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Crash of a Beechcraft C-45B Expeditor in Fort McCoy: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
43-35565
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Crosse – Fort McCoy – Wright-Patterson
Location:
Fort McCoy
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a cross-country flight. Following an overnight stop in La Crosse, Wisconsin, due to poor weather, the aircraft departed the next morning for nearby Fort McCoy, to refuel. After refueling, the airplane departed Fort McCoy for Wright-Patterson AFB but during initial climb, the left engine lost power. The pilot-in-command elected to return and completed a turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lcdr LeWayne N. Felts,
Cpt Phillip M. Clinton,
1st Lt Rory G. Jahn,
Cwo Kenneth Ziegler.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine shortly after liftoff.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina in Agana: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46640
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Agana - Agana
MSN:
2004
YOM:
1944
Location:
Agana-Harmon Field AFB
All Guam Island
Country:
Guam Island
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Agana-Harmon Field, while climbing by night, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The crew elected to return for a safe landing when the seaplane stalled and crashed near the airport. Three crew members were killed while two others were rescued. The aircraft was destroyed.
Those killed were:
Lcdr R. S. McClendon,
Lt M. L. McGregor,
Sk3 H. J. Beltz.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed R50-4 LodeStar in Baltimore: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
05049
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Newark – Washington DC
MSN:
2175
YOM:
1941
Location:
Baltimore
Maryland
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 twin engine aircraft was returning from Newark and was diverted from National Airport due to a severe snowstorm, to Baltimore Municipal Airport. While approaching, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four crew members. The wreckage was located two days later after an extensive search by Army, Navy and Coast Guard aircraft.
Crew:
Lcdr Charles W. Schuh,
Lt Jg William N. Killebrew,
Amm1 Charles A. MacArthur,
Arm1 Rudolph H. Schoning.

Crash of a Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon in Signal Mountain: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1948 at 2005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-44 Widgeon
Operator:
Registration:
32977
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Diego – Memphis – Chattanooga
MSN:
1331
Location:
Signal Mountain
Tennessee
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:
While descending to Chattanooga Airport by night, the seaplane hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Signal Mountain, north of Chattanooga. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ens Roger W. Whale,
Amm1 Kristian F. Anderson.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Mt Richter: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1947 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
48328
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Angeles – Medford – Elizabeth City
MSN:
1690
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Richter
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Port Angeles in the morning on a flight to Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with a first intermediate stop scheduled in Medford, Oregon. The purpose of the flight was to convoy the seaplane for maintenance in Elizabeth City. After four hours into the flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While flying at a height of some 5,000 feet, the left wing hit a peak and was sheared off. The aircraft crashed and burst into flames on the slope of Mt Richter, at the altitude of 4,200 feet. Both passengers were rescued while four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Ralph E. Osterberg, pilot,
Lt John W. MacIntosh Jr., copilot,
Mate Roy Mason, mechanic,
AC1 Ruffin E. Crosby, radio operator.
Passengers:
Mr. Creasy,
Mr. Savage.
Source:
http://www.check-six.com/Coast_Guard/PBY_Mountain_Crash.htm

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Fort Worth: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46497
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Biloxi – Seattle
MSN:
1861
YOM:
1944
Location:
Fort Worth
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While on a ferry flight from CGAS Biloxi to NAS Seattle for overhaul, the pilot reported an oil leak in the right engine. He then reported a single engine operation and requested an emergency clearance to Fort Worth. The aircraft proceeded out the north leg of the Fort Worth range where the other engine stopped due to an unknown cause, and the propeller was feathered. The aircraft emerged from the clouds in a spin to the left and impacted the ground. All seven crew members were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.
Crew:
Lt Vaughn E. Salisbury,
Cpt Ernest C. Lindsey,
Ammc John E. Vallowe,
Arm1 William L. Hickman,
Amm2 George L. Proffitt,
Amm1 Oswald D. Jacobson,
Cpl Marion Higgins.
Probable cause:
Oil leak on the right engine and failure of the left engine.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Elizabeth City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
05007
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Elizabeth City
North Carolina
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Elizabeth City, killing both crew members Ensign Walter D. Huston and Arm1 J. A. Wood.

Crash of a Grumman JRF-2 Goose near Blyn: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Registration:
V176
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Angeles – Seattle
MSN:
1065
YOM:
1940
Location:
Blyn
Washington
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:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the seaplane hit a mountain located near Blyn. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
L/Cdr Frederick L. Westbrook,
Lt Jg C. R. Heussy,
Cpt E. H. Muyskens,
RM1 T. E. Kesner.

Crash of a Grumman JRF-3 on Block Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Registration:
V190
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1085
YOM:
1940
Location:
Block Island
Rhode Island
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 aircraft departed on a test flight and was diverted to confirm a reported sighting of a submarine southeast of Nantucket. The weather deteriorated and darkness set in after the aircraft departed the station. The rain and gathering darkness limited visibility and the aircraft consequently impacted the cliffs on Block Island, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Lt Robert J. Lafferty,
AMM1 S. J. Tarapchak,
RM1 W. A. Boutillier.

Crash of a Douglas RD-4 Dolphin off Farallon Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1941 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas Dolphin
Operator:
Registration:
V126
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1269
Location:
Farallon Islands
California
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 engaged in a maritime patrol flight off California. While cruising at low height in poor visibility due to fog, the floatplane names 'Mizar' hit a rock near the Farallon Island and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
AMM1 Leonard L. Stonerock,
RM1 John C. Gill,
AMM1 Fleet D. Hancock.
Source & photo: http://www.jacksjoint.com/Farallons_Tragedy.htm
Probable cause:
Initial investigation concluded that the probable cause of the crash was that the plane, while flying low to avoid the fog, struck a rock pinnacle on the southeast Farallon causing the aircraft to burst into flames.
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