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Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in Fairchance: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1936 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC13721
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Newark – Philadelphia – Pittsburgh – Kansas City – Los Angeles
MSN:
1247
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
TW001
Location:
Fairchance
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew initiated the descent to Pittsburgh-Allegheny County from the southeast in poor weather conditions. While descending to the altitude of 3,800 feet south of Uniontown, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Chestnut Ridge located 5 km from Fairchance. A stewardess and a passenger were seriously injured while 12 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Otto Ferguson, pilot, †
Harry C. Lewis, copilot, †
Nelly H. Granger, stewardess.
Passengers:
Donald D. August,
S. W. Bayersdorfer, †
C. G. Challinor, †
C. R. d'Arcy, †
Robert Evans, †
Frank Hardiman, †
George W. Hefferman, †
Crawford T. Kelly, †
John O'Neill, †
Charles H. Smith, †
M. C. Ellenstein.
Probable cause:
Blamed for the accident was poor judgement on the part of the pilot-in-command for flying by reference to the ground after having descended through the overcast and over the hazardous terrain without determining his position. His failure to follow the radio range course while operating in IMC violated both his company’s and US Department of Commerce’s regulations. An additional factor was that NC13721 had encountered crosswind drift, and at the time of impact had been about 15 NM south of the intended track, its crew apparently unaware of the discrepancy. No evidence was found of any prior mechanical failure in the aircraft or malfunctioning of the ground navigational aids. Subsequent to this crash, the Department of Commerce modified the Pittsburgh radio range, discontinuing the simultaneous voice broadcasts, moved the loop-type radio range beacon from that location to Akron, Ohio, and increased the power at the station located at Buckstown, Pennsylvania.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 near Albuquerque

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1935 at 1255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC13722
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Albuquerque – Amarillo – Kansas City – Columbus – Pittsburgh – Newark
MSN:
1248
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
TW006
Location:
Albuquerque
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Albuquerque Airport at 1231LT and climbed to 9,300 feet. While the crew was trying to change the fuel feed to the left auxiliary tank, the left engine failed. Shortly later, the right engine failed as well. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, the aircraft was cruising over a wooded area. It impacted trees and crashed in a rocky field located some 48 km east from Albuquerque. All 11 occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The failure of the engines was found to be due to the presence of a large amount of water in the 80 octane fuel with which the plane had been serviced at Albuquerque Airport. A check of the fuel storage system at Albuquerque disclosed that on 5,000 gallon underground tank contained about 200 gallons of water. After extensive tests, it was found that with a certain amount of water in the fuel pit, pumping fuel from the underground storage tank would cause water to syphen from the fuel pit into the tank through an air vent running between the two. On the afternoon of the preceding day there had been an unusual amount of rainfall which had flooded the concrete apron and filled the fuel pit with water.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion, of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an abnormal amount of water in the left main fuel tank of the aircraft due to accidental entry of water into an underground fuel storage. The manner in which water got into this underground tank was very unusual and immediate steps were taken on all air lines to prevent a recurrence.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in Atlanta: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1935 at 0330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC13785
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Albuquerque – Kansas City – New York
MSN:
1295
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
TW006
Location:
Atlanta
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising 10 km west from Macon, Missouri, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was unable to contact the base in Kansas City. In low visibility due to fog, the crew was unable to fix his position and attempted to make an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft impacted ground and crashed. Both pilots and three passengers were killed, among them Bronson M. Cutting, Senator of New Mexico.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable direct cause of this accident was an unintentional collision with the ground while the airplane was being maneuvered at a very low altitude in fog and darkness. The probable contributory causes of this accident were:
- A forecast by the United States Weather Bureau which did not predict the hazardous weather that developed during the latter part of the forecast period.
- Improper clearance of the airplane from Albuquerque by the company's ground personnel because of their knowledge that the plane's two-way radio was not functioning on the Western night frequency.
- Improper control by the company's ground personnel at Albuquerque for not calling the airplane back or ordering it to stop at an intermediate point when it was found that two-way radio communication could not be established.
- Error on the part of the pilot for proceeding in the flight after discovering that he was unable to effectively communicate with the ground.
- Failure of the company's ground personnel at Kansas City to expeditiously redispatch the airplane to a field where better weather existed when it became apparent that the ceiling at Kansas City was dropping to and below the authorized minimum for landing and while the airplane still had sufficient fuel to meet the Department of Commerce requirement of 45-minute fuel reserve after effecting a landing.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Glendale

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC994Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
17
YOM:
1931
Location:
Glendale
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon takeoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed in a pond. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Consolidated Fleetster 20A in Pittsburgh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1935 at 0220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated Fleetster 20A
Operator:
Registration:
NC13212
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pittsburgh – Columbus
MSN:
5
YOM:
1932
Location:
Pittsburgh-Allegheny County
Pennsylvania
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/cargo flight. During the stop in Pittsburgh, he was informed by ground staff about the poor weather conditions and icing accumulation on wings and fuselage. The takeoff run was long and the rotation was completed late, after the aircraft rolled all away down the runway. During initial climb, while flying at a height of some 200 feet, the aircraft made a turn to the left and spiraled to the ground. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was poor judgement on the part of the pilot for attempting to take off under existing weather conditions and on the part of the Company for permitting the takeoff.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Newhall

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1934 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC999Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Winslow – Los Angeles
MSN:
4
YOM:
1931
Location:
Newhall
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a night cargo flight from Winslow to Los Angeles, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, the pilot was found safe a day later.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4 in Saint Clairsville

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC986Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
11
YOM:
1931
Location:
Saint Clairsville
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a mail flight, the pilot decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The single engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in Saint Clairsville, west of Wheeling, and was destroyed. The pilot was uninjured.
Probable cause:
The decision to abandon the aircraft was taken due to a fuel exhaustion.

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.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Portage

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1933 at 0256 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC127W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pittsburgh – Harrisburg
MSN:
2
YOM:
1931
Location:
Portage
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Pittsburgh on a night cargo flight to Harrisburg. En route, weather conditions worsened with snow falls. Ice accumulated on wings and airframe so the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Roaring Springs

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1933 at 0250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC947Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Harrisburg – Pittsburgh
MSN:
7
YOM:
1931
Location:
Roaring Springs
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Harrisburg on a night cargo flight to Pittsburgh. En route, weather conditions worsened with snow falls. Ice accumulated on wings and airframe so the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Icing.
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