Zone
Virginia

Crash of a Convair VT-29D off Newport News: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1975 at 1836 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair T-29
Operator:
Registration:
52-5826
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Meridian - Langley
MSN:
52-25
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
M32
Location:
Newport News
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
6840
Captain / Total hours on type:
1332.00
Aircraft flight hours:
14473
Circumstances:
While approaching Langley AFB by night on a flight from Meridian, Massachusetts, the airplane collided with a Cavalier Flyers Cessna 150 registered N50430 and carrying two people. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the James River, about four miles west of Newport News. Both aircraft were destroyed and all nine people were killed.
Probable cause:
The human limitation inherent in the see-and-avoid concept, which can be critical in a terminal area with a combination of controlled and uncontrolled traffic. A possible contributing factor was the reduced nighttime conspicuity of the Cessna against a background of city lights. The following findings were reported:
- No controlling agency,
- Not under radar contact,
- No traffic advisory issued,
- Continued versus uncontrolled traffic.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell T-39A-1-NA Sabreliner in Weldon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1970 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner
Operator:
Registration:
61-0640
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
MacDill - Shaw - Langley
MSN:
265-43
YOM:
1962
Location:
Weldon
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed McDill AFB, Florida, on a flight to Langley AFB. After a technical stop at Shaw AFB located in Sumter, the crew continued bound to the north. About 20 minutes prior to its arrival at Langley AFB, while in cruising level, the airplane collided with a USAF Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk. Both aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in the region of Weldon. All six crew members on both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 at Langley AFB

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1970 at 1244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-240
Operator:
Jet International
Registration:
N741J
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Richmond - Linden
MSN:
146
YOM:
1949
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Circumstances:
En route from Richmond to Linden, NJ, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and that he was unable to lower the landing gear. ATC cleared the crew to divert to Langley AFB for an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed on a foamed runway and came to rest. All 28 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wheels-up landing caused by the malfunction of the landing gear mechanism. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper maintenance on part of the maintenant personnel,
- Failure of the landing gear mechanism,
- Material failure, corrosion,
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Numerous aircraft maintenance discrepancies,
- Uplock cable broken,
- Emergency system pressure too low.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell CT-39A-1-NO Sabreliner at Langley AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner
Operator:
Registration:
62-4502
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
276-55
YOM:
1962
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On final approach to Langley AFB, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in flames one mile short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing TB-50H-BO Superfortress into the Atlantic Ocean: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
51-0465
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Langley - Lajes
MSN:
16483
YOM:
1951
Flight number:
Tyler 41
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Langley AFB at 1117LT bound for Lajes, Azores Islands. In the early afternoon, around 1330LT, the last radio contact was recorded with the crew. As the airplane failed to arrive at Lajes, SAR operations were conducted at the end of the day. Several aircraft were involved in the survey mission and patrol flights were conducted for few days over an area of 705,000 km2. After thousands of flying hours, all operations were suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is believed the airplane crashed into the ocean about 400 km east of the US coast.
Crew:
Cpt Robert Tawney, pilot,
1st Lt Zoltan Robert Szaloki, copilot 7.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-61-DL Invader in Plum Tree Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-34599
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Langley - Langley
MSN:
27878
YOM:
1944
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie from Langley AFB when a structural failure occurred in flight. The airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in the Plum Tree Island Reserve. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Structural failure in flight.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in Langley AFB

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan
Operator:
Registration:
42-37684
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4981
YOM:
1943
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
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 on takeoff. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-20-DL Invader in Langley AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
41-39279
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Langley - Langley
MSN:
6992
YOM:
1941
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Langley AFB, while performing a local training sortie, the airplane went out of control and crashed one mile east of the airfield. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas A-26C-50-DT Invader off Langley AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-35806
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Langley - Langley
MSN:
29085
YOM:
1944
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight out of Langley AFB. While cruising over the Bay of Chesapeake, the twin engine aircraft collided with a second USAF Douglas A-26 Invader registered 44-34111 and carrying another crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft went into a dive and crashed into the bay, about ten miles east of Langley AFB. Both aircraft were lost and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Robert MacCombs,
1st Lt Otis Jones,
M/Sgt Harley Brunner,
T/Sgt Samuel Sartain,
Cad Thomas Miller,
Cad John Harker.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-45-DL Invader off Langley AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
44-34111
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Langley - Langley
MSN:
27390
YOM:
1944
Location:
Langley AFB (Hampton)
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight out of Langley AFB. While cruising over the Bay of Chesapeake, the twin engine aircraft collided with a second USAF Douglas A-26 Invader registered 44-34111 and carrying another crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft went into a dive and crashed into the bay, about ten miles east of Langley AFB. Both aircraft were lost and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Robert MacCombs,
1st Lt Otis Jones,
M/Sgt Harley Brunner,
T/Sgt Samuel Sartain,
Cad Thomas Miller,
Cad John Harker.
Subscribe to Langley AFB (Hampton)