sai, Laos;Air Outremer;;;Douglas DC-3;F-OAFR;15283/26728;18;18;0;Destroyed by shelling.
02/07/1953;;Eysines, France;Autrex;;;Douglas DC-4;F-BFGR;10290;20;5;0;Crashed into a grove of small trees and burst into flames while trying to land in heavy fog.
02/09/1953;19:00;Cairo, Egypt;Military - Egyptian Air Force;;;Curtiss-Wright C-46;1001;;35;30;0;Crashed into a hill during a sandstorm.
02/14/1953;17:10;Off Mobile, Alabama;National Airlines;470;Miami - Orlando - New Orleans;Douglas DC-6;N90893;43057/73;46;46;0;The aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off Mobile, Alabama. The aircraft broke up in the turbulence of a 'frontal wave' storm after failure of the left wing. The loss of control followed by the in-flight failure and separation of portions of the airframe structure while the aircraft was traversing an intense frontal-wave type storm of extremely severe turbulence, the severity and location of which the pilot had not been fully informed.
03/03/1953;03:35;Karachi, Pakistan;Canadian PacifiAir Lines;;Karachi - Rangoon;de Havilland DH106 Comet 1A;CF-CUN;06014;11;11;0;The aircraft overran the runway during takeoff. Excessive nose-up attitude of the aircraft during the takeoff run producing a partly stalled condition and excessive drag. The pilot who had only limited experience in the Comet aircraft, elected to takeoff at night at the maximum permissable takeoff for the prevailing conditions. The circumstances required strict adherence to the prescribed takeoff technique, which was not complied with. First fatal crash of a commercial jet aircraft. The aircraft was named Empress of Hawaii.
03/04/1953;;Windsor Locks, Connecticut;Slick Airways;162;New York, NY - Winsor Locks, CT;Curtiss C-46F;N4717N;22400;2;2;0;After missing his first approach to the airport, the pilot displayed poor judgement in attempting a circle under the overcast in rain and at night, rather than execute a standard instrument approach.
03/14/1953;;Kalasahar, India;Orient Airways;;Delhi - Dacca;Convair CV-240-7;AP-AEG;082;16;16;0;Crashed into a mountain while en route in severe weather. The pilot descended in poor visibility in order to find his position.
03/17/1953;;Off Da Nang, Vietnam;Aigle Azur;;Hue - Da Nang;Douglas DC-3;F-BEFG;19105;8;8;0;Crashed into the sea in poor weather conditions.
03/18/1953;04:10;Random Island, Newfoundland;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Azores - Rapid City AFB;Convair RB-36H;51-13721A;;23;23;0;The aircraft, flying low over the AtlantiOcean, was to have flown higher when it reached the coast. Tail-winds caused the aircraft to arrive earlier and the plane hit a hill in low cloud cover.
03/20/1953;18:38;Alvarado, California;Transocean Air Lines;942;Roswell - Oakland - Guam;Douglas DC-4 (C-54-10-DO);N88942;36076;35;35;0;The aircraft crashed into a flat barley field and burned. The aircraft first struck the ground with its right wing tip in a near vertical position, cartwheeled and disintegrated. All 30 passengers were maintenance personnel from the 509th Bomb Wing, noted for dropping the atomibombs on Japan. Accumulation of ice on the surfaces of the aircraft in sufficient magnitude to have caused loss of control. Official cause of loss of control unknown.
03/27/1953;;Itapebi, Brazil;Transportes Aéreos Salvador;;;de Havilland DH-114 Heron 1B;PP-SLG;14004;14;14;0;The pilot aborted the takeoff after loosing the No. 2 engine and was unable to stop on the remaining runway. Error of judgment on the part of the pilot in not continuing the takeoff with three engines still operating
03/29/1953;;Mtara, Tanganyika;Central African Airways;;Nairobi - Dar-es-Salaam;Vickers 616 Viking 1B;VP-YEY;168;13;13;0;Crashed after a wing failed due to metal fatigue cracks after the aircraft encountered strong winds. A wrong type of grease used when fitting press fit bolts to the booms caused corrosion, thus weakening the lower starboard boom at the outboard bolt hole.
04/10/1953;;Off Kingston, Jamaica;Caribbean International Airways;;;Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar;VP-JBC;2568;13;13;0;Lost an engine on takeoff, climbed to 100-200 ft. entering a slight banking turn and crashed into the sea. Failure of the left engine which was due to the cracking of the accessory drive gear. Failure of the pilot to take precautionary steps on hearing the back firing, which was a warning of possible engine failure.
04/10/1953;;Miandivazo, Madagascar;Air France;;;Junkers JU-5/-3m;F-BALE;090;4;4;0;The cargo plane crashed on take off.
04/14/1953;;Near Guwahati, India;Airways;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-AUJ;19149;3;3;0;The cargo plane crashed in the Khasi hills. The port wing failed in the air due to an upload as a result of being subjected to loads greater than those for which it was designed.
04/14/1953;02:22;Selleck, Washington;Miami Airlines;;Spokane - Ellenburgh;Douglas DC-3 (C-47-DL);N65743;20432;25;7;0;The aircraft crashed into Cedar Mountain following double engine failure. The progressive failure of both engines, due to the lack of compliance with proper maintenance standards. Spark plugs in both engines had been operated beyond their normal maintenance inspection period and exhibited evidence of a condition conducive to detonation and preignition. There was evidence that detonation and preignition took place in both engines and that they ultimately failed as a result of master rod bearing failures.
04/16/1953;;NW of Hanoi, Vietnam;Aigle Azur;;Hanoi - Na San;Douglas DC-3;F-BESS;19498;30;30;0;Crashed after takeoff due to wing failure.
04/20/1953;23:08;San Francisco Bay, California;Western Airlines;636;Los Angeles - San Francisco - Oakland;Douglas DC-6B;N91303;43823;10;8;0;The aircraft descended below minimum altitude and crashed into the sea. The pilot's action in continuing a descent below the 500 ft. prescribed minimum altitude until the aircraft struck the water. A probable contributing factor to the aircraft striking the water was the sensory illusion experienced by the pilots.
05/02/1953;16:35;Near Jalalogori, West Bengal, India;British Overseas Airways;783/057;Calcutta - Delhi;de Havilland DH106 Comet 1;G-ALYV;06008;43;43;0;The aircraft crashed 6 minutes after taking off from Dum Dum Airport. The accident occurred during a violent thunderstorm. Wreckage indicated that the aircraft
broke up in the air. Failure of both elevator spars caused by a heavy down-load that may have been associated with a pull-up maneuver. Severe gusts encountered in the thundersquall and overcontrolling or loss of control by the pilots when flying through the thunderstorm. The aircraft was nicknamed 'York Victor.'
05/07/1953;;Off Hartland Point, England;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Vickers Valetta T-3;WG258;;10;10;0;Crashed into the sea.
05/09/1953;01:28;New Delhi, India;Air India;;Delh - Ahmedabad - Bombay;Douglas DC-3;VT-AUD;13716;18;18;0;Stalled following takeoff. An error of judgement by the pilot, who executed a steep starboard turn. He could not come out of the overbanked turn in time because of the low altitude. Inexperience of the pilot with the type of the aircraft which he was flying.
05/11/1953;;Prince Rupert, BC, Canada;Canadian PacifiAir Lines;;Sandpit, BC - Prince Rupert, BC;Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina;CF-CRV;21984;19;2;0;Crashed while attempting to land. Misuse of controls after the aircraft touched down on the water. The aircraft bounced several times with the final bounce being so severe the nose section was torn off.
05/17/1953;14:15;Near Marshall, Texas;Delta Air Lines;318;Dallas - Shreveport;Douglas DC-3;N28345;2224;20;19;0;The plane crashed 13 miles east of Marashall Texas, during an approach to Shreveport in a severe thunderstorm. The encountering of conditions in a severe thunderstorm that resulted in loss of effective control of the aircraft and the failure of the captain to adhere to company directives requiring the avoidance of thunderstorms when conditions would allow such action.
05/25/1953;15:30;Amsterdam, Netherlands;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Amsterdam - Paris;Convair CV-240-4;PH-TEI;125;34;0;2;While taking off the plane reached a height of about 50 ft. after which flaps were retracted. The plane began to lose height and crash landed into a meadow. While no one on the plane died, two girls on a bicycle path were killed.
06/15/1953;;Near Copiapo, Chile;LAN;;;Lockheed 18 Loadstar;CC-CLD-0100;2617;7;7;0;Crashed. Engine fire.
06/15/1953;;San Ramon Mtns., Costa Rica;LACSA;;Palmar Sur - San Isidoro;Douglas DC-3;TI-1002;14633/26078;14;11;0;Crashed into a mountainside while attempting to land in poor weather.
06/16/1953;;Phou-Lassy, French Indo-China;Aigle Azur;;Vientiane - Saigon;Douglas DC-3;F-BEST;19100;34;34;0;Crashed after on-board fire. Possibly shot down.
06/17/1953;;Sao Paulo, Brazil;Panair do Brasil;;;Lockheed 049-46-21 Constellation;PP-PDA;2066;17;17;0;Crashed while on final approach to Sao Paulo. Error of judgement by the crew during poor visibility at night.
06/18/1953;16:34;Tachikawa AFB, Tokyo, Japan;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Tachikawa AB - Kimpo AB;Douglas C-124A Globemaster II;51-137A;43471;129;129;0;Crashed shortly after taking off from Tachikawa Air Base. Engine failure during takeoff. Premature application of full flaps during a three engine approach resulting in loss of air speed and crash. First aviation disaster to claim more than 100 lives.
07/12/1953;08:41;PacifiOcean, 325 miles east of Wake Island;Transocean Air Lines;512;Wake Island - Honolulu - Oakland;Douglas DC-6A;N90806;42901/153;58;58;0;Lost at sea while en route from Wake Island to Honolulu, Hawaii, approximately 325 miles east of Wake Island. Cause not determined, but there was thunderstorms and turbulence in the area. Fourteen bodies and all life rafts were recovered. The plywood panel from the navigator's table was recovered with the words 'falling in' written on it. There is some speculation that a bomb caused the accident. The aircraft was named 'The Royal Hawaiian.'
07/17/1953;23:15;Near Milton, Florida;Military - U.S. Navy;;Whitting NAS - Norfolk NB;Fairchild R4Q-2;131663;;46;44;0;The co-pilot failed to maintain a sufficient rate of climb after becoming airborne, struck obstacles and crashed into a wooded area.
07/27/1953;12:30;Near Kanggye, North Korea;Aeroflot;;;Ilyushin IL-12;;;21;21;0;Shot down by a U.S. Air Force F-86 jet fighter towards the end of the Korean War. The Russian government claimed the plane was over Chinese air space.
09/29/1955;;Yellowknife, Northwest Territory, Canada;Associated Airways;;;Avro 685 York C-1;CF-HMV;;2;1;0;The cargo plane ditched into the Thoa river. Fuel exhaustion.
08/03/1953;02:28;Off Fethiye Point, Turkey;Air France;;Rome - Beirut;Lockheed L- 749A Constellation;F-BAZS;2628;42;4;0;The No. 3 engine broke away from the aircraft following severe vibrations causing loss of control of the No. 4 engine and necessitating a ditching 1.5 miles from the coast. Failure in flight of a propeller blade. Four passengers drowned.
08/03/1953;22:37;Sharjah, United Arab Emirates;Orient Airways;;Sharjah - Bahrain;Douglas DC-3;AP-AAD;9143;25;1;0;Shortly after taking off, the aircraft entered a turn and crashed to the ground. The failure of the captain to supervise the first officer in flying the plane who was not able to fly on instruments in the dark.
08/05/1953;;Off Irish coast;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Boeing B-34;;;23;14;0;
08/18/1953;;Near San Diego, California;Aerovias Contreras;;;Curtiss C-46A;XA-GOT;26403;2;2;0;The cargo plane flew into a mountain.
09/01/1953;;Near Barcelonnette, France;Air France;;Paris - Nice - Hong Kong;Lockheed 749A Constellation;F-BAZZ;2674;42;42;0;While on approach to land at Nice-Cote d' Azur Airport the aircraft crashed into Mt. Cemet in the French Alps. French violinist Jacques Tribaud, 72, among those killed. Navigational error. Pilot deviated from the prescribled route for reasons unknown.
09/01/1953;18:42;Vail, Washington;Regina Cargo Airlines;;Monterey, CA - Tacoma, WA;Douglas DC-3;N19941;6333;21;21;0;Crashed 26 nm short of McChord AFB. The pilot's attempt to continue flight under the provisions of VFR during IFR conditions.
09/08/1953;13:16;San Andres, Honduras;TACA;;San Pedro - San Andres;Douglas C-47A;XH-TAR;13817/25262;3;3;0;After a missed approach the No. 2 engine of the cargo plane failed. Failure of the right engine when the pilot wished to obtain maximum power from both engines after a missed landing.
09/14/1953;;Chablekal, Mexico;Transportes Aéreos Mexicanos;;Campeche - Mérida;Douglas C-47A;XA-GIC;13113;2;1;0;The cargo plane struck a tower in fog while attempting to land.
09/16/1953;08:34;Albany, New York;American Airlines;723;Boston - Hartford - Albany - Chicago;Convair CV-240-0;N94255;116;28;28;0;After circling, the aircraft crashed into two radio towers while on approach to Albany Municipal Airport. While the pilot was aligning with the runway, he descended below obstructions partially obscured by fog. Crew's failure to abandon the landing under adverse weather conditions.
09/25/1953;;Ankara, Turkey;Devlet Hava Yollari;;Ankara - Van;Douglas DC-3;TC-EGE;9694;21;5;0;Crashed to the ground after an engine fire.
09/28/1953;16:18;Louisville, Kentucky;Resort Airlines;;Philadelphia - Louisville;Curtiss C-46F-1-CU;N66534;22384;41;25;0;While the plane was attempting to land it entered a steep climb, stalled and crashed. The structural failure of the left elevator in flight, causing loss of control. This structural failure was brought about by the left outboard hinge bolt backing out of the assembly. The underlying cause was improper maintenance which resulted in the installation of hinge bolts and bearings not meeting specifications, and inadequate inspection which failed to detect this condition.
10/14/1953;;Frankfurt, Germany;Sabena;;Frankfurt - Brussels;Convair CV-240-12;OO-AWQ;154;44;44;0;Loss of engine power on takeoff. The loss of power may possibly be attributed to the heavy deposit of lead on the spark plugs.
10/17/1953;;Lai Chau, Vietnam;Compagnie Sila;;;Douglas C-47B;F-VNAE;14146/25591;7;2;0;Cargo plane.
10/19/1953;13:00;Near Monterrey, Mexico;Aerovias Contreras;;Monterrey - Falcon Dam;Douglas C-46A-CU ( DC-3);XA-GOT;26403;21;21;0;Crashed into a ravine.
10/19/1953;00:56;New York City, New York;Eastern Air Lines;627;New York City - San Juan;Lockheed 749A Constellation;N119A;2616;27;2;0;The
aircraft crashed a few seconds after becoming airborne. The captain's loss of visual reference and orientation when he encountered drifting fog shortly after becoming airborne on take-off and the resultant inadvertent assumption of a descending flight path.
10/29/1953;08:44;Near Half Moon Bay, California;British Commonwealth PacifiAirlines;304/44;Sydney - Honolulu - San Francisco;Douglas DC-6;VH-BPE;43125;19;19;0;While flying in fog on an approach to San Francisco International Airport, the aircraft crashed into a redwood forest on a mountain ridge, 7.5 miles southeast of Half Moon Bay. The plane struck the ridge of King's Mountain and broke up, scattering wreckage over a half-mile area. Failure of the crew to follow prescribed procedures for an instrument approach. American pianist, William Kapell, 31, killed.
11/03/1953;;Potosi, Bolivia;Lloyd Aereo Boliviano;;Camiri - Suere;Douglas DC-3;CP-600;2181;28;28;0;Crashed into Rodeo Pampa mountain during approach, 37 miles from its destination.
11/11/1953;17:30;Off Argyll, England;Military - Royal Air Force;;;Avro Shackleton MR-2;WL746;;10;10;0;
12/04/1953;;Mt. Somosierra, Spain;Aviaco;;Bilbao - Madrid;Bristol 170 Freighter 21;EC-AEG;12797;33;23;0;Crashed in poor weather conditions.
12/12/1953;;Nagpur, India;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-CHF;11810;14;13;0;The aircraft experienced loss of control in too steep a turn. Loss of critical height during a steep left hand turn, with the landing gear down, executed by the pilot at an unsafe altitude in an attempt to return to the aerodrome, after experiencing a temporary loss of power of the left engine soon after becoming airborne. A false right engine fire warning precipitated the attempt at a forced landing.
12/19/1953;;Zurich, Switzerland;Sabena;;;Convair CV-240;OO-AWO;128;44;1;0;Descended below the glide path in poor weather and darkness and crashed 1.5 miles short of the runway. Poor approach procedures performed by the pilot.
12/21/1953;;Dah-el-Kadeeb, Syria;Syrian Airways;;;Douglas DC-3;YK-AAF;;15;9;0;
01/02/1954;;Herat, Afghanstan;Ariana Afghan Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;;;21;21;0;
01/05/1954;;Lapseki, Turkey;Devlet Hava Yollari;;Bandirma - Canakkale;Douglas DC-3;TC-BAG;19616;10;4;0;Flew into a mountain.
01/06/1954;17:20;Near Aldbury, England;Military -Royal Air Force;;Bovingdon AF - Thorney Island;Vickers Valetta;WJ474;599;17;16;0;The aircraft crashed 4 minutes after taking off in a snow shower. The aircraft lost altitude and crashed to the ground for reasons unknown.
01/10/1954;09:50;Off Elba, Italy;British Overseas Airways;781;Rome - London;de Havilland DH106 Comet 1;G-ALYP;06003;35;35;0;The aircraft broke up in-flight while en route from Rome to London. Metal fatigue due to a design flaw caused a breakup of the aircraft. Second crash with the same cause. The aircraft was nicknamed 'Yoke Peter.'
01/11/1954;;Manizales, Colombia;AVIANCA;;Medellin - Armenia;Douglas DC-3;HK-160;19540;21;21;0;Crashed into a mountain 1 hour after takeoff.
01/13/1954;;Long Beach, California;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;F-88 Sabre Jet;;;1;1;6;The jet fighter crashed into homes killing 6 people and destroying 3 homes while attempting to land.
01/14/1954;;Rome, Italy;Philippine Air Lines;;;Douglas DC-6;PI-C294;42903/150;16;16;0;Crashed in a steep dive while making an IFR landing in turbulence following an engine fire. Probably lost a wing during a pull out from a steep dive.
01/14/1954;;Prague, Czechoslovakia;Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie;;Praha - Moravska - Ostrava;Douglas DC-3 (C-47A-DK);OK-WDS;11854;15;15;0;Crashed during takeoff.
01/20/1954;;Kansas City, Missouri;Zantop Air Transport;;;Douglas DC-3A;N49551;4940;3;3;0;The cargo plane crashed while on approach. The loss of control of the aircraft at an altitude too low to effect recovery. The loss of control resulted from an accumulation of ice and the use of de-icer boots at low air speeds.
02/01/1954;13:50;Off Hokkaido, Japan;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Misawa - Chitose;Curtiss-Wright C46D-CU;44-78027A;33423;35;35;0;After reporting a fire in the cargo hold and that a ditching was imminent, the last message from the aircraft was 'I've lost control of the aircraft we're going in.'
02/05/1954;;Susitna Valley, Alaska;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-47;5895;;16;10;0;The plane broke apart over the Susitna Valley of South Central Alaska and the scattered parts fell onto Kesugi Ridge, which is now within Denali State Park. Six servicemen wearing parachutes escaped by being thrown from the disintegrating aircraft.
02/12/1954;;Off Gozo, Malta;Military - Royal Air Force;;Military exercise;Avro Shackleton MR-2;WL794;;10;10;0;Crashed at sea while on manuvers.
02/25/1954;;New Delhi, India;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-ATU;20358;3;3;0;The test flight crashed after attempting to determine the cause of a crash at Nagpur on 12/12/1953.
02/26/1954;10:32;Wright, Wyoming;Western Airlines;314;Salt Lake City - Cedar City - Rapid City;Convair CV-240;N8407H;37;9;9;0;After entering an area of severe turbulence and icing, the plane made a rapid descent and struck the ground at high speed. A sudden emergency of undetermined origin under adverse weather conditions resulting in rapid descent and impact with the ground at high speed.
03/04/1954;14:30;Near St. Etienne de Tinee, France;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Tripoli, Libya - Hahn, W Germany;Douglas C-47A-DL;42-24096A;9958;20;20;0;The aircraft struck a mountain and disintegrated at an altitude of 8,000 ft. while en route. The accident occurred in snow and low overcast conditions. The plane had drifted off the prescribed course and no wind drift correction had been made.
03/13/1954;;Kallang Airport, Singapore;British Overseas Airways;;Australia - London;Lockheed 749A-79-33 Constellation;G-ALAM;2554;40;33;0;Crashed short of the runway, hit a wall, overturned and caught fire. Improper procedures used in landing. Pilot fatigue.
03/14/1954;;Off Mackay, Australia;Queensland Airlines;;;Douglas C-47A;VH-BBV;12360;2;2;0;The cargo plane crashed into the sea while en route.
03/19/1954;22:30;Near Lothian, Maryland;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Oklahoma - Long Island, NY;Fairchild C-110F;51-7993;10732;18;18;0;Crashed to the ground about 20 minutes after leaving Bolling Air Force Base. The aircraft was circling a radio beacon under VFR waiting for IFR clearance. An attempt to maintain VFR flight at night and in poor visibility. Possible crew fatigue.
03/26/1954;;Monterrey, Mexico;Aeronaves de Mexico;;Mazatlan - Monterey;Douglas DC-3;XA-GUN;7358;18;18;0;Crashed and burned on Friar's Peak while waiting for permission to land.
04/03/1954;;Adana, Turkey;Devlet Hava Yollari;;Adana - Istanbul;Douglas DC-3;TC-ARK;19509;25;25;0;Crashed en route approximately 15 minutes after takeoff from Adana.
04/04/1954;;Hanoi, Vietnam;Autrex;;;Douglas C-54A;F-BFGQ;10341;4;4;0;The cargo plane crashed into the Red River while on approach.
04/08/1954;19:10;Off Stromboli, Italy;British Overseas Airways;201;Rome - Cairo;de Havilland DH106 Comet 1;G-ALYY;06011;21;21;0;The aircraft broke up in-flight and crashed into the sea en route from Rome to Cairo. Metal fatigue due to a design flaw led to the breakup of the aircraft. Third crash with the same cause. The aircraft was nicknamed 'Yoke Yoke.'
04/08/1954;10:03;Moose Jaw, SK, Canada;Trans Canada Air Lines / RCAF;;;Canadair C-4-1Argonaut / Harvard Mark II;CF-TFW/RCAF3309;150;36;36;1;Midair collision between a Canadair C-4-1 and a RCAF Harvard Mark II at 6,000 feet. Thirty-five killed on the Canadair, one on the Harvard. Failure on the part of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain a proper lookout. The onus of responsibility for keeping out of the way being with the Harvard aircraft as it had the other on its own right side.
04/13/1954;;Santiago, Chile;LAN;;;Douglas DC-3;956;;16;16;0;
04/13/1954;;Xieng Kouang, Laos;Societe Indochinoise de Raviteillement;;;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;F-OALK;2603;23;16;0;Crashed and burned during takeoff.
04/23/1954;21:25;Sierra del Vilgo, Argentina;Aerolineas Argentinas;;Mendoza
- Cordoba;Douglas DC-3;LV-ACX;12387;25;25;0;Crashed into a mountain during an approach. Deviation from prescribed course for unknown reasons. Crew fatigue may have played a part. The captain acted contrary to company policy regarding a required IFR approach.
04/30/1954;09:18;Near Calcutta, India;Darbhanga Aviation;;;Douglas C-47A-30-DK;VT-DEM;13792;11;5;0;The aircraft tried to return to the airport after the No. 1 engine failed on takeoff but was unable to maintain airspeed, stalled and crashed into a tree. Delay in feathering the No. 1 engine after failure. Improper emergency procedural errors by the pilot.
05/22/1954;09:23;Paraparaumu, New Zealand;New Zealand National Airways;;Churchchrist - Paraparaumu;Douglas DC-3;ZK-AQT;15948/32696;28;3;0;Crashed onto a roadway from a height of 500 ft. The crew used the wrong fuel selection configueration and the engines failed due to fuel starvation.
05/31/1954;;Cipo Mountain, Brazil;Transportes Aereos Nacionales;;Governador Valadares - Belo Horizonte;Douglas DC-3;PP-ANO;19830;19;19;0;The aircraft deviated from its normal course by 30 miles and struck a mountain. Navigational error. The minimum safety height for the route was not complied with.
06/03/1954;;Near Maribor, Slovenia;Sabena;;Blackbushe, UK - Beogard, Serbia;Douglas C-47A;OO-CBY;11982;4;1;0;The cargo plane ran off the end of the runway and crashed after being attacked by a fighter jet.
06/04/1954;;Sao Paulo, Brazil;Varig;;Sao Paulo - Porto Alegre;Curtiss C-46A;PP-VBZ;30400;3;3;0;The cargo plane crashed on takeoff. Elevator lock was not removed prior to takeoff.
06/08/1954;;Tourane, Vietnam;Soc. de Tr. Aériens d'Extrême Orient;;;Douglas C-47-DL;F-BCCL;4464;4;4;0;
06/19/1954;;Off Folkestone, England;Swissair;;Geneva - London;Convair CV-240-4;HB-IRW;61;9;3;0;The plane ditched into the AtlantiOcean after running out of fuel. Three non-swimming passengers drowned due to lack of lifesaving equipment aboard. Negligence of the crew in not monitoring the fuel situation as the flight progressed.
07/02/1954;12:00;Near Salvador, Brazil;Military - Brazilian Air Force;;;Lockheed C-28;C-28-2901;;20;20;0;The aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Salvador. Engine failure at a critical stage in landing.
07/23/1954;09:45;Off Hainan Island, China;Cathay PacifiAirways;;Singapore - Hong Kong - Bangkok;Douglas DC-4;VR-HEU;10310;18;10;0;Ditched into the sea after being shot down by Chinese Lachovlin La-7 military fighter aircraft. The survivors were rescued by the U.S. Air Force.
08/08/1954;15:40;Near McGrath, Alaska;Alaska Airlines;;McGrath - Colorado Creek;Douglas DC-2;N91008;13977/25422;2;2;0;Flew into a mountain, 35 miles northeast of McGrath.
08/09/1954;00:08;Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal;AVIANCA;;Lajes, Azores - Bermuda;Lockheed 749A-79 Constellation;HK-163;2664;30;30;0;Crashed into mountains after poor weather diverted the flight from Santa Maria. Flew opposite to prescribed course after takeoff. Crew error. The failure of the pilot to carry out the normal climb out procedure following takeoff on a flight to Bermuda and his having made a turn to the left instead of to the right, thus flying into the mountains instead of turning out to sea.
08/12/1954;;Vietnam;Autrex;;Saigan - Hanoi;Douglas DC-3;F-BSGS;;3;3;0;Crashed en route.
08/16/1954;;Near Pakse, Laos;Air Vietnam (South Vietnam);;Red River delta - Saigon;Bristol 170 Freighter 21E;F-VNAI;12809;55;47;0;Crashed into the Mekong River while making an emergency landing after encountering engine failure. The aircraft was being used to evacuate families.
08/22/1954;17:03;Near Mason City, Iowa;Braniff Airlines;152;Memphis - Minneapolis;Douglas DC-3;N61451;4630;19;12;0;The aircraft crashed 16 miles south of Mason City, Iowa due to a loss of control after penetrating an area of thunderstorms during a go-around. The flight, while endeavouring to traverse a thunderstorm area, encountered very heavy rain, divergent winds, and strong downdrafts that forced the aircraft to the ground.
08/23/1954;11:35;Near Dutch Coast, North Sea;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;;Shannon - Amsterdam;Douglas DC-6B;PH-DFO;43556/257;21;21;0;Crashed into the North Sea in rain showers and heavy seas. Cause not determined.
05/16/1958;;Chatenoy, France;British European Airways;;;Douglas C-47A;G-AGHP;9408;3;3;0;Broke up in midair while flying through a thunderstorm.
08/27/1954;22:10;Near Rapid City, South Dekota;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Convair RB-36H;51-13722;;27;26;0;Crashed while making practice approaches to Ellsworth Air Force Base during its sixth attempt. The plane slammed into to ground with landing gear retracted and flaps set at 20 degrees.
09/05/1954;02:30;Foynes, Ireland;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;633;Shannon - New York City;Lockheed 1049C-55-81 S Constellation;PH-LKY;4509;56;28;0;Less than a minute after takeoff, the aircraft crashed into a mudbank of the Shannon River. Although the crash site was only about 2,500 metres from the airport, no one was aware of the disaster. Rescue operations were only started after the plane's navigator, after having crossed the river, managed to reach the airport. The aircraft was partially submerged, and at least one of the fuel tanks had ruptured during the crash. The fuel fumes rendered many passengers and crew unconscious, who then drowned in the rising tide. Failure of the captain to interpret his instrument indications properly during flap retraction after the gear was re-extended.
09/12/1954;20:08;Off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Cruzeiro;;;Douglas DC-3;PP-CDJ;19278;30;6;0;The plane was attemping to return to the Rio de Janeiro after severe vibrations in the No. 1 engine made the crew feather the prop. While on final the aircraft came in too high and a go-around was attempted during which the plane crashed into the sea. Lack of reference to instruments after opening the throttle to go-around in restricted visibility. Power may have been inadvertently reduced on the good engine.
09/15/1954;;Cairo, Egypt;Misrair;;Test;Vickers 634 Viking;SU-AFO;212;4;3;0;Stalled and crashed during a test flight.
10/24/1954;17:50;Nar Limone Piemonte, Italy;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-47A-DL;43-16044;20510;21;21;0;Crashed in the Alps on the French/Italian border while en route. The instrument flight plan the pilot filed indicated a cruising height that was lower than the authorized minimum altitude required to clear the mountains.
10/30/1954;;Off Ocean City, Maryland;Military - U.S. Navy;57;Patuxent River NAS - Kenitra, Morocco;Lockheed R7V-1;128441;4108;42;42;0;The aircraft disappeared approximately 300 miles east of Ocean City, Maryland and no trace of the wreckage or bodies was ever found.
10/30/1954;23:00;Off the coast of Maryland;Military - U. S. Navy;;New Jersey - Azores - Port Lyautey, Moroco;Lockheed R-7V1;128441;;42;42;0;Disappeared 350 miles off the Maryland coast.
10/31/1954;15:10;Mangalore, Australia;TAA;;Training;Vickers 720 Viscount;VH-TVA;44;8;3;0;Crashed during takeoff. An error of judgement on the part of the pilot-in-command in that he took the aircraft into the air at a speed below the minimum control speed, following loss of directional control during the ground run.
11/16/1954;;Jirishanga,Cerro de Pasco, Peru;TAM (Brazil);;Pucallpa - Lima;Douglas DC-3;FAP-403;;24;24;0;Disappeared over the Andes while en route. Wreckage found 12/04/1954.
11/30/1954;11:15;Berlin, New Hampshire;Northeast Airlines;792;Laconia, NH - Berlin, NH;Douglas DC-3;N17891;11745;7;2;0;The aircraft crashed during an ILS approach to Berlin. Premature and unauthorized instrument descent to an altitude that did not permit terrain clearance.
12/04/1954;;Near Luang Pragang, Laos;Air Laos;;Luang Prabang - Nam Tha;Douglas DC-3;F-BEIA;19211;28;28;0;Crashed en route on the company's first commercial flight.
12/12/1954;;Bratislava, Slovakia;Ceskoslovenské Aerolinie;;;Douglas C-47A;OK-WDK;12549;4;4;0;
12/18/1954;;Near Bolivar, Venezuela;Linea Aeropostal Venezolana;;;Douglas C-47A;YV-C-AMP;19292;2;2;0;The cargo plane crashed into a mountain.
12/18/1954;14:00;New
York, New York;Linee Aeree Italiane;451;Rome - New York City;Douglas DC-6B;I-LINE;44418/487;32;26;0;The plane crashed into approach lights of the runway during the fourth landing attempt at Idlewild Airport, sinking into Jamaica Bay. An erratiapproach which resulted in a descent to an altitude too low to avoid striking the pier. A contributing factor was pilot fatigue due to the particular and difficult circumstances including two and one-half hours in a holding pattern.
12/22/1954;23:00;Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;Johnson Flying Service;4844-C;Newark - Tacoma;Douglas DC-3;N24320;20197;28;10;0;Ditched into the Monongahela River after running out of fuel. Inadequate flight planning. Contributing factors were inadequate crew supervision and training.
12/25/1954;;Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland;British Overseas Airways;;London - Glasgow;Boeing B377-10-28 Stratocruiser;G-ALSA;15943;36;28;0;Crashed short of the runway, landing hard. Pilot error. Errors of judgement on the part of the captain in starting his final approach to land at too steep an angle and flaring out too late and too severely with the result that the aircraft sank and hit the ground short of the runway.
12/29/1954;;Near Moscow, Russia;Aeroflot;;;;;;45;45;0;
12/31/1954;;Irkutsk, Russia;Aeroflot;;Peking - Irkutsk - Cyprus;Ilyushin 14;;;17;17;0;Crashed during takeoff.
01/11/1955;21:00;Off Skellings, Ireland;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Avro Shackleton M-2 / Avro Shakleton M-2;WG531 / Wl743;;18;18;0;Disappeared while on a training mission. Possibility, the two planes collided in midair.
01/12/1955;09:05;Greater Cincinnati Airport, Covington, Kentucky;Trans World Airlines / Castleton Inc.;;Cincinnati - Cleveland;Martin 202A / DC-3;N93211/N999B;14081 / 4255;15;15;0;Midair collision at 700-900 feet. The DC-3 entered the airport's control space without clearance or communication with the tower. Thirteen killed on the Martin, two crew on the DC-3.
01/19/1955;16:25;Des Moines, Iowa;United Air Lines;329;Newark - Des Moines - Lincoln;Convair CV-340;N73154;180;39;0;0;Almost complete loss of elevator control and severe vibration was experienced shortly after taking off from Des Moines. The plane when into a steep climb and almost stalled but the captain applied full power and went into a steep dive. The captain then reduced power and headed for open country where the aircraft safely made an emergency wheels up landing in a corn field. A series of omissions made by maintenance personnel during a scheduled inspection which resulted in the release of the aircraft in an unairworthy condition and an almost complete loss of elevator control during flight.
01/31/1955;;Lapadrera, Colombia;Interamericana de Aviacion;;;Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina;HK-1000E;;5;5;0;Crashed into the Caqueta river while landing.
02/02/1955;03:50;Nagpur, India;Indian Airlines;;Nagpur - Delhi;Douglas DC-3;VT-CVB;13037;10;10;0;Crashed into a field shortly after takeoff. The aircraft crashed as a result of slipping into the ground in the course of a poorly executed steep turn to port, carried out at night at a low altitude.
02/05/1955;10:04;Near Calabar, Nigeria;West African Airways;;Enugu - Calabar;Bristol 170 Freighter 21E;VR-NAD;12779;13;13;0;Crashed shortly after taking off after a wing failed. A design flaw in the wing led to fatigue cracks and wing failure.
02/13/1955;18:53;Rome, Italy;Sabena;;Brussels - Rome;Douglas DC-6;OO-SDB;43063/60;29;29;0;Crashed into a mountain while on approach. Navigational error due to failure to use radio equipment.
02/19/1955;07:31;Albuquerque, New Mexico;Trans World Airlines;260;Albuquerque - Sante Fe;Martin 404;N40416;14120;16;16;0;After taking off from Albuquerque, the aircraft flew a path directly towards Sandia Mountain and crashed into it. While initially blaming the pilots of intentionally flying the plane into the mountain, five years later, the CAB changed the probable cause to 'deviation from course for reasons unknown' and admitted there may have been a problem with the flux gauge compass.
02/23/1955;09:20;Salisbury, Zimbabwe;Central African Airways;626;Salisbury - Lusaka;Douglas DC-3;VP-YKO;15109/26554;26;1;0;The pilot began taking off and retracted the landing gear when smoke was observed in the cockpit. He attempted to belly land the plane. The propellers separated and penetrated the fuselage killing the fight engineer. The presence of smoke in the flight crew compartment in sufficient quantity to make the captain apprehensive of fire and to cause him to land the aircraft immediately with the landing gear retracted. A fractured rubber hose on the port engine connecting the rocker box of one of the lower cylinders to the collector box caused smoke to enter the wheel well and into the crew compartment.
03/06/1955;;Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil;REAL;;;Douglas DC-3;PP-YPZ;11699;21;5;0;After an aborted landing attempt due to a unlocked landing gear, the plane made a left turn, hit a pole, crashed and burned. Pilot error. Improper use of the throttles by the crew following the go-around. Failure of the landing gear locking mechanism.
03/08/1955;;Mascota, Mexico;Mexicana;;Puerto Vallarta - Guadalajara;Douglas DC-3;XA-DIK;3992;26;26;0;Crashed in a hilly region between Talpa and Mascota.
03/09/1955;;Trujillo, Colombia;AVIANCA;;Condoto - Cali;Douglas C-47A;HK-328;20224;8;8;0;The cargo plane crashed with a gold and platinum shipment aboard. Wreckage found one month later.
03/20/1955;22:36;Springfield, Mississippi;American Airlines;711;Newark - Chicago - St. Louis - Springfield - Tulsa;Convair CV-240-0;N94234;066;35;13;0;The plane crashed 1.25 miles short of the runway while attempting to land. Crew's inattention to flight instruments during approach. Pilot sensory illusion which gave a false impression of the aircraft's altitude.
03/22/1955;02:00;Oahu, Hawaii;Military - U.S. Navy;;;Douglas R6D-1 (C-118B);131612;43715;66;66;0;The aircraft returned to Hickam Airfield because of inoperative high-frequency radio transmitters. As the plane was descending to land, it crashed into Pali Kea peak, 15 miles northwest of Honolulu. Navigational error by the crew brought the plane 8 miles north of its intended position.
03/26/1955;11:12;Off the Oregon coast;Pan American World Airways;845/26;Portland - Honolulu;Boeing 377 Stratocruiser 10-26;N1032V;15932;23;4;0;The plane ditched 35 miles off the Oregon coast after the No. 3 engine and propeller broke away causing severe control difficulties. The plane sank after 20 minutes. Loss of control and inability to maintain altitude following failure of the No. 3 propeller which resulted in wrenching free the No. 3 power package. The aircraft was named 'Clipper United States.'
04/02/1955;;Off Pensacola, Florida;Aaxico Airlines;;Mobile, AL - Macon, GA;Curtiss C-46A;N51424;30430;2;2;0;The cargo plane flew into a thunderstorm and crashed into the sea while en route.
04/04/1955;15:55;Islip, New York;United Air Lines;;Training;Douglas DC-6;N37512;43001/32;3;3;0;Suddenly dove into the ground. Unintentional movement of no.4 throttle into the reverse range just before breaking ground, with the other three engines operating at high power output, which resulted in the aircraft very quickly becoming uncontrollable once airborne.
04/11/1955;17:30;Off Great Natuna Island, Sarawak;Air India;;Hong Kong - Jakarta;Lockheed 749A Constellation;VT-DEP;2666;19;19;0;An explosion occurred at 18,000 feet while over the China Sea. A resulting fire which started on the starboard wing soon spread and eventually led to total hydrauliand electrical failure. Smoke filled the cockpit and the plane crashed. An act of political terrorism. An aircraft worker placed an incendiary device in the starboard wheel well.
04/18/1955;;Kupe Mountains, Cameroons;Union des Transportes Aeriens;;Yaounde - Douala;de Havilland DH-114 Heron 1B;F-BGOI;14010;14;12;0;Hit Mt. Kilmanjaro while en route. Wreckage found after 10 months.
05/18/1955;11:56;Mt. Kilimanjaro, Kenya;East African Airways;;Dar-es-Salaam - Nairobi;Douglas DC-3;VP-KKH;16820/33568;20;20;0;Crashed
after reporting being over Jipe Lake on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Failure to follow prescribed route and procedures.
05/21/1955;;Off Barcelona, Venezuela;Linea Aeropostal Venezolana;;;Douglas C-47-DL;YV-C-ALU;4791;13;4;0;Ditched into the sea.
05/26/1955;14:30;Edmonton, Alberta, Canada;Associated Airways;;;Avro 685 York C-1;CF-HMY;;2;2;0;The attempt of the pilot to takeoff under the prevailing unfavorable conditions. As a result, the aircraft hit an obstacle in line with and off the end of the runway.
06/03/1955;;Fort Lamy, Cameroon;Union Aéromaritime de Transport;;Douala - Fort Lamy;Douglas C-54A;F-BFVT;10292;3;3;0;The cargo plane crashed while attempting to land.
06/16/1955;01:15;Near Asuncion, Paraguay;Panair do Brasil;;Sao Paulo - Asuncion;Lockheed 049-46-21 Constellation;PP-PDJ;2032;24;16;0;Crashed on final approach. Pilot fatigue. The pilot did not follow the recommended procedure for instrument final approach and he descended below the height prescribed in the final approach chart.
06/18/1955;;Leon, Mexico;Tigres Voladores;;;Curtiss C-46;XA-LID;;18;18;0;Lost an engine on takeoff and crashed into trees and caught fire.
07/14/1955;;Oaxaca, Mexico;Lineas Areas Unidas;;Acapulco - Oaxaca;Douglas DC-2-243;XA-DOB;2088;22;22;0;Crashed in a mountainous area in the Zimathan district while en route.
07/17/1955;06:24;Chicago, Illinois;Braniff Airlines;560;Kansas City, MO - Chicago;Convair CV-340-32;N3422;071;43;22;0;While on instrument approach, the aircraft hit a sign and crashed through the airport boundry fence. Momentary disorientation caused by the loss of visual reference during the final visual phase of the approach resulting in an increased rate of descent at an altitude too low to effect recovery.
07/27/1955;07:40;Near Petrich, Bulgaria;El Al;402/46;Wien - Tel Aviv;Lockheed 049 Constellation;4X-AKC;1968;58;58;0;On a flight from London, England to Tel Aviv, the aircraft drifted over Bulgarian airspace and was shot down by Bulgarian jet fighters. A navigational error that probably originated with an incorrect radio compass indication due to the effects of thunderstorm activity in the area.
08/04/1955;12:23;Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri;American Airlines;;Springfield, IL - St. Louis, MO;Convair CV-240-0;N94221;040;30;30;0;The aircraft attempted an emergency landing at a military airstrip after fire broke out in the No. 2 engine. The right wing separated from the aircraft and crashed 1.5 miles from the runway. Installation of an unairworthy cylinder in the No. 2 engine which resulted in an uncontrollable fire and loss of the right wing.
08/06/1955;;Near Voronezh, Russia;Aeroflot;;Starllingrad - Moscow.;;;;25;25;0;Crashed en route.
08/11/1955;14:20;Near Edelweiler, West Germany;Military - U.S. Air Force / Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Fairchild C119G / Fairchild C119G;53-3222/53-7841;;66;66;0;Participating in a U.S. military exercise, the two planes collided in midair while in formation after one of the planes pulled out of formation because of engine trouble. The accident occurred at an altitude of 4,000 feet. Forty-six aboard 7841 and 20 aboard 3222 were killed.
08/26/1955;;Caparao Mountain, Brazil;Cruzeiro;;Rio de Janeiro - Caravelas;Douglas DC-3;PP-CBY;11692;13;13;0;Hit Caparao Mountain while en route, 1 hour after taking off. Failure to follow flight plan.
08/30/1955;;Simra, Nepal;Kalinga Airlines;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-AZX;13285;3;2;0;The cargo plane lifted off too early, stalled and crashed. The pilot tried to avoid a person on the runway.
09/02/1955;;Meikitila, Myanmar;Union of Burma Airways;;Meiktila - Lanywa;Douglas DC-3;XY-ACQ;12579;9;9;0;Flew into Mount Popa.
09/08/1955;;Burbank, California;Currey Air Transport;24;Burbank - Oakland;Douglas DC-3;N74663;6257;33;3;0;The plane returned after failure of the No. 2 engine, stalled and crashed 200 yards short of the runway into parked aircraft and a hanger. The captain's commitment to a landing without radio or visual confirmation of his runway alignment following engine failure immediately after takeoff.
09/10/1955;;Sombolabo, French Equitorial Africa;Societe France Hydro;;LaLérè - Douala;Latecoere 631;F-BDRE;8;16;16;0;Crashed into the Cameroon mountains after the wing separated due to severe turbulence.
09/17/1955;;Near Thorhild, Canada;PacifiWestern Airlines;;Edmonton, AB - Yellowknife, NT;Bristol 170 Freighter 31;CF-GBT;12831;6;2;0;For reasons undetermined, the right engine failed and as a result of being overloaded, the aircraft did not maintain altitude on one engine and struck the ground with the right wingtip. A possible contributing factor was the failure of the co-pilot's vacuum-driven gyro instruments, without his knowledge.
09/21/1955;22:23;Idris, Libya;British Overseas Airways;;Rome - Tripoli;Canadair C-4;G-ALHL;158;47;15;0;Crash landed in a sandstorm on the fourth landing attempt. The plane came in too low, struck a line of trees and crashed 1,200 yards short of the runway. Pilot error. In an error in judgement, the captain who allowed his desire to keep the runway lights in view failed to make adequate reference to his flight instruments.
09/24/1955;06:41;PacifiOcean;Flying Tiger Line;;Wake Island - Honolulu;Douglas C-54A;N90433;10410;5;3;0;The cargo plane lost 3 engines and ditched into the PacifiOcean. The loss of power in three engines due to incorrect fuel system management and faulty restarting methods which resulted in the ditching of the aircraft.
10/02/1955;;Pico Oiriruma-Vinac, Peru;Faucett;;Lima - Cuzco;Douglas C54A;OB-PAZ-228;10277;35;19;0;Crashed in adjacent mountains while attempting an emergency landing following an engine fire.
10/06/1955;07:26;Near Centennial, Wyoming;United Air Lines;409;Denver - Salt Lake City - San Francisco;Douglas DC-4;N30062;18389;66;66;0;The aircraft crashed into cloud covered Medicine Bow Peak while en route. The plane failed to clear the 12,013 ft. peak by 75 feet. The pilot deviated from course for reasons unknown. Possible incapacitation of crew by carbon monoxide emanating from a faulty cabin heater, though never proven.
10/10/1955;16:40;Near Wien, Austria;JAT Yugoslav Airlines;;Beograd - Wien;Convair CV-340-58;YU-ADC;178;29;7;0;Crashed into Kahlenberg Hill while on approach to Wien. The aircraft flew for a longer time on the outbound track and descended below the prescribed minimum altitutde. Pilot error.
11/01/1955;19:03;Longmont, Colorado;United Air Lines;629;Denver - Portland;Douglas DC-6B;N37559;43538;44;44;0;The aircraft crashed 11 minutes after taking off from Denver Stapleton Airport, 8 miles east of Longmont. Detonation of a dynamite bomb in the No. 4 cargo hold, placed by John (Jack) Gilbert Graham in his mother's luggage in order to collect $37,500 in insurance. A delayed flight caused the bomb to detonate over flat land rather than the mountains as planned. Graham never showed any remorse for his actions and refused to file any appeals. He was executed for the crime on 1/11/56.
11/17/1955;23:59;Seattle, Washingon;Peninsular;17K;Seattle - Newark;Douglas C-54;N88852;3123;74;28;0;Crashed on takeoff. In-flight prop failure. Maintenance error. The excessively high drag resulting from the improperly indexed propeller blades and inability to feather.
11/17/1955;;Near Las Vegas, Nevada;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas MC-54M;44-9068;27294;14;14;0;Crashed into the peak of Mount Charleston 30 miles WNW of Las Vegas.
11/20/1955;17:00;Iwo Jima, Japan;Military - US Air Force;;;Douglas C124-DL Globemaster II;51-0149;43483;11;10;0;The military transport crashed seconds after taking off from Central Airport in Iwo Jima.
11/30/1955;22:00;Near Ballico, California;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Boeing RB-52B;52-8716;;10;10;0;The aircraft crashed into a wooded area in 5 degree nose-down attitude. Abnormal nose-down trim condition which could not be corrected due to an unknown malfunction.
12/01/1955;02:00;Belem, Brazil;Cruzeiro;;;Douglas DC-3;PP-CCC;15845/32593;6;6;0;Shortly after taking off, the No.1 engine lost power. The crew shut off the hydraulipump
which caused the landing gear to stop retracting halfway. The resulting drag, caused the aircraft to lose altitude. The left wing struck a tree and the plane crashed and burned. Failure of the front bearing of the propeller shaft leading to disconnection of the reduction gear and left propeller and causing a sudden failure of the left engine.
12/17/1955;20:17;Hollywood, South Carolina;Riddle Airlines;;;Curtiss C-46A;N9904F;30262;2;2;0;Cargo plane. An in-flight structural failure resulting from a violent pitch-down induced by the erratiaction of nonconforming elevator tab controls.
12/19/1955;;Sao Paulo, Brazil;Cruzeiro Do Sud;;Sao Paulo - Belem;Douglas DC-3;;;26;26;0;Crashed on takeoff.
12/21/1955;03:43;Jacksonville, Florida;Eastern Air Lines;642;Miami - Jacksonville;Lockheed 749C-79-12 Constellation;N112A;2533;17;17;0;The plane crashed while on approach and during an attempted go-around. The crew allowed the aircraft to deviate to the left of course and descent below the glide path for reasons unknown. The crew encountered local fog and restricted visibility during the final approach of an ILS approach and missed approach procedure came too late to prevent the aircraft from descending into the ground.
01/12/1956;;Frederick Henry Bay, Australia;Ansett ANA;;;Douglas C-47;VH-BZA;4651;2;1;0;Flew into the water upon approach. The pilot relied on inadequate external visual reference for determining the altitude and paid insufficient attention to the instruments. The irregular approach procedure carried out by the pilot in command deprived him of the opportunity to monitor the safe approach to the aerodrome through the correlation of time, height and position.
01/17/1956;00:52;Oreway, Canada;Quebecair;;Knob Lake - Oreway;Douglas DC-3;CF-GVZ;15552/26997;18;4;0;Loss of the No. 2 engine necessitated a forced crash landing near a railway station. Failure to maintain height at night due to the loss of the starboard engine in icing conditions. The aircraft was also overloaded.
01/18/1956;;Torysa, Czechoslovakia;Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie;;Bratislava - Kosice;Douglas DC-3;OK-WDZ;9385;26;22;0;Crashed in the Tatra mountains while en route.
01/28/1956;;Lyon, France;Air France;;;Douglas C-47;F-BCYK;4509;3;3;0;The cargo plane was on approach when it crashed.
02/13/1956;;Frobisher Bay, Canada;Maritime Central Airways;;;Bristol 170 Freighter 31;CF-FZU;;2;2;0;Loss of control due to improperly secured heavy cargo breaking loose and sliding to the rear of the aircraft during takeoff.
02/14/1956;;Near Fort Chimo, Quebec, Canada;Spartan Air Services;;;Douglas C-47-DL;CF-BZH;6079;3;2;0;Crashed on a ferrying flight. Soldier of fortune Harold (Whitey) Dahl killed.
02/17/1956;13:45;Near Niles, California;Military - U.S. Marine Corps;;El Toro MAS - Alameda NAS;Douglas R5D2;39116;;40;40;0;Crashed into Sunol Ridge after circling for half-an-hour while attempting to land at Alameda Naval Air Station. Non adherence of the crew to the holding pattern and departure from the radio beacon and descent in a unprescribed manner.
02/18/1956;13:23;Near Zurrieg, Malta;Scottish Airlines;;Malta - London;Avro 685 York C-1;G-ANSY;;50;50;0;The aircraft took off from Luqua Airport in Malta bound for England when smoke was seen coming from the left engine. Shortly thereafter it banked to the left and plunged almost vertically into cliffs. Engine failure due to cracks in the boost enrichment capsule and the failure of the captain to stop the leftward swing of the aircraft using the rudder. Failure to correct the nose high attitude and failure to feather the No. 1 engine.
02/20/1956;02:40;Near Cairo, Egypt;Transport Aerien Intercontinentaux (France);;Saigon - Paris;Douglas DC-6B;F-BGOD;43835/380;64;52;0;The flight crashed while on approach 18 miles SE of Cairo. Pilot's inexperience in ILS approaches. Improper approach. Crew error. Crew fatigue.
02/24/1956;;Near Aleppo, Syria;Syrian Airways;;;Douglas DC-3;YK-AAE;14918/2636;19;19;0;Crashed shortly after taking off 15 miles from Damascus. Double engine failure during a thunderstorm.
02/25/1956;14:55;Jalkot, Pakistan;Pakistan International Airlines;;Gilgit - Islamabad;Douglas C-47B;AP-ACZ;16813/33561;3;3;0;Struck Lash Golath Moutain while en route.
03/21/1956;;Tezpur, India;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-CGN;12989;21;2;0;An improper flare on landing caused the aircraft to bounce causing the right wing to strike the runway after which the plane veered off the runway.
03/28/1956;;Largs, England;Starways;;Liverpool - Glasgow;Douglas C-47B;G-AMRB;16670/33418;3;1;0;During an instrument approach at night the pilot of the cargo plane permitted the aircraft to descend below the approved safety height and this resulted in the aircraft striking the ground.
03/31/1956;;Indapur, India;National Air Operators;;Asansol - Bagdogra;Douglas C-47A;VT-DCM;10230;3;3;0;The cargo plane crashed en route. A downdraft which forced down the fully loaded aircraft to the ground when it was flying under exceptionally severe weather conditions below 1000 ft. and possibly at a few hundred feet above the terrain.
03/31/1956;;Korat ,Thailand;Military - Royal Thai Air Force;;;Douglas C-47A;;;18;18;0;
04/01/1956;19:20;Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;Trans World Airlines;400;Pittsburgh - Newark;Martin 404;N40403;14103;36;22;0;The aircraft yawed to the left and crashed shortly after takeoff after a fire warning occurred on the No.1 engine. The cause of the fire warning was a failed exhaust connector clamp in the left engine, which triggered an adjacent fire detecting unit. A windmilling left propeller, the extended landing gear, and the takeoff flaps produced sufficient drag to make the airplane lose altitude and strike the ground. An uncoordinated emergency action in a very short time available to the crew, which produced an aircraft configuration with insurmountable drag.
04/02/1956;08:10;Seattle, Washington;Northwest Orient Airlines;2;Seattle - Portland;Boeing 377 Stratocruiser 10-30;N74608;15954;38;5;0;"The aircraft experienced extreme buffeting after taking off from Seattle. A decision was made to divert to McChord AFB but the plane continued to loose altitude and had to be ditched in Puget Sound 4.7 nautical miles southwest of Seattle. The plane sank within 15 minutes. The incorrect analysis of control difficulty which occurred on retraction of the wing flaps as a result of the flight engineer's failure to close the engine cowl flaps; the analysis having been made under conditions of urgency and within an extremely short period of time available for decision."
04/09/1956;09:51;Skilak Lake, Alaska;Cordova Airlines;6;Anchorage - Seward;Aero Commander 520;B5386N;520-7;6;6;0;Crashed en route from Anchorage to Seward. The pilot's action in continuing flight during instrument weather conditions on a planned VFR flight through a mountain pass and striking a mountainside while attempting to climb out.
04/18/1956;;Parintins, Brazil;Panair do Brasil;;Belem - Parintins;Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina;PP-PDB;;12;3;0;The plane struck an object in the water while landing and broke up.
04/30/1956;09:30;London, England;Scottish Airlines;;London - Malta;Avro 685 York C-1;G-AMUL;;54;2;0;The aircraft made a sudden turn to the right while talking off from Stansted. Overcorrection by the pilot in command which caused the aircraft to veer to the right.
05/15/1956;;Kathmandu, Nepal;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-DBA;13165;33;14;1;The aircraft touched down at an excessive speed, bounced and stalled. Go-around power was applied, but the remaining runway length was insufficient and the plane overran the end of the runway and went down a steep slope and crashed.
05/15/1956;22:17;Orleans, Ontario, Canada;Military - Royal Canadian Air Force;;;CF-100 Mark V;;;2;2;13;The CF-100 was from the Canadian Air Defense Command which was scrambled to investigate an unidentified transport plane flying in the area. Something malfunctioned on the fighter and the jet crashed into a convent operated by the Grey Nuns of the Cross, at over 680
miles an hour, destroying the three story, 70 room convent.
05/24/1956;;Guatemala City, Guatemala;Aviateca;;Kano - Tripoli;Douglas DC-3;TG-AHA;6052;31;30;0;Crashed into a mountain shortly after taking off. Loss of height and airspeed caused by the aircraft encountering a thunderstorm cell which gave rise to a sudden reversal of wind direction, heavy rain, and possible downdraught conditions.
06/20/1956;01:30;Asbury Park, New Jersey;Linea Aeropostal Venezolana;;New York City - Caracas;Lockheed 1049E-55 Super Constellation;YV-C-AMS;4561;74;74;0;About 1.5 hours after taking off from New York, the pilot radioed the No. 2 propeller was overspeeding and could not be feathered. Upon trying to return to New York the plane caught fire and crashed into the AtlantiOcean. Vibration resulting from the uncontrollable propeller caused one of the inside wing attachments to loosen or break somewhere between the fuel tank and the dump chute causing an uncontrollable fire.
06/24/1956;17:25;Kano, Nigeria;British Overseas Airways;;Kano - Tripoli;Canadair C-4 Argonaut;G-ALHE;151;45;32;0;Crashed shortly after taking off from Kano Airport. Flew into a thunderstorm. Microburst windshear.
06/30/1956;10:32;Grand Canyon, Arizona;United Air Lines / Trans World Airlines;718 / 2;Los Angeles - Chicago / Los Angeles - Kansas City;Douglas DC-7 / Lockheed S Constellation;N6902C/N6324C;44288 / 4016;128;128;0;The TWA aircraft flying from Los Angeles to Kansas City and the United Aircraft flying from Los Angeles to Chicago collided over the Grand Canyon. Both planes were traveling about 320 mph. Both aircraft were flying in uncontrolled airspace. All fifty-eight on the DC-7 and seventy on the Constellation killed. The pilots did not see each other in time to avoid the collision. It is not possible to determine why the pilots did not see each other, but the evidence suggests that it resulted from any one or a combination of the following factors: 1) Intervening clouds reducing time for visual separation 2) Visual limitations due to cockpit visibility 3) Preoccupation with normal cockpit duties.
07/09/1956;13:53;Near Flat Rock, Michigan;Trans Canada Air Lines;304;Chicago - Montreal;Vickers Viscount;CF-TGR;55;35;1;0;While on a flight from Chicago to Montreal, cruising at FL190, the crew was unable to feather an overspeeding No. 4 engine. Soon after the No. 4 propeller broke and one blade disabled the No. 3 engine and penetrated the fuselage killing a passenger. An emergency landing was successfully made at Windsor, Ontario.
07/13/1956;15:35;Near Brows Mills, New Jersey;Military - U.S. Air Force;;McGuire AFB - Harmon AFB;Douglas C-118A;53-3301A;;66;46;0;Crashed into a wooded area 2 minutes after taking off from McGuire Air Force Base. There was thunderstorm activity at the time. Microburst windshear.
07/16/1956;07:15;Rio Cuarto, Argentina;Aerolineas Argentinas;;Buenos Aires - Rio Cuarto;Douglas DC-3;LV-ACD;13328;18;18;0;Crashed while making an approach to Rio Cuarto. The decision of the pilot to descend en route, without justifiable reason, below the minimum altitude prescribed for a night flight and in weather conditions which made it his duty to follow IFR procedure.
08/08/1956;;Thazi, Burma;Union of Burma Airways;;Rangoon - Mandalay;Douglas DC-3;XY-ADC;14348/2579;20;12;0;Crashed while en route.
08/29/1956;20:45;Cold Bay, Alaska;Canadian PacifiAir Lines;307;Vancouver - Hong Kong;Douglas DC-6B;CF-CUP;43843/324;22;15;0;The aircraft crashed after a missed approach. The crew executing full retraction of flaps without increasing power or changing attitude resulting in loss of lift after the missed approach.
09/09/1956;;Amman, Jordan;Jordan International Airlines;;;Curtiss C-46A-45-CU;JY-ABV;27069;57;1;0;The aircraft had to return to Amman for an emergency landing. The landing took place with the gear retracted. The plane bounced, went up a hill and down the other side and burst into flames.
09/09/1956;;Bartlesville, Oklahoma;Continental Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3 / Cessna 170B;N33315 / N8143A;4978 / 20995;18;0;0;Midair collision. Both planes landed safely. Failure of both aircraft to observe and avoid the other aircraft.
10/02/1956;18:25;Near Nome, Alaska;Alaska Airlines;701;Unalakleet and Nome;Stinson AT-19;N 79069;FK-975;5;5;0;Crashed while en route. The action of the pilot in flying into conditions of darkness and adverse weather in which he could not maintain adequate control of the aircraft.
10/10/1956;22:10;Off Land's End, England;Military - U.S. Navy;;RAF Lakenheath - McGuire AFB;Douglas C188-B;1311588;43691;59;59;0;The plane disappeared over the Atlantiwhile on a flight from Royal Air Force Base in England to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Cause unknown.
10/16/1956;06:15;Over the PacifiOcean;Pan American World Airways;943;Honolulu - San Francisco;Boeing 377 Stratocruiser;N90943;15959;31;0;0;The aircraft ditched into the PacifiOcean while on a flight from San Francisco to Honolulu after losing the No. 1 and then the No. 4 engine. The aircraft circled around the U.S. Coast Guard cutter 'Pontchartrain', at Ocean Station November until daybreak after which it made a successful ditching with no casualties. Probable Cause: An initial mechanical failure which precluded feathering the No.1 propeller and a subsequent mechanical failure which resulted in a complete loss of power from the No.4 engine, the effects of which necessitated a ditching. The aircraft was named 'Clipper Sovereign of the Sky.'
10/19/1956;;Agartala, India;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-DGK;;3;3;0;The cargo plane crashed after an attempted go-around.
10/28/1956;22:00;Over the Mediterranean Sea;Military - Egyptian Air Force;;Cairo - Dismascus;Curtiss C-46;SU-AAB;;23;23;0;Disappeared while en route.
11/05/1956;23:52;Blackbushe, England;Britavia;;Tripoli - Blackbushe;Handley Page HP-1 Hermes;G-ALDJ;HP-81/11;80;5;0;While attempting to land the aircraft descended below the ILS glideslope and hit a tree. Using the lights of the airport the captain misjudged the height he was flying.
11/07/1956;09:50;Hommelfjell, Norway;Braathens;;Trondheim - Oslo;de Havilland DH-114 Heron 2B;LN-SUR;14093;12;2;0;The aircraft took off, experienced icing, lost altitude and crashed into Hommelfjell Mountain. Unusually heavy icing which the aircraft encountered. Severe downdraft immediately prior to the crash may have been a contributing factor.
11/15/1956;14:53;Puerto Somoza, Nicaragua;Aerovias Guest;;Tocumen - Guatemala City;Douglas C-54A-10-DC;XA-HEG;10324;25;25;0;An unsuccessful belly landing was attempted on flat terrain following a fire in the fuel system.
10/18/1957;;Porto Alegre, Brazil;Varig;;;Douglas C-47A;PP-VCS;19757;2;2;0;Incorrect use of flying controls during takeoff roll. Possible failure of left engine. Turbulent conditions close to ground.
11/17/1956;17:00;El Rucio Mountain, Colombia;Empresa Aviacion del Pacifico;;Buenaventura - Cali;Douglas DC-3;HK-385;1971;36;36;0;Hit El Rucio Mountain at 6,200 ft. which was obscured by clouds. Lack of cockpit discipline. Flight on instruments at an excessively low altitude for the route.
11/24/1956;;Near Eglisau, Switzerland;Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie;;Eglisau - Prague;Ilyushin IL-12B;OK-DBP;93013517;23;23;0;Crashed into a field shortly after taking off.
11/24/1956;23:17;Paris, France;Linee Aeree Italiane;;Rome - Paris - Shannon - New York City;Douglas DC-6B;I-LEAD;45075;35;34;8;Lost altitude on takeoff and crashed into a house. Failed to climb for reasons unknown. The aircraft's slight loss of altitude soon after take off was the main cause of the accident. There is no explanation for this loss of altitude. Orchestra and opera conductor Guido Cantelli, 36, among those killed.
11/27/1956;07:50;Caracas, Venezuela;Linea Aeropostal Venezolana;253;New York City - Maiquetia;Lockheed 749-79-34 Constellation;YV-C-AMA;2560;25;25;0;Struck Silla de Caracas Mountain at 6,700 feet while approaching to land at Maiquetia. Navigation error. The pilot did not follow prescribed approach procedures. St. Louis Cardinal outfielder,
Charlie Peete, 27, killed.
12/08/1956;06:47;Caqueta, Colombia;AIDA;;Bogota - Medellin - Quibdo;Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina;HK-133;;16;14;0;The starboard engine failed shortly after takoff and the plane crash into Quetame Hill, 25km northwest of Santa Cecilia Airport. Complete failure of the starboard engine due to the breakdown of the lubricating system. Recklessness of the pilot in taking off from a closed airport while aware of the poor weather conditions. The aircraft was also overloaded.
12/09/1956;19:15;Near Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada;Trans Canada Air Lines;810-9;Vancouver - Toronto;Canadair DC-4M-2 Northstar;CF-TFD;128;62;62;0;The aircraft departed Vancouver en route to Calgary. Some 50 minutes later the pilot reported a fire in the No. 2 engine and was turning back. While flying under the power of 3 engines, the aircraft encountered severe icing, turbulence or other difficulty which led to the loss of control by the crew. It could not be determined why the aircraft was 12 miles south of the assigned airway. The plane crashed high into Mount Slesse. The bodies and wreckage were not found until 05/10/1957 and the wreckage still remains at the site which is now a memorial.
12/12/1956;09:00;Dannemois, France;Air France;;Training;Vickers 708 Viscount;F-BGNK;8;5;5;0;Crashed in a steep angle of attack.
12/22/1956;21:30;Grub, Germany;JAT Yugoslav Airlines;;Wien - Munchen;Convair CV-340-58;YU-ADA;162;30;3;0;The co-pilot acting as pilot-in-command and under the instruction of the captain began a descent to land until the aircraft hit the ground, left wing first. Both wings detached and the fuselage slid 1,200 feet.
12/22/1956;17:20;Mt. Giner, Italy;Linee Aeree Italiane;;Rome - Milan;Douglas DC-3;I-LINC;9101;21;21;0;The aircraft strayed off the assigned airway and hit a mountain. The pilot did not follow the airways assigned in the flight plan. He did not check his direction and position along the new route.
12/30/1956;15:00;Dhahran, Saudi Arabia;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Lockheed C-121C Super Constellation;54-0165;54-0165;37;11;0;Crashed and burned while attempting to land.
01/06/1957;00:01;Owasso, Oklahoma;American Airlines;327;Joplin - Owasso;Convair CV-240-0;N94247;104;10;1;0;Struck trees, hit the ground, and slid 500 ft. after landing short of the runway in rapidly deteriorating condtions. The captain's lack of alertness in allowing the first officer to continue an instrument descent to an altitude too low to permit terrain clearance.
01/11/1957;09:00;Near Buenos Aires, Argentina;Fuerza Aérea Argentina;;Buenos Aires - Mar Del Plata - Mendoza;Vickers 615 Viking 1B;T-11;188;33;17;1;The domestiflight crashed and burned immediately after takeoff from Buenos Aires after overrunning the runway. Too short a runway and excessive cross-winds for the type of aircraft.
01/23/1957;c16:50;Ometepe Island, Nicaragua;Lanica;;San Carlos - Managua;Douglas DC-3;AN-AEC;12312;16;16;0;The aircraft hit Concepcion volcano while en route. The aircraft made a left turn towards the volcano, banked sharply in descent, enered a rapid climb and then crashed. Unexplained loss of control.
01/29/1957;19:24;Paris, France;Air France;;Tunis - Paris;SNCASE SE.2010 Armagnac;F-BAVG;06;70;2;0;A first ILS attempt to land at Orly Airport failed. The crew decided to try a second time with GCA guidance. Full power was applied when the crew was not able to see the runway. The aircraft continued to descend impacting the ground in a right bank. The right wing separated and the main fuselage broke-up into four parts. Stalling, as a result of delayed application of power in a final approach configuration and inadequate control of heading, airspeed and altitude after the visual was lost.
01/31/1957;11:18;Near Sunland, California;Douglas Aircraft;;Santa Monica - Santa Monica;Douglas DC-7B / U.S. Air Force F-89J;N8210H/52-187OA;45192 / 4447;6;5;3;Midair collision between a DC-7 and F-89J Air Force fighter. The DC-7 crashed into a playground of a school killing 3 junior high school children 3 miles northwest of Sunland. The F-89 crashed into the mountains. Four crew members on the DC-7 were killed. One crew member aboard the F-89 was killed and the other ejected to safety. The high rate of near head-on closure at high altitude, which together with physiological limitations, resulted in a minimum avoidance opportunity during which the pilots didn't see each other's aircraft. It was the first test flight of the DC-7B. One of the 3 students killed in the accident was the best friend of singer Richie Valens, who died in an airplane crash two years later. Archie Twitchell, test pilot and actor, 50, killed. The high rate of near head-on closure at high altitude in a minimum aviodance opportunity during which both pilots did not see the other aircraft.
02/01/1957;18:02;New York, New York;Northeast Airlines;823;New York City - Miami;Douglas DC-6A;N34954;44678/543;101;21;0;Shortly after lifting off from La Guardia Airport in a snowstorm, the plane rolled sharply to the left and crashed on Rikers Island. The failure of the captain to properly observe and interpret his flight instruments and maintain control of his aircraft. Several inmates from the Rikers Island Prison made some heroirescues and were later pardoned.
02/22/1957;20:00;Kimpo Air Base, South Korea;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Kimpo AB - Tokyo, Japan;Douglas C-124C;51-141A;43475;159;22;0;The No. 3 engine seized, causing the propellor to come loose and slice through the side of the fuselage makng two full turns before exiting. It took two men out with it , idled the No. 4 engine and cut the throttle cable. While attempting an emergency return landing at Kimpo Air Base, level flight could not be maintained and the aircraft descended, crashing into the Han River.
03/02/1957;17:19;Blyn, Washington;Alaska Airlines;100;Fairbanks - Seattle;Douglas C-54B;N90449;27239;5;5;0;Crashed into a densly wooded mountain, 3 miles east of Blyn, while en route to Seattle. Navigation error and poor judgement by the pilot in entering an overcast mountainous area at too low an altitude.
03/05/1957;11:00;Drayton, England;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Blackburn Beverley C Mark 1;XH117;;22;18;2;The aircraft crashed into trees and farm buildings about a half-an-hour after taking off from Abingdon airfield. Fuel starvation due to an valve being installed backwards.
03/09/1957;10:00;El Soldado, Colombia;AVIANCA;;Condoto - Cali;Douglas DC-3;HK-155;4338;15;15;0;Pilot did not follow prescribed route nor follow prescribed IFR procedures.
03/14/1957;13:46;Manchester, England;British European Airways;;Amsterdam - Manchester;Vickers Viscount 701;G-ALWE;004;20;20;2;The plane suddenly veered and banked to the right while making an approach to land. The plane crashed into houses. Fracture of a 9/16' bolt on the starboard flap due to fatigue led to loss of control of the aircraft.
03/17/1957;01:30;Near Cebu, Philippines;Military - Philippine Air Force;;Cebu - Manila;Douglas C-47 Skytrain;PI-C-;;25;24;0;The plane had just taken off from Cebu bound for Manila when it crashed 20 miles NW of the city. President Ramon Magsaysay, 50, of the Philippines died along with twenty-three others when the plane struck Mt. Manunggal. Magsaysay was on a campaigning trip for reelection. Metal fatigue.
03/18/1957;;Near Sayari, Bolivia;Lloyd Aereo Boliviano;;Cochabamba - Oruro;Douglas DC-3;CP-535;4867;19;19;0;Crashed into Andies peak while en route. Wreckage found 100 miles northeast of Cochabamba.
03/22/1957;01:00;Over the North PacifiOcean;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Travis AFB - Tokyo;Boeing C-97C;50-702A;16246;67;67;0;Disappeared 200 miles southeast of Tokyo, Japan while on a flight from Travis Air Force Base to Tokyo. Cause unknown.
04/07/1957;;Bage, Brazil;Varig;;;Curtiss C-46A-45-CU;PP-VCF;30283;40;40;0;Shortly after takeoff, a fire developed in the left main landing gear well. The pilot thought the fire had started in the engine, feathered the No.1 engine and returned for an emergency landing. When he couldn't
get the gear down, he performed a go-around after which the left wing separated from the plane. The plane crashed and burned. Fracture of the fuel line in the landing gear housing due to wear against the ribs.
04/08/1957;;Algiers, Algeria;Air France;;;Douglas DC-3;F-BEIK;14411/25856;34;34;0;Crashed just after takeoff, one mile from the airfield. Engine failure.
04/10/1957;15:20;Anchieta Island, Brazil;REAL;1800;Rio de Janerio - Sao Paulo;Douglas DC-3;PP-ANX;13048;30;26;0;While en route, fire broke out in the starboard engine. As he lost altitude and because of reduced visibility, the pilot did not see the peak of a mountain. When he tried to pull up the plane stalled and crashed. Engine failure.
04/15/1957;07:53;Merida, Mexico;Transportes Aéreos Mexicanos;;;Consolidated B-24J;XA-KUN;;3;3;1;The accident was due to a maneuvering error which consisted in making two turns onto the Mexico City heading without conforming the distance and procedure specifications and below the prescribed altitudes and speeds. This error was aggravated by a probable shifting of the load due to improper securing.
04/17/1957;08:30;Near El Quweira, Jordan;Military -Royal Air Force;;;Vickers Valetta C-Mk.1;VW832;;24;24;0;Crashed and burned 5 minutes after taking off from Aqaba. The aircraft lost it's left wing after encountering clear air turbulence.
04/20/1957;;Jirkouk, Iraq;Air France;;Tehran, Iran - Istanbul, Turkey;Lockheed Super Constellation;F-BGNE;4514;;1;0;Explosive decompression. A passenger was sucked out of a window at 18,000 feet when the window he was sitting next to shattered. The body was never recovered.
05/01/1957;21:20;Blackbushe, Hants, England;Eagle Aviation;;Blackbushe - Tripoli;Vickers Viking 1B;G-AJBO;241;35;34;0;Crashed while attemting an emergency return to the airport shortly after taking off. Engine failure. The failure of the captain to maintain height and a safe flying speed when approaching to land on one engine after the failure of the left engine for reasons unknown.
05/05/1957;;Santoshpur, India;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-AUV;20318;3;1;0;The accident is attributed to the insufficient altitude at which the aircraft was flown during an attempt to fly through a thunderstorm. Downdrafts and divergent winds encountered, forced the aircraft to the ground.
05/09/1957;19:04;Barajas, Madrid, Spain;Aviaco;111;Santiago de Compostella - Madrid;Bristol 170 Freighter;EC-ADI;12757;37;37;0;Crashed while attemping to land. Procedural errors by the pilot.
05/13/1957;;Near San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina;Lineas Aereas del Estado;;;Vickers 615 Viking 1B;T-3;151;16;16;0;The pilot lost in rain and fog searched for a landing area until the plane ran out of fuel and crashed into a 4,500 foot mountain.
05/13/1957;03:35;Narsarressuak, Greenland;U.S. Overseas Airways;;;Douglas DC-4;N68736;7449;3;2;0;Crashed into an ice cap. White-out conditions. Incorrect indication on navigation charts.
05/13/1957;;New Delhi, India;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-CFB;13626;2;2;3;During a training exercise the aircraft approached a stall entered a spin, partially recovered but crashed.
06/14/1957;23:10;Near Moscow, Russia;LOT Polish Airlines;232;Warsaw - Moscow;Ilyushin P-14;SP-LNF;6341407;13;9;0;The aircraft descended below safe altitude and struck the ground in rain and poor visibility. The crew's application of an approach procedure other than that prescribed by the airport authority.
06/18/1957;;Bodensee, Switzerland;Swissair;;Training;Douglas C-47B;HB-IRK;20737;9;9;0;The stalling of the aircraft following a loss of airspeed, whereupon it unintentionally went into a spin. In view of insufficient altitude, it was not possible to level off the aircraft.
06/22/1957;07:50;Near Clarksburg, Maryland;Capital Airlines;;Training;Douglas C-47A;N88835;19448;3;3;0;Loss of airspeed while executing maneuvers during a training flight, resulting in a stall followed immediately by a spin from an altitude too low to effect recovery.
06/23/1957;14:20;Port Hardy, BC, Canada;Queen Charlotte Airlines;;Port Hardy - Vancouver;Douglas DC-3;CF-EPI;7408;18;14;0;Crashed while attempting an emergency landing after taking off with control difficulties. Jammed elevator. Crew forgot to remove the ground locks.
07/01/1957;;Bay of Bengal, Pakistan;Pakistan International Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;AP-AJS;12501;24;24;0;Crashed onto tidal flats off Charlakhi Island during a storm.
07/16/1957;03:36;Near Biak, Indonesia;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;844;Mokmer - Manila;Lockheed 1049C Super Constellation;PH-LKT;4504;68;58;0;The pilot asked for clearance to make a low pass over Mokmer to give the passengers a final glimpse of the island. The plane gradually descended over the sea, crashed, burst into flames, broke apart and sank. Crew did not properly monitor their altitude.
07/25/1957;03:37;Daggett, California;Western Airlines;39;Minneapolis -- Salt Lake - Cedar City - Las Vegas- LA;Convair CV-240;N8405H;22;16;1;0;The plane landed safely after a dynamite bomb exploded in the rear lavatory. A passenger, Saul F. Binstock, 62, a retired North Hollywood jeweler, intent on suicide, detonated a bomb in the rear lavoratory blowing a 6 x 7 ft. hole in the fuselage. Binstock had purchased two insurance policies totaling $125,000 and then flew from Burbank to Las Vegas, where airport personnel at McCarran Field reported he never left the airport terminal. He then boarded the Western Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles and locked himself in the rear lavatory shortly after takeoff. Binstock’s body, missing several fingers on the left hand, was found the next day on a rugged peak in the Ord Mountains south of Daggett.
08/11/1957;14:15;Near Issoudun, Quebec, Canada;Maritime Central Airways;;Reykjavík - Montreal;Douglas DC-4;CF-MCF;18374;79;79;0;The aircraft en route from Reykjavík to Montreal, Canada was flying at 6,000 ft. when it entered a thunderstorm. Subsequently it plunged to earth almost vertically at a speed calculated at 230 mph, bursting into flames. Severe turbulence encountered while flying in a cumulonimbus cloud, resulting in a chain of events quickly leading up to a complete loss of control.
08/15/1957;;Copenhagen, Denmark;Aeroflot;;Riga - Copenhagen;Ilyushin IL-14P;CCCP-L1874;146000607;23;23;0;Crashed into the harbor after hitting the chimney of a factory.
08/20/1957;;Assam, India;Indamer;;;Douglas DC-3;VT-ARH;04851;8;8;0;While making a sharp turn the cargo plane stalled and crashed.
08/29/1957;;Near Juticalpa, Honduras;Sahsa Airlines;;;Douglas DC-3;XH-SAF;17139/3440;12;12;0;Crashed during takeoff.
09/03/1957;;Niquitao, Venezuela;Avensa;;Maiquetia - Barinas;Douglas DC-3;YV-C-AVG;4754;8;8;0;Strayed off course and collided with a mountain in the Penas Blancas hills. Pilot error. Weather's influence on radio communications. Leaving the prescribed route and flying at too low an altitude.
09/15/1957;20:46;New Bedford, Massachusett;Northeast Airlines;285;Martha's Vineyard - New Bedford;Douglas DC-3;N33417;7337;24;12;0;The aircraft struck trees to the right and short of the runway during approach in fog. The pilot attempted to make a visual approach by descending prematurely in the approach area without adherence to the prescribed ILS approach procedure which was dictated by existing weather conditions.
09/18/1957;21:20;Montevideo, Uruguay;REAL;;San Pablo - Porto Alegre - Montevideo;Convair CV-440-62;PP-AQE;456;35;1;0;Flying VFR, the aircraft encountered fog during the approach, undershot the runway and crashed. Pilot error.
09/28/1957;;;British European Airways;;;de Havilland DH-114 Heron;G-AOFY;14099;3;3;0;The pilot did not appreciate that the air ambulance had rapidly lost height whilst he was making a visual half circuit to land. This could not have been due to the absence of sufficient visual reference in the prevailing conditions of darkness, very low cloud and drizzle. The urgent nature of the flight is considered to have influenced the pilot's decision to land.
10/03/1957;;Beirut, Lebanon;Lebanese International Airways;;Beirut -
Kuwait City;Curtiss C-46A-45-CU;OD-ACK;30249;27;27;0;Crashed into the ocean on takeoff.
10/23/1957;16:51;Belfast, Ireland;British European Airways;;London - Belfast;Vickers 802 Viscount;G-AOJA;150;7;7;0;While attempting to land at Belfast, in poor weather, the plane drifted to the right of the runway, overshot the runway and crashed. Cause unknown.
10/28/1957;18:05;Madrid, Spain;Iberia Airlines;;Tanger - Madrid;Douglas DC-3;EC-ACH;19332;21;21;0;Intense fire in the No.1 engine while en route, caused by foreign objects entering from the nacelle.
10/30/1957;;Near Campeche, Mexico;Transportes Aereos Mexicanos;;;Fairchild C-82A;XA-LIW;;3;3;0;The cargo plane crashed en route.
11/06/1957;;Bristol, England;Bristol Aeroplane Co.;;;Bristol Britannia 175;G-ANCA;12917;15;15;0;Crashed on a training flight. The right wing suddenly dropped and the aircraft went into a very steeply banked right hand turn and crashed. Instrument failure leading to loss of control. Undetermined cause. Possible failure of the auto-pilot.
11/09/1957;16:27;900 miles E of Honolulu, Hawaii, PacifiOcean;Pan American World Airways;7;San Fransisco - Honolulu;Boeing - 377-10-29 Stratocruiser;N90944;15960/40;44;44;0;The aircraft disappeared mid-way on a flight between San Francisco and Honolulu. Wreckage was found 940 miles NE of Honolulu 5 days later. Officially, the cause was never determined. Possible in-flight fire. High levels of carbon monoxide were found in the 19 bodies that were recovered, though this could have resulted from exposure to seawater. The aircraft was named 'Clipper Romance of the Skies.'
11/15/1957;20:08;Near Palma de Mallorca, Spain;Aviaco;;Barcelona - Palma de Mallorca;de Havilland DH-114 Heron 2D;EC-ANZ;14117;4;4;0;The aircraft hit a mountain at 1,500 feet while on approach after the pilot turned the wrong way. Weather was rain and turbulence. Pilot error.
11/15/1957;22:54;Chessell Down Hants, England;Aquilla Airways;;Southhampton - Lisbona;Short Solent 3 (flying boat);G-AKNU;S-1299;58;43;0;The plane crashed into the face of a quarry between Chessel and Brook on the Isle of Wight. The last message transmitted from the aircraft was 'No. 4 engine feathered. Coming back in a hurry.' Electrical failure or accidental cut-off of the fuel actuator circuit of the No. 3 and No. 4 engines.
11/21/1957;11:33;Christchurch, New Zealand;Straits Air Freight Express;;Paraparaumu - Timaru;Bristol 170 Freighter 31;ZK-AYH;12828;4;4;0;The cargo plane lost a wing in flight and crashed into farmlands. In-flight structural fatigue failure of the starboard front lower spar boom.
12/08/1957;16:45;Bolivar, Argentina;Aerolineas Argentinas;;Buenos Aires - San Carlos;Douglas DC-4;LV-AHZ;27227;61;61;0;The plane crashed during a storm. Left wing detached in extreme turbulence. The pilot descending on a track well below the minimum safety flight altitude established for this type of operation. The absence in the flight plan of a forecast showing the intensity of the meteorological phenomena encountered. Inadequate operational dispatch of the aircraft.
12/10/1957;;Jeannine Lake, Quebec, Canada;Northern Wings;;;Douglas C-47A;CF-GKV;13837/25282;3;3;0;
12/11/1957;13:12;Ozamis City, Philippines;Philippine Air Lines;;Ozamis City - Pagadian;de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter;;;12;2;0;While taking off the plane stalled and hit trees. The uncontrollable stall at low altitude which resulted from the abrupt steep climb immediately after takeoff. Contributing factors were the improper loading of the aircraft and the prevailing gusty wind with a relatively high ambient temperature.
12/23/1957;;Stansted, England;Scottish Airlines;;Malta - London;Avro 685 York C-1;G-AMUN;;4;4;0;The cargo plane crash landed short of the runway on the third landing attempt. The accident was due to an error on the part of the captain in that while making an attempt to land he continued the approach below the critical height without sufficient visual reference to the ground.
12/23/1957;16:00;Off Oahu, Hawaii;Military - U.S. Navy;;;Lockheed WV-2;143197;;23;19;0;The aircraft lost all power during a simulated emergency maneuver and struck the water after descending from a altitude of 1,000 ft. One of the crew moved an emergency shut-off lever in the wrong direction depriving all four engines of their fuel supply. The plane hit the water and broke in two. It was ruled the check pilot had failed to initiate remedial action when the aircraft began to lose altitude and failed to exercise authority when the real emergency developed.
12/31/1957;;Buenos Aires, Argentina;Aerolineas Argentinas;;Buenos Aires - Rosario - Corrientes;Short Sunderland;LV-AAR;;51;9;0;The flying boat sank in Buenos Aires harbor while trying to make an emergency landing after losing an engine.
01/16/1958;;Belem, Brazil;Cruzeiro;;;Fairchild C-82A;PP-CEF;10200;3;3;0;The cargo plane lost the No. 1 engine on takeoff and crashed.
01/20/1958;;Near La Paz, Bolivia;TAM (Bolivia);;Tipuani - La Paz;Douglas DC-3;TAM-04;;11;11;0;Crashed in mountainous terrain while en route.
02/01/1958;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Loide Aéreo Nacional;;Rio de Janerio - Fortaleza;Douglas DC-4;PP-LEM;18336;67;5;0;The plane abandoned the takeoff after an engine failed. The plane was unable to stop and slid off the runway striking rocks and catching fire. Failure of No. 4 engine. Malfunctioning of the starboard brakes.
05/15/1958;;New Delhi, India;Pakistan International Airlines;205;Dehli - Karachi;Convair CV-240-7;AP-AEH;052;38;21;2;Crashed shortly after taking off. Improper observation and interpretation of instruments. The captain did not properly observe and interpret his flight instruments and thus inadvertently permitted the aircraft to descend to the ground immediately after a night takeoff during which no visual reference was possible.
02/01/1958;19:15;Norwalk, California;Military - U.S. Air Force / Military - U.S. Navy;;Long Beach - McGuire AFB;Douglas C-118A / Lockheed P2V-5F;53-3277A/127723;44622/;49;47;1;The two aircraft collided at an altitude of 3,000 feet scattering wreckage over a residential and business area of suburban Los Angeles. The C-118 had just taken off from Long Beach Municipal Airport on a transcontinental flight and the P2V was on an instrument training exercise. All 41 killed on the C-118A, six on the P2V and one woman on the ground who was hit by debris outside her house. Pilot error, pilots of both aircraft.
02/06/1958;14:17;Munich, Germany;British European Airways;609;Munich - Manchester;Airspeed Ambassador A5-57;G-ALZU;5217;44;23;0;The aircraft crashed during takeoff in a snowstorm. The aircraft never lifted from the runway, crashed through the barrier fence and into a house. A German inquiry into the accident concluded that an accumulation of ice on the wings was the cause of the accident. An English inquiry disagreed, stating drag, due to slush on the runway was the cause of the accident. Eight members of the Manchester United football (soccer) team killed. The aircraft was named 'The Elizabethan.'
02/19/1958;;Motu Taoru, France;Réseau Aérien Interinsulaire;;;Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina;F-AOVV;;15;15;0;Struck the water and sank after the right wing tip float contacted the water during a shallow turn for final approach.
02/20/1958;05:35;Off Corvo Island, Azores;Military - U.S. Navy;;;Lockheed WV-2;BU-141310;;22;22;0;Disappeared while on patrol about 100 miles from the Azores. No trace of the aircraft was ever found.
02/27/1958;09:45;Horwich, Lancs, England;Silver City Airways;;Isle of Man - Manchester;Bristol 170 Freighter 21;G-AICS;12762;42;35;0;Crashed into a mountain near Winter Hill during an approach. The First Officer used the wrong radio beacon (Oldham Becaon instead of on Wigan Beacon).
03/07/1958;19:45;Off Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa;Military - U.S. Marine Corps/Military - U.S. Marine Corps;;;Fairchild R4Q / Dougas AD-6 skyraider;129741/135350;;26;26;0;The aircraft collided after descending from a holding pattern while attempting to land at Naha Air Base. Failure of the AD-6 pilot to maintain
his position. One killed aboard the AD-6. Poor judgement on the part of the R4Q Plane Commander.
03/07/1958;;Menzalah Lake, Egypt;Misrair;;Athens - Cairo;Vickers 628 Viking 1B;SU-AGN;196;26;8;0;While approaching Cairo, the aircraft was diverted to Port Said where it ditched into Menzalah Lake.
03/22/1958;02:05;Grants, New Mexico;Private;;;Lockheed 18 Lodestar;N300E;2312;4;4;0;The aircraft went down 35 miles SW of Grants, New Mexico. Fog, snow and thunderstorms were reported in the area. Film director, producer Mike Todd, 49, husband of Elizabeth Taylor, killed. Elizabeth Taylor, who had planned to go on the trip with her husband, remained at home, ill with bronchitis. The plane was named 'The Lucky Liz.'
03/24/1958;;Near Kathmandu, Nepal;Indian Airlines;;Simra - Kathmandu;Douglas DC-3;VT-CYN;19988;20;20;0;Due to a navigational error the aircraft flew the wrong route into a valley. While maneuvering to make a turn, the aircraft stalled and crashed. Wreckage was found 16 miles from Kathmandu.
03/25/1958;;Miami, Florida;Braniff Airlines;971;;Douglas DC-7-C;N5904;45072/793;24;9;0;The plane crashed 2 minutes after takeoff while trying to return to the airport after reporting a fire in the No. 3 engine. The failure of the captain to maintain altitude during an emergency return to the airport due to his undue preoccupation with an engine fire following takeoff.
03/27/1958;16:15;Bridgeport, Texas;Military - U.S. Air Force/Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Douglas C-124C / Fairchild C-119C;52-981A/49-195A;;18;18;0;Collided in midair while cruising at 6,000 ft. Both aircraft crashed into farmlands killing all aboard. The pilot of the 49-195A was flying at the wrong altitude.
04/02/1958;;Quito, Ecuador;Transportes Aereos Orientales;;Quito - Esmeraldas;Junkers JU-52/3m;HC-SND;J5109;14;3;0;
04/06/1958;23:19;Freeland, Michigan;Capital Airlines;67;New York - Detroit - Saginaw - Chicago;Vickers Viscount 745D;N7437;135;47;47;0;The aircraft stalled and crashed into a corn field, 300 feet short of the runway, while making a landing attempt at Tri-City Airport in restricted visibility of rain and snow. The aircraft struck the ground nose first, then flipped over and broke apart. Icing of the horizontal stabilizer leading to loss of pitch control.
04/07/1958;09:00;Mt. Illiniza, Ecuador;AREA;222;Guayaquil - Quito;Douglas DC-3;HC-ACL;19779;32;32;0;Flew into a mountain 15 minutes after leaving Guayaquil. Procedural error. The pilot did not maintain IFR until clear of the cloud cover.
04/14/1958;20:07;Off Castell de Fels, Spain;Aviaco;;Zaragoza - Barcelona;de Havilland DH-114 Heron 2D;EC-ANJ;14113;16;16;0;Crashed into the ocean after a sudden avoidance manuver. ATC error. Another aircraft was permitted to takeoff without the exact position of the plane being known.
04/21/1958;08:30;Near Sloan, 10 miles SW of Las Vegas, Nevada;United Air Lines / Military - U.S. Air Force;736;Los Angeles - New York City;Douglas DC-7 / F-100F;N6328C/56-3755;45142 /243-31;49;49;0;The DC-7 was en route from Los Angeles to Denver flying at 21,000 ft. The military jet was on a training mission being conducted under VFR. The fighter initiated an evasive maneuver just prior to colliding with the airliner. Both trainee and instructor aboard the F-100 were killed along with all forty-seven aboard the DC-7 airliner. A high rate of near head-on closure at high altitude, human and cockpit limitations and the failure of Nellis Air Force Base and the Civil Aeronautics Administration to take measures to reduce a known collision exposure as training exercises were allowed to be conducted within the confines of several airways after numerous close calls with military jets had been reported by airline crews for more than a year prior to the tragedy.
05/18/1958;04:30;Near Casablanca, Morocco;Sabena;;Lisbon - Leopoldville;Douglas DC-7C;OO-SFA;45157/737;65;61;0;The aircraft developed trouble in the No. 1 engine while en route from Lisbon to Leopoldville. While attempting to land in poor visibility on 3 engines, the aircraft stalled 80 ft. above the ground and crashed into a building and burst into flames. Pre-crash damage to the No. 1 engine. An error of judgment by the pilot in reapplication of power when the aircraft was neither in the appropriate configuration nor at a sufficient speed to carry out the attempted safety maneuver.
05/20/1958;11:29;Brunswick, Maryland;Capital Airlines / Military - Air National Guard;300;Pittsburgh - Baltimore;Vickers Viscount 745D / T-33A;N7410/53-5966;108;11;11;0;Midair collision at 8,000 ft., four miles ENE of Brunswick. Failure of the T-33A pilot to exercise a proper see and avoid procedure to avoid other traffic. One aboard the T-33 ejected safely, all aboard the Viscount were killed.
05/25/1958;;Gurgaon, India;Dan-Air Services;;;Avro 685 York C-1;G-AMUV;;5;4;0;A fire in fligth caused by a failure of the No. 1 engine. During the ensuing forced landing on rough terrain the aircraft broke up and was consumed by fire.
05/31/1958;;SW of Algiers, Algeria;Air France;;Algier - Colomb-Bechar - Tindouf;Douglas DC-3;F-BHKV;20001;15;15;0;Crashed into mountains 100 miles southwest of Algiers.
05/31/1958;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Paraense Transportes Aéreos;;;Curtiss C-46D;PP-BTB;33304;4;4;0;The cargo plane crashed.
06/02/1958;05:23;Manila, Philippines;Pan American World Airways;;San Francisco - Singapore;Boeing 377 Stratocruiser 10-26;N1023V;15923;57;1;0;A hard landing in heavy rain and gusty winds at Manila caused the collapse of the right main landing gear. A prop broke off the No. 3 engine, penetrated the cabin and killed one passenger. The aircraft was named 'Clipper Golden Gate.'
06/02/1958;;Near Guadalajara, Mexico;Aeronaves de Mexico;;Guadalajara - Mexico City;Lockheed 749A Constellation;XA-MEV;2665;45;45;0;The plane crashed into La Latilla mountain 13 km west of Guadalajara. The aircraft did not climb out in accordance with approved procedures.
06/04/1958;13:58;Martinsburg, West Virginia;Capital Airlines;;Training;Douglas DC-3;N49553;4820;3;1;0;Following the trainee-pilot's failure to maintain minimum-control speed during an attempted go-around, the instructor-pilot failed to take control of the aircraft in sufficient time to prevent a critical loss of altitude. A contributing factor was the malfunction of the landing gear latch which delayed retraction of the landing gear and caused the distraction of the instructor-pilot for several seconds during a critical period of the go-around.
06/16/1958;;Curitiba, Brazil;Cruzeiro;;Florianopolis - Curitiba;Convair CV-440-59;PP-CEP;493;27;19;0;Crashed during approach after encountering a downdraft. Missed the runway and collided with a tree. Windshear.
06/25/1958;;Mohanbari, India;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-COJ;10051;7;7;0;While manoeuvring at a low height in mountainous terrain during a supply dropping mission the port wing of the cargo plane grazed the side of a hill thus causing the aircraft to slew and crash. A contributory factor might have been the mismanagement of the fuel system which caused temporary loss of engine power and height.
06/27/1958;00:30;Near Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Westover AFB - London;Boeing KC-135A;56-3599A;17348;15;15;0;The aircraft crashed while attempting to break a transatlantiflight record. Heavily loaded with fuel, the pilots failed to detect the aircraft had gone into a slight descent shortly after becoming airborne. The plane struck some power lines and crashed near the Massachusetts Turnpike. The dead included six journalists.
07/09/1958;;Dhaka, Baangladesh;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-CYM;19317;3;3;0;Structural failure in the air.
08/09/1958;01:14;Benghazi, Libya;Central African Airways;;Wadi Halfa - Benina;Vickers Viscount 748D;VP-YNE;102;54;36;0;Crashed into high ground during approach. Misinterpreted or misread altimeter reading. Possible fatigue.
08/12/1958;;Sakiya Saugye, Japan;All Nippon Airways;;Tokyo - Nagoya;Douglas DC-3;JA5045;7336;33;33;0;Ditched into the sea near Izu Island
appoximately 1 hour after taking off after experiencing engine trouble.
08/12/1958;;Maraso Bay, Brazil;LANSA;;;Douglas DC-4;PP-LEQ;10544;10;10;0;Crashed on approach. Cause unknown.
08/14/1958;03:45;North AtlantiOcean, 100 miles W of Galway Bay, Ireland;KLM Royal Dutch Airlines;607E;Amsterdam - Shannon - Gander - New York;Lockheed 1049H Super Constellation;PH-LKM;4841;99;99;0;The aircraft crashed into the sea while en route from Shannon to Gander, Newfoundland. Possible overspeeding of outer propeller.
08/15/1958;;Nantucket, Massachusett;Northeast Airlines;258;New York City - Nantucket;Convair CV-240-2;N90670;090;34;24;0;The aircraft crashed 1,450 feet short of the runway while on approach. Poor judgement and technique by the pilot during approach in poor weather conditions.
08/15/1958;;Near Chita, Russia;Aeroflot;;;Tupolev TU-104-A;CCCP-L5442;;64;64;0;The aircraft stalled after flying over a thunderstorm. The aircraft climbed in excess of its operational ceiling considering its weight.
09/02/1958;;Sasnashen, Russia;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Lockheed C-130A-II Hercules;56-0528;3136;17;17;0;Shot down by Soviet Mig fighters.
09/02/1958;;London, England;Independent Air Travel;;;Vickers 621 Viking 1;G-AIJE;127;3;3;4;The cargo plane lost an engine on the initial climb and was not able to maintain altitude and crashed.
09/02/1958;06:10;Off Guam;Military - U.S. Air Force;;Guam - Clark AB;Douglas C-124C Globemaster;52-1081A;;19;19;0;The aircraft crashed 35 miles west of Agana Naval Air Station. In-flight fire of unknown origin.
09/05/1958;;Campina Grande, Brazil;Loide Aereo Nacional;;;Curtiss C-46A-CU;PP-LDX;30288;18;13;0;The aircraft crashed after a second landing attempt. Improper approach procedure. Incorrect forcast provided to the crew.
09/08/1958;;Near Fairchild AFB, Washington DC;Military - U.S. Air Force / U.S. Air Force;;;Boeing B-52 / Boeing B-52;56-661 / 56-681;;16;13;0;In VFR conditions the two Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers approached the same runway at the same time. The two aircraft rammed into each other 900 feet above the ground and crashed. Eight out of 9 aboard 56-661 were killed. Five out of 7 aboard 56-681 were killed. Operator error, in that the pilots of both aircraft failed to maintain safe separation during VFR conditions.
09/09/1958;;Mount Oyama, Japan;Flying Tiger Line;;;Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation;N6920C;4822;8;8;0;Crashed into Mount Oyama 15 miles southwest of Tokyo.
09/15/1958;;Triel, France;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Lockheed C-130A Hercules;56-0526;3134;15;15;0;Midair collision.
09/29/1958;;Over the Mediterranean Sea;Middle East Airlines;;Beirut - Rome;Avro 685 York I;OD-ADB;1307;5;5;0;The cargo plane disappeared over the Mediterranean Sea and was never found.
10/09/1958;;Payette, Idaho;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;Fairchild C-123 Provider;55-4521A;;19;19;0;Crashed and exploded on flat terrain easts of Payette. A loss of control or the incapacitation of one of the pilots may have factored in the accident.
10/14/1958;00:22;Mt. Alto del Cedro, Venezuela;Linea Aeropostal Venezolana;;;Lockheed 1049E Super Constellation;YV-C-ANC;4575;23;23;0;Crashed into the Alto del Cedro mountain. Premature descent. Navigation error. Lack of navigation facilities in the area.
10/15/1958;;Villa Montes, Bolivia;TAM (Bolivia);;Fortin Campero - Tarija;Douglas C-47A;TAM-03;13839;20;20;0;Crashed into mountain while en route.
10/17/1958;;Near Kanash, Russia;Aeroflot;;Peking - Moscow;Tupolev TU-104A;CCCP-42362;;80;80;0;The plane was on a flight from Peking to Moscow at FL330 when it went out of control. The aircraft experienced extreme turbulence during a climb, stalled and plunged to earth and burned. The captain described everything as it happened as he attempted to recover from the uncontrolled descent, ending the radio transmission with a farewell.
10/18/1958;;Placentia Bay, Canada;Military - U.S. Navy;;Patuxent River, NAS - Argentia,NAS;Lockheed WV-2 Super Constellation;Bu141294;;29;11;0;Crashed 1,000 feet short of the Argentia, NAS runway.
10/22/1958;11:50;Anzio, Italy;British European Airways;142;London - Napoli;Vickers Viscount 701C;G-ANHC;063;31;31;0;Midair collision with an Italian Air Force F-86. The airliner drifted off course. Neither pilot saw each other before they collided.
11/01/1958;02:01;Nipe Bay, Cuba;Cubana de Aviacion;495;Miami - Varadero;Vickers Viscount 755D;CU-T603;091;20;17;0;Hijacked by 4 Cuban rebels, the plane crashed after running out of fuel while attempting to land at Preston Airport.
11/03/1958;20:00;Near Roccatamburo di Poggiodomo, Italy;Yemen Airlines;;Rome - Belgrade;Douglas C-47-DL;YE-AAB;4345;8;8;0;The DC-3 was to fly the Yemenite Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs from Rome to Belgrade. The aircraft The aircraft crashed on the western slopes of Mount Porretta at an elevation of 2,690 feet due to a navagation error. Pilot error.
11/08/1958;;La Paz, Bolivia;TAM (Bolivia);;San Borja - La Paz;Douglas DC-3;TAM-05;;3;3;0;The cargo plane disappeared en route.
11/09/1958;13:21;North AtlantiOcean;ARTOP Aerotopografica LDA;;Cabo Ruivo - Funchal;Martin Mariner;CS-THB;59144;36;36;0;The aircraft was missing on a flight from Cabo Ruivo to Funchal over the North Atlantiafter transmitting an emergency message positioning the aircraft at 36 degrees 40 minutes N 12 degrees W.
11/16/1958;;Fort Collins, Colorado;Capitol Airways;;;Curtiss C-46F;N1301N;22480;2;2;0;The cargo plane lost an engine while enroute and crashed. Icing, turbulence.
12/04/1958;17:15;Guadarrama Mountains, Spain;Aviaco;;Vigo - Madrid;SNCASE Languedoc;EC-ANR;28;21;21;0;Crashed into La Rodilla de la Mujer Muerta while on approach to Madrid. Loss of control due to icing and turbulence.
12/24/1958;11:58;Winkton, England;BOAC;;Test;Bristol 175 Britannia 312;;;12;9;0;While descending the aircraft struck the ground in heavy fog.
12/26/1958;12:52;Salisbury, Zimbabwe;Union Aeromaritime de Transport;736;Johannesberg - Salisbury - Brazzaville - Nice - Paris;Douglas DC-6B;F-BGTZ;43827/337;70;3;0;The aircraft took off into heavy thunderstorms, was not able to maintain height and airspeed and crashed to the ground. The aircraft struck the ground shortly after takeoff as a result of an uncontrollable loss of airspeed and height due to a sudden squall accompanying the onset of a thunderstorm.
12/30/1958;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;VASP;;Rio de Janeiro - Sao Paulo;Saab Scandia;PP-SQE;103;37;21;0;Crashed on takeoff after the No.1 engine failed. Pilot error. Pilot's incorrect handling of controls in flight.
01/13/1962;;Near Tippi, Ethiopia;Ethiopian Airlines;;Tippi - Jimma;Douglas DC-3;ET-T-1;10053;18;5;1;Swerved off the runway while taking off and struck a structure.
01/06/1959;11:20;Mt. Pena Blanca, Guatemala;Sahsa Airlines;;Copan - Nuovo Octopeque;Douglas DC-3;XH-SAA;19667;5;5;0;Crashed into Mt. Pena Blanca while en route. The pilot's attempt to fly over mountainous terrain by visual reference to the ground under weather conditions restricting visibility which forced him to descend to a dangerously low altitude.
01/08/1959;20:32;Mt. Holston, Tennessee;Southeast Airlines;308;Nashville - Knoxville - Tri-City Aport;Douglas DC-3;N18941;2007;10;10;0;The aircraft struck a mountain during an ILS approach to Tri-City Airport. Pilot's failure to identify an intersection properly, resulting in flying 15 miles beyond the outer marker and descending to an alititude too low to clear high terrain. An inoperative compass was not entered into the aircraft log.
01/11/1959;;Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Lufthansa;;Hamburg - Rio de Janeiro;Lockheed 1049G Super Constellation;D-ALAK;4602;39;36;0;The plane descended over Guanabara Bay in rain, struck the water with the nosewheel and crashed on Flecheiras Beach, short of the runway. Descent below minima for reasons unknown. Crew fatigue possible.
01/14/1959;;Panther Peak, California;California Air Freight;;Burbank, CA - Seattle, WA;Curtiss C-46F;N1240N;22404;2;2;0;The cargo plane crashed into Panther Peak while en route.
01/16/1959;21:40;Off Mar del Plata, Argentina;Austral
Lineas Aeras (Argentina);;Buenos Aires - Mar del Plata;Curtiss C-46A-50-CU;LV-GED;30514;52;51;0;The aircraft overshot runway and a missed approach procedure was initiated. The plane gradually descended into the ocean just offshore. The pilot was not familiar with the airport and he miscalculated during the instrument approach procedure. The pilot's temporarily confused mental state when he found himself in this critical situation, effectuating his capability and skill.
01/21/1959;;Near Merida, Venezuela;Linea Expresa Bolivar;;Merida - Lagunillas;Curtiss C-46D-15-CU;YV-C-LBI;33411;4;4;0;While en route, flying VFR the plane ran into a cloud covered El Callejon pass at 7,000 feet. The aircraft made a 180deg turn but crashed into the La Culata Peak at an altitude of 13,500 feet. Flying of the aircraft at an insufficient altitude over an area apparently unfamiliar to the pilot.
01/22/1959;15:00;Dabouk, Jordan;Air Jordan;601;Jerusalem - Dobouk;Convair CV-240-2;JY-ACB;055;15;10;0;Struck trees during approach and crashed 2.8 miles northwest of Wadi-Es-Sir. Adverse weather conditions.
01/27/1959;06:10;Brindisi, Italy;Air Charter;;;Avro 688;G-AGRG;1255;6;2;0;Overran the runway while taking off, cashed and burst into flames. Windshear.
02/01/1959;23:37;Kerrville, Texas;General Airways;;Pueblo, CO - San Antoonio, TX;Douglas DC-3;N17314;1924;28;3;0;The aircraft crashed into a hill while attempting an emergency landing after experiencing icing. The captain's poor judgment in continuing into known and dangerous icing conditions.
02/03/1959;01:00;Mason City, Iowa;Dwyer Flying Service - Private Charter;-;Mason City - Fargo;Beechcraft Bonanza 35;N3794N;D- 1019;4;4;0;Buddy Holly chartered the plane to fly to Fargo after appearing as part of the Winter Dance Party tour at Clearlake, Iowa. J.P. 'The Big Bopper' Richardson, who was suffering from the flu, talked Waylon Jenning into giving up his seat. Ricthie Valens won a coin-toss and went in place of Tommy Allsup. He commented 'I never won anything in my life' after winning the coin-toss. The plane took off into deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot, Roger Peterson, was not certified to fly IFR. The wreckage of the plane was found the next morning in a snowy meadow, 5 miles NW of the airport. The plane hit the ground at a high rate of speed and singers Ritchie Valens, 17, Buddy Holly, 22, Jiles P. 'The Big Bopper' Richardson, 28, as well as the pilot, were killed instantly. It appeared, the pilot became disoriented and flew the plane into the ground. Officially: The pilot's decision to undertake a flight in which the likelihood of encountering IFR conditions existed, when he was not certified to fly IFR. Also, deficiencies in the weather briefing and the pilot's unfamiliarity with the instrument which determines the attitude of the aircraft. In later years, a story appeared in the Iowa Globe Gazette in which a pilot, Al Potter, flying in the vicinity of the aircraft that night, claimed he was in contact with the aircraft shortly before it crashed. Potter stated the pilot radioed he had taken on ice and was losing power.
02/03/1959;23:56;La Guardia Airport, New York, NY;American Airlines;320;Chicago - New York City;Lockheed 188A Electra;N6101A;1015;73;65;0;While attempting to land in rain and fog at La Guardia Airport, the aircraft descended below the minimum altitude and crashed into the East River. The aircraft struck the water while in shallow descent at 150 mph with its landing gear and flaps extended. Primarily the crash resulted from the failure of the crew to properly monitor essential instruments for determining attitude due to preoccupation with particular aspects of the aircraft and its environment. Limited experience of the crew with this particular type of aircraft. Erroneous setting of the captain's altimeter. Possibly misinterpretation of the altimeter and rate of descent indicator.
02/17/1959;16:00;Gatwick, Surrey, England;Turkish Airlines (THY);;Ankara - Istanbul - London;Vickers Viscount 794D;TC-SEV;429;24;14;0;While on approach, the jet lost its wings and had its engines torn off as it ploughed 300 yards through the woods and landed upside down with trees embedded in the mangled fuselage and burst into flames. The flight had been diverted to Gatwick because of fog at London. Cause unknown.
02/18/1959;;Belen, Chile;Southern Cross Airways;;Arica, Colombia - Puerto Suarez, Bolilvia;Curtiss C-46A;N68823;26818;5;5;0;The cargo plane was overloaded and could not maintain altitude after losing an engine. Crashed while attempting an emergency landing.
11/21/1959;;Beirut, Lebanon;Ariana Afghan Airlines;202;Beirut - Tehran;Douglas DC-4;YA-BAG;18367;27;24;0;Crashed shortly after takeoff, 2.5 miles from Beirut Airport. Navigation error. Possible in-flight fire in the No. 1 engine which induced the pilot to start fire emergency action with a resulting reduction in the rate of turn and the rate of climb.
03/05/1959;11:35;Managua, Nicaragua;TACA;;Las Mercedes - Tegucigalpa;Vickers Viscount 763;YS-09C;082;19;15;0;Crashed shortly after takeoff, inverted, into trees. Failure of No. 1 engine on climbout. The non-retraction of the landing gear immediately after the aircraft reached V2. Failure of engine No. 2 a few seconds later. The aircraft banked left, lost altitude and collided with trees. Engine failure cause unknown.
03/12/1959;14:10;Tobu, India;Indian Airlines;;;Douglas C-47A;VT-CYH;12493;7;5;0;The cargo plane crashed during an attempt by the pilot to clear high terrain under poor visibility conditions. He had previously descended to a low altitude in order to determine his position.
03/13/1959;08:00;Mahon, Spain;Aviaco;;Palma de Mallorca - Mahon;Bristol 170 Freighter 21E;EC-ADH;12776;18;1;0;The plane banked to the right soon after leaving the ground and crashed to the ground. Strong gust of wind which tilted the aircraft to the right during final approach to land, causing it to crash to the ground
03/29/1959;;Near Banga, Central African Republic;Union Aeromaritime de Transport;;;Nord 2501 Noratlas;F-BGZB;2;9;9;0;Crashed while en route in the jungle.
03/29/1959;10:45;Near Silchar, India;Indian Airlines;;Dum Dum - Agartala-Singerbhil - Kumbhirgram;Douglas DC-3;VT-CGI;20176;24;24;0;Sustained structural failure while flying through a thunderstorm.
03/30/1959;;Alma, Georgia;Riddle Airlines;402;Orlando, FL - Atlanta, GA;Curtiss C-46A;N7840B;30242;2;2;0;The cargo plane lost control after a fire broke out in the cargo hold.
04/17/1959;;Puerto Kino, Mexico;Tigres Voladores;;Mexicale - Guaymas;Curtiss C-46F-1-CU;XA-MIS;22586;26;26;0;Exlpoded and caught fire near Bahia de Kino. A bomb is believed to have exploded onboard.
04/23/1959;;Van, Turkey;Air Charter;;Ankara, Turkey - Bahrain;Avro 688 Super Trader;G-AGRH;1256;12;12;0;The cargo plane aircraft, flying on instruments, drifted north of its normal track because of strong winds and crashed into Mt. Suphan. The winds were stronger than forecast. An accurate bearing could not be obtained at Mus and Van had not been checked. Sub-normal temperatures would result in a high indicated altimeter reading. Calculations on the flight and contacts with beacons were not coordinated and controlled.
04/29/1959;16:00;Valdemeca, Spain;Iberia Airlines;;Barcelona - Madrid;Douglas DC-3;EC-ABC;19334;28;28;0;Crashed into the east slopes of Sierra de Valdemeca after being diverted due to poor weather. Joaquin Blume, Spain's European gymnastics champion, killed. Unfavorable weather made it necessary to deviate from the planned route.
05/02/1959;21:12;Mallorca, Spain;Austria-Flugdienst;;Palma de Mallorca - Wien;Douglas DC-3;OE-FDA;12210;5;5;0;Two minutes after reporting at 3,000feet the aircraft struck Alfabia peak at 3,300 feet. Insufficient altitude while flying at normal climb power.
05/12/1959;15:29;Charleston, West Virginia;Capital Airlines;983;Pittsburg - Charleston;Lockheed C-69 Constellation;N2735A;1978;44;2;0;The pilot intentionally ground looped the aircraft, which slid down a steep embankment caught
fire and burned. Landing too fast on a wet runway under conditions conductive to aquaplaning.
05/12/1959;16:13;Chase, Maryland;Capital Airlines;75;New York City - Atlanta;Vickers Viscount 745D;N7463;287;31;31;0;Disintegrated in-flight due to severe turbulence after penetrating a thunderstorm. Icing. A farmhand observed a large chuck of ice fall from the plane seconds before the crash. A second plane crash involving Capital Airlines occurred at Charleston, WV on this same day.
05/13/1959;;Near Toumavista, Peru;Transportes Aereos Peruanas;;Lima - Pucallpa;Curtiss C-46A;OB-WBP-507;26829;12;12;0;Crashed into a hillside while en route.
05/15/1959;;Off Mar del Plata, Aregntina;Aerolineas Argentinas;;Mar del Plata - Bahia Blanca;Douglas DC-3;LV-AFW;19790;10;10;0;Crashed into the sea during a steep turn following a takeoff at night. Undetermined cause.
05/21/1959;;Moro, Peru;Lineas Aéreas Interpolar;;Talara - Arica;Curtiss C-46A-50-CU;CC-CIA-497;30482;8;8;0;Crashed into a mountain while en route..
06/01/1959;;Nicaragua;Aerolineas Nacionales;;;Curtiss C-46;TI-1020;;60;60;0;The plane, carrying Nicaraguan rebels was shot down by a Nicaraguan Air Force fighter.
06/23/1959;;Cerros Baco, Peru;AVIANCA;;Bogota - Lima;Douglas DC-4;HK-135;10418;14;14;0;Crashed into a Cerro Baco mountain.
06/26/1959;17:35;Near Varese, Lombardia, 20 miles NW of Milan, Italy;Trans World Airlines;891;Milan - Paris;Lockheed 1649A Starliner;N7313C;1015;68;68;0;While flying from Athens to Chicago, the No. 6 and 7 fuel tanks in the right wing exploded during a storm. Ignition of gasoline vapors emanating from fuel tank vent pipes by statidischarge after the airliner was hit by lightning.
06/30/1959;10:35;Ishikawa City, Ryukyu Island, Okinawa;Military - U.S. Air Force;;;North American F-100D-25NA;55-3633A;;1;0;17;The pilot ejected and parachuted safely from the aircraft after the engine caught fire and the aircraft became uncontrollable. The plane crashed into the Miyamori Primary School compound and the surrounding neighborhood killing 17, of which 11 were students, and injuring another 181. Because of the subsequent fire in the aftermath of the crash another 158 persons (28 families) were made homeless.
08/03/1959;10:30;Sagone, India;Kalinga Airlines;;Mohanbari - Along;Douglas DC-3;VT-DGP;9549;6;6;0;Crashed while en route. Navigational error. The pilot entered a wrong valley and stalled the fully loaded aircraft while attempting to turn back.
08/14/1959;17:14;Karachi, Pakistan;Pakistan International Airlines;;;Vickers 815 Viscount;AP-AJE;337;3;2;0;The trainee captain attempted a maneuver in disregard of the prescribed limitations of such a maneuver. A two-engine overshoot was attempted at a very low height and below the prescribed minimum speed, when the aircraft was committed to a landing. This resulted in a violent yaw and sharp drop which could not be controlled. The training captain was conversant with the minimum requirements of a two-engine overshoot of the Viscount 815 aircraft but appears to have overestimated his performance.
08/15/1959;16:42;Calverton, New York;American Airlines;514;Training;Boeing 707-123;N7514A;17641/36;5;5;0;The crew failed to recognize and correct the development of excessive yaw which caused an unintentional rolling maneuver at an altitude too low to permit complete recovery.
08/19/1959;;Near Barcelona, Spain;Transair;;Barcelona - London;Douglas DC-3;G-AMZD;16112/3286;32;32;0;Nineteen minutes after taking off and while climbing, the aircraft entered a cloud and struck Mt. Monseny. Pilot did not follow prescribed regulations.
08/27/1959;;Near Asuncion, Paraguay;Aerolineas Argentinas;;;de Havilland DH-106 Comet 4;LV-AHP;6411;50;2;0;The aircraft descended below MDA and crashed 5 miles short of the runway while on approach to Asuncion. Pilot error.
09/02/1959;;Abilene, Texas;Aaxico Airlines;;Abilene, TX - Forth Worth, TX;Curtiss C-46A;N5140B;26809;2;2;0;The cargo plane took off, rose to 200 ft., stalled and crashed. Elevator control lost. The aft link assembly became disconnected from the clevis in the elevator control horn assembly when an improperly secured bolt backed out.
09/08/1959;;Poza Rica, Mexico;Mexicana;;Mexico City - Merida;Douglas DC-3;;;16;1;0;An in-flight explosion occurred in the passenger cabin. A male passenger, who was believed to have been carrying a bomb, fell from the airplane from an altitude of 11,000ft. A forced landing was made at Poza Rica after a fire broke out in the cabin.
09/12/1959;;Near Tegucigalpa, Honduras;Pan American World Airways;;San Salvador - Miami;Douglas DC-4;N88900;10504;3;3;0;Shortly after taking off, the cargo plane deviated from it's intended course and struck a mountain, for reasons unknown.
09/23/1959;18:40;Sao Paulo, Brazil;VASP;;Sao Paulo - Rio de Janeiro;Saab Scandia 90A-1;PP-SQV;106;20;20;0;Crashed a few minutes after taking off from Sao Paulo Airport. Cause undetermined.
09/24/1959;22:24;Bordeaux, France;T.A. Intercontinentaux (France);;Bordeaux - Bamako;Douglas DC-7C;F-BIAP;45366/892;65;53;0;Crashed shortly after takeoff, not gaining altitude and colliding with trees. Crew did not properly monitor altimeter.
09/24/1959;17:20;Great Sitkin Island, Alaska;Reeve Aleutian Airlines;3;Shemya - Cold Bay - Adak - Anchorage;Douglas C-54B;N63396;10486;16;16;0;Crashed into a mountain while on approach to Adak. Improper approach. Crew error. Pilot did not fly in accordance with visual flight rules over hazardous terrain.
09/29/1959;23:09;Buffalo, Texas;Braniff Airlines;542;Houston - Dallas;Lockheed 188A Electra;N9705C;1090;34;34;0;In-flight separation of the left wing resulted in the aircraft crashing 3 miles southeast of Buffalo, Texas. A design flaw caused an oscillation known as mode to transfer propeller wobble to the outboard nacelles which induced flutter in the wing which led to the separation of the wing. One of two accidents with the same cause. See 3/17/1960.
10/26/1959;20:18;Santa Maria, California;PacifiAir Lines;308;Los Angeles - Oxnard - Santa Maria - Paso Robles;Douglas C-47A-DL;N67589;19656;19;1;1;Moments after rotation the left engine exploded and caught fire. The elevator of the plane hit a 12,000 volt powerline and crash landed upright sliding 65 feet. The only fatality was the first officer who was thrown clear of the accident still strapped to his seat. The number 5 cylinder of the left engine failed leading to an explosion that deformed the left engine's ring cowl to a degree that cause excessive drag and buffeting that made sustained flight impossible. Maintenance records showed the engine had a troubling number of oil leaks.
10/29/1959;15:25;Athens, Greece;OlympiAirways;214;Athens - Thessaloniki;Douglas DC-3;SX-BAD;9491;18;18;0;Engine failure on takeoff. The plane crashed 5 minutes later. Failure of the gudgeon pin bearing of the No.6 piston of the left engine.
10/30/1959;20:40;Waynesborough, Virginia;Piedmont Airlines;349;Washington DC - Charlottsville, VA;Douglas DC-3;N55V;20447;27;26;0;Crashed into Bucks Elbow Mountain during an ILS approach to Charlottesville Airport. Navigational omission resulting in an off course approach. It took thirty-six hours before the lone survivor was rescued. A navigational omission which resulted in a lateral course error that was not detected and corrected through precision instrument flying procedures. Mental breakdown of captain during flight.
11/04/1959;23:07;St. Cleophas, Quebec, Canada;Wheeler Airlines;1658;Montreal - Hall Lake;Douglas C-54A;CF-ILI;10360;5;5;0;The cargo plane exploded in midair while en route after an engine fire.
11/16/1959;00:55;Gulf of Mexico;National Airlines;967;Tampa - New Orleans;Douglas DC-7B;N4891C;45355;42;42;0;The aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Mexico at 29 degrees 13 minutes N, 88 degrees 40 minutes W or about 108 miles east-southeast of New Orleans, while on a flight from Tampa to New Orleans. Sabotage (explosion of a bomb aboard) was strongly suspected but could never be proven due to lack of physical evidence. There is a possibility that