Country
United States of America
Operator Image

Crash of a Northrop Delta 1A in Moriarty

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1933 at 0040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Delta
Operator:
Registration:
NC12292
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City – Albuquerque
MSN:
03
YOM:
1933
Location:
Moriarty
New Mexico
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, sole on board, departed Kansas City on a night mail flight to Albuquerque. While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the engine caught fire. The pilot Harlan William Hull decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed near Moriarty, bursting into flames. The pilot was uninjured while the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Ford 5 on Mt Mesa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1933 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
NC9607
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Amarillo – Albuquerque
MSN:
5-AT-005
YOM:
1928
Location:
Mt Mesa
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a night flight from Amarillo to Albuquerque, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed on the the south slope of Mt Mesa, south of Tucumcari. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 9A Orion in Kansas City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1933 at 2125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 9 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
NC12277
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kansas City – Wichita
MSN:
192
YOM:
1933
Location:
Kansas City
Kansas
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Kansas City Airport, while climbing, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed into the Missouri River. The pilot Earl J. Noe was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Cross Fork

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1933 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC985Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New York – Cleveland
MSN:
10
YOM:
1931
Location:
Cross Fork
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:
While on a night mail flight from New York to Cleveland, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. He got lost and eventually decided to bail out because the airplane ran out of fuel. He abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located near Cross Fork. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Bakersfield

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
NC9666
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco – Los Angeles
MSN:
5-AT-025
YOM:
1929
Location:
Bakersfield
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from San Francisco to Los Angeles, the aircraft suffered an in-flight fire. The crew diverted to Bakersfield Airport. After touchdown, the airplane rolled for few dozen yards before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All nine occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4 in Pittsburgh

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1933 at 0405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC992Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pittsburgh – Columbus
MSN:
12
YOM:
1931
Location:
Pittsburgh-Intl
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:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Pittsburgh Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Amarillo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
NC9650
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5-AT-037
YOM:
1929
Location:
Amarillo
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing the approach to Amarillo-English Field Airport in a reduced visibility due to heavy snow falls. Upon landing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed, coming to rest upside down in a snow covered field. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Saint Louis

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC993Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saint Louis – Indianapolis
MSN:
16
YOM:
1931
Location:
Saint Louis
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:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from St Louis Airport, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet, a propeller blade detached then the engine separated. The pilot bailed out and abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in a field. The pilot was uninjured.
Probable cause:
Propeller failure and engine separation during initial climb.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 3 in Steubenville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1932 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 3
Operator:
Registration:
NC966Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Columbus – Pittsburgh
MSN:
9
YOM:
1931
Location:
Steubenville
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a night cargo flight from Columbus to Pittsburgh, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. He decided to bail and abandoned the aircraft when the cords of his parachute got stuck in the fuselage. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in the Ohio River in Steubenville. The pilot was killed and the passenger female was never recovered.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4 in Mobeetie

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1932 at 0005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC942Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wichita – Amarillo
MSN:
6
YOM:
1931
Location:
Mobeetie
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:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Wichita to Amarillo on a night cargo flight, weather conditions deteriorated and the pilot got lost. Due to fuel exhaustion, he was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft impacted the embankment of a railway line and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by fuel exhaustion.
Subscribe to Transcontinental & Western Air - TWA