Crash of a Stinson SM-1 Detroiter in Sweden

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LN-ABN
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
514
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Sweden while on a delivery flight. The fate of the pilot is uncertain.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1 Detroiter in Cochrane

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-CANI
Flight Phase:
MSN:
103
YOM:
1928
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from a field located in Cochrane, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. Occupant fate unknown.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by an engine failure.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1F Detroiter near Tai'an: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nankin – Peking
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a mail flight from Nanking to Peking and flying over the area of Tai'an, Shandong, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Qingshan Mountain range. The wreckage was found 15 km northeast of Tai'an. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed, among them the famous Chinese poet Xu Zhimo who was flying to Peking to attend a lecture given by Lin Huiyin.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1F Detroiter off Point Vicente: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1930 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC9691
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santa Monica - Santa Monica
MSN:
M500
YOM:
1929
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Santa Monica-Clover Field in the afternoon, carrying four passengers and one pilot. The team was filming aerial scenes for the film 'Such Men Are Dangerous' on behalf of the Fox Studios. While cruising about three miles offshore and filming people parachuting from a third aircraft, the Stinson Detroiter registered NC9691 collided with a second Detroiter registered NC8420. Also operated by Tanner Air Livery, it was carrying four passengers and one pilot as well. Following the collision, both airplanes entered a dive and crashed into the sea. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Walter Ross cook, pilot,
Halleck Rouse, pilot,
Kenneth Neil Hawks, director,
Ben Frankel, assistant director,
Max Gold, assistant director,
George Eastman, cameraman,
Tom Harris,
Harry Johannes,
Otho Jordan,
Conrad Wells, cinematographer.
Probable cause:
It is believed that both crew failed to see and avoid each other due to the low position of the sun.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1F Detroiter off Point Vicente: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1930 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC8420
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santa Monica - Santa Monica
MSN:
M504
YOM:
1929
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Santa Monica-Clover Field in the afternoon, carrying four passengers and one pilot. The team was filming aerial scenes for the film 'Such Men Are Dangerous' on behalf of the Fox Studios. While cruising about three miles offshore and filming people parachuting from a third aircraft, the Stinson Detroiter registered NC8420 collided with a second Detroiter registered NC9691. Also operated by Tanner Air Livery, it was carrying four passengers and one pilot as well. Following the collision, both airplanes entered a dive and crashed into the sea. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Walter Ross cook, pilot,
Halleck Rouse, pilot,
Kenneth Neil Hawks, director,
Ben Frankel, assistant director,
Max Gold, assistant director,
George Eastman, cameraman,
Tom Harris,
Harry Johannes,
Otho Jordan,
Conrad Wells, cinematographer.
Probable cause:
It is believed that both crew failed to see and avoid each other due to the low position of the sun.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1B Detroiter in Rockford: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC4679
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rockford – Milwaukee
MSN:
M226
YOM:
1927
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rockford-Greater Rockford Airport, while in initial climb, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, hit telephone wires and crashed in the Rock River. Three occupants were rescued and three others were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1 Detroiter in the Atlantic Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1928 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC4183
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cranwell – Long Island
MSN:
M223
YOM:
1928
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The pilot Raymond Hinchliffe and the British actress Elsie Mackay were engaged in a nonstop transatlantic flight from UK to Long Island. The aircraft named 'Endeavour' departed RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, at 0845LT bound to the US. The single engine was spotted over Crookhaven, in the Cork county, and later by the crew of the French steamer 'Josiah Macy'. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were undertaken for several days but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. On December 1928, a wheel from the aircraft (with a serial number proving it was from this aircraft) was found on a beach in the Donegal county, Ireland. This was the only trace ever found. According to authorities, it is believed that the aircraft probably crashed into the ocean around 1400LT.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1 Detroiter in the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NX1384
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York - Paris
MSN:
M207
YOM:
1927
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While performing a nonstop transatlantic flight from New York (Roosevelt Field) to Paris, the aircraft named 'American Girl' was cruising 650 km west from the Azores Islands when the engine failed due to an oil leak. The crew sent a mayday message, reporting his position. The pilot ditched the airplane and both occupants were later rescued by the crew of the dutch tanker named 'Barendrecht'. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
George Halderman, pilot.
Passenger:
Mrs. Ruth Elder, aviator, actress and owner of the aircraft.
Probable cause:
Engine failure due to oil leak.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1 Detroiter in the Atlantic Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
London - Harbour Grace - London
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Named 'Sir John Carling', this Stinson Detroiter was owned by the Canadian company Carling Breweries that financed this nonstop transatlantic flight from London (Ontario) to London, UK. The crew consisted of both pilots Jerry Tully and Elsie James Medcalf. They departed London that day and made a technical stop in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, before continuing to England. The aircraft disappeared en route and was never recovered.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1 Detroiter in Guyana: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
NX773
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brunswick - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
M200
YOM:
1927
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Paul Rinaldo Redfern, sole on board, was performing a flight from Brunswick, Georgia, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At 1500LT, the crew of a Dutch Ship spotted the aircraft flying over the Caribbean Sea. Few hours later, the aircraft named 'Port of Brunswick' disappeared without trace. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found. During a 13th expedition, an American team found the wreckage of the airplane in the jungle of Guyana 10 years later.