Crash of a Cessna Crane IA in Saskatoon

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1943 at 2359 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
FJ252
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saskatoon - Saskatoon
MSN:
2453
YOM:
1942
Location:
Saskatoon
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1898
Captain / Total hours on type:
151.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
146
Copilot / Total hours on type:
31
Circumstances:
While on a night navigation exercise out from Saskatoon Airport, both engines quit together after running on right hand tank for about 45 minutes. The airplane crash landed in Sutherland, in the east suburb of Saskatoon, and was damaged beyond repair. Both pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
P/O W. J. McPherson, instructor pilot,
Lac K. D. J. Owen, student pilot.
Probable cause:
Investigation indicates that failure of engines was due to fuel starvation Fuel pumps were OK but remainder of fuel system was badly mangled in crash. At the time of the engine failure, the cross-feed was OFF. Carburetor heat cold, mixture cruising lean. All engine controls were working normally prior to engine failure. Tests reveal that a leak in the hose connections between the gas tank selector cock and wobble pump cause air to be sucked in and the engines to cut within 30 seconds.
Interference with these hose connections is possible:
- Through right hand occupant kicking gas line with feet.
- If hose connections are installed with thumb screw in the up position, by seat locking bar catching thumb screw when seat is slid back.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna UC-78 Bobcat in Earlton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
43-7284
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mitchel AFB - Griffiss AFB
MSN:
4804
YOM:
1943
Location:
Earlton
New York
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:
En route from Mitchel AFB, Long Island, to Griffiss AFB in Rome, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed for unknown reasons in Earlton. Both occupants, a pilot and a Medical Corps Officer were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Neil T. Bish, pilot.
Passenger:
Cpt John Dendy McBrearty.

Crash of a Cessna C-78 Bobcat off Guadalcanal Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-58175
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
3666
YOM:
1942
Location:
Guadalcanal Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea off Guadalcanal Island while on approach to an airbase.The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Frank E. Bomar, pilot.

Crash of a Cessna C-78 Bobcat on Government Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-58155
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
3646
YOM:
1942
Location:
Government Island
Oregon
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on Government Island, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Maj Nelson D. Jenkins,
Cpt Elmer Flournoy Sansom Jr.,
S/Sgt Dwight H. Brown,
Sgt Marion D. Trowbridge.

Crash of a Cessna C-78 Bobcat near Dent

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-58423
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
3914
YOM:
1942
Location:
Dent
Ohio
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:
For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to abandon the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near Dent. All occupants parachuted to safety.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat at North AAF

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-115
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
North AAF
South Carolina
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:
Damaged beyond repair in a takeoff accident at North AAF. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Cessna Crane I near Mehan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1943 at 0045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
4000
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yorkton - Yorkton
Location:
Mehan
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
216
Captain / Total hours on type:
138.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Yorkton Airfield on a night solo training flight. En route, the twin engine airplane collided with a second RCAF Cessna Crane registered 7742. His pilot was also engaged in a local solo training flight out from Yorkton. Following the midair collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed 5 km east of Mehan, northeast of Yorkton Airfield. Both airplanes were destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Lac Robert Thomas Creber, pilot.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna Crane I near Mehan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1943 at 0045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
7742
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yorkton - Yorkton
MSN:
1185
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mehan
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
214
Captain / Total hours on type:
140.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Yorkton Airfield on a night solo training flight. En route, the twin engine airplane collided with a second RCAF Cessna Crane registered 4000. His pilot was also engaged in a local solo training flight out from Yorkton. Following the midair collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed 5 km east of Mehan, northeast of Yorkton Airfield. Both airplanes were destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Lac John Elias Zora, pilot.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna AT-17B Bobcat at Bisbee Douglas AAF: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-39130
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bisbee Douglas - Bisbee Douglas
MSN:
3339
YOM:
1942
Location:
Bisbee Douglas (Douglas AAF)
Arizona
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:
In unknown circumstances, the twin engine airplane crashed at Douglas AAF. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Avc William P. McCutchen Jr.,
Avc Joseph B. Milch.

Crash of a Cessna C-78 Bobcat near Pinecastle AAF: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-58139
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
3630
YOM:
1942
Location:
McCoy AFB (Pinecastle AAF)
Florida
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 airplane suffered a structural failure in flight and crashed 6 km south of Pinecastle AAF. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Theodore R. Nim,
2nd Lt Ellsworth Allen Wright,
S/Sgt John Wesley Lewis,
Sgt Robert M. Bash.
Probable cause:
structural failure in flight.
Subscribe to Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)