Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Conceição do Serro

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Joseph Costa
Registration:
NR105N
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
117
YOM:
1929
Location:
Conceição do Serro
Minas Gerais
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot and owner Joseph Costa was taking part to a rally from Rio de Janeiro to Portugal. While overflying the State of Minais Gerais, technical problems forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The pilot was uninjured while the single engine aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Forced landing following unknown technical failure.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Naperville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Blue Bird Air Service
Registration:
NC959Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago - Chicago
MSN:
170
YOM:
1931
Location:
Naperville
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was taking part to an aerial photography of the streamline train 'Zephyr'. While flying at a height of 100 feet, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Oscar Harold, pilot.
Passengers:
Wilma Schuster,
Howard Adams,
Ralph Biddy.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Walsenburg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC176W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
El paso – Pueblo
MSN:
129
YOM:
1930
Location:
Walsenburg
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising some 30 miles south of Pueblo, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed against a hill located near Walsenburg. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed Vega 5C in Fort Worth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1935 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC980Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dallas – Waco
MSN:
191
YOM:
1932
Location:
Fort Worth
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On November 9, 1935, at approximately 0445LT within the city limits of East Fort Worth, Texas, a commercially owned airplane, while being flown without passengers, crashed with resultant death of the pilot and the complete destruction of the aircraft. The airplane, a Lockheed Vega, model 5C, was owned and operated by Braniff Airway Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and bore Department of Commerce licence n° NC980Y. At the time of the accident it was being ferried from Dallas to Waco, Texas, via Fort Worth, and no passengers were permitted to be carried. The pilot, William C. Maus of Waco, Texas, held a Department of Commerce transport pilot's licence and a scheduled air transport rating. The take-off was accomplished at 0410LT, the airplane carrying a 5-hour gasoline supply. The ceiling at Dallas was 1,000 feet with 8 miles visibility. Fort Worth at the time had a ceiling of 500 feet with 7 miles visibility. It had not been the intention of the pilot to land at Fort Worth but to fly beyond it to a lighted airway leading into Waco, Texas, his destination. By the time Fort Worth was reached the ceiling had dropped to about 75 feet and the visibility was zero. This change in weather was broadcast to the pilot from Fort Worth with instructions that he return to Dallas. Whether or not the pilot received this broadcast is not known inasmuch as his airplane was not equipped with two-way radio. However, he had plenty of fuel and could have easily returned to Dallas, where the weather had remained constant, or have flown on to Houston, where the ceiling was practically unlimited. Reports from various people who heard the airplane overhead and saw the accident indicate that the pilot was attempting to get under the 75-foot ceiling, presumably to locate the airport. He was heard flying around for some time and made two complete circles at a low altitude in the immediate vicinity of the accident. Immediately preceding the crash the airplane appeared diving out of the mist. The engine was heard to accelerate as through the pilot had just caught sight of the ground and was making an effort to pull the airplane out of the dive before striking. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was poor judgment on the part of the pilote for attempting to land at Fort Worth under existing weather conditions.

Crash of a Lockheed 5B Vega in Lima

Date & Time: May 8, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC9424
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
78
YOM:
1929
Location:
Lima
Lima
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lima Airport, the crew encountered an unexpected situation. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in the district of La Palmos. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Rattlesnake Butte: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1935 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC891E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pueblo – El Paso
MSN:
73
YOM:
1929
Location:
Rattlesnake Butte
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Rattlesnake Butte at a height of 150 feet, the pilot decided to overfly the school of the village to drop a letter for the children. While completing a sharp turn to the right, the aircraft lost altitude, causing the right wing to hit the ground. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Nothing was found to indicate that either plane or engine were not functioning normally. A letter found in the wreckage, evidently written by the pilot, requested the school children of Rattlesnake Butte to write him and let him know how close to the door of the school he had dropped the letter. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an accidental collision with the ground while doing low flying in violation of the Air Commerce Regulations.

Crash of a Lockheed 5B Vega in Columbia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1934 at 0520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC106W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City – Chicago
MSN:
123
YOM:
1930
Location:
Columbia
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a night mail flight from Kansas City to Chicago. While approaching Columbia, he encountered icing conditions and decided to make an emergency landing. The airplane went out of control and crashed in a open field near a road. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was unexpected icing conditions which made proper handling of the aircraft impossible.

Crash of a Lockheed 5B Vega in the Pinta Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1934 at 1155 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Alaska Southern Airways
Registration:
NC974H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
94
YOM:
1929
Location:
Pinta Bay
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Pinta Bay. The aircraft named 'Baranof' was lost, one passenger was killed and three other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed Vega DL-1 in Saint James

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC497H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
135
YOM:
1930
Location:
Saint James
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed following an inflight brake up, maybe caused by a structural failure. Occupant fate unknown. The aircraft was a DL-1, a duralumin version of the Vega 5C.
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