Crash of a De Havilland DH.4M near Kelly AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AC-29183
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kelly AFB - Kelly AFB
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Kelly AFB on a local training flight. While cruising at an altitude of about 1,500 feet, the single engine airplane collided with a second USAAC De Havilland DH.4M registered AC-32975 and also carrying one pilot. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed approximately 8 miles west of Kelly AFB. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of De Havilland DH.4M at Chanute AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AC-30859
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chanute AFB - Chanute AFB
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Chanute AFB on a local training mission when the aircraft collided with a USAAC Consolidated PT-1 Trusty. Registered 26-343, the Consolidated was also completing a local training mission with two pilots on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Covell

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1926 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
109
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Springfield - Peoria
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot Charles Lindbergh was performing a mail flight from Springfield (Illinois) to Peoria. In flight, while cruising at night at a height of 13,000 feet in a snow storm, he lost his orientation and the fuel reserve was too low. He tried to make an emergency landing but eventually decided to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. Aircraft crashed in an open field located in Covell, in the suburb of Bloomington and was destroyed. 'Lindy' was uninjured and came back a day later with a new aircraft to pick up the mail and continue the mission. Second accident in six weeks for Charles Lindbergh.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 at RAF Kenley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1926 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AS-6392
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Kenley, while climbing, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed into trees, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were seriously injured. The pilot died from his injuries five days later. The aircraft was based at RAF Kenley and operated on behalf of the US Embassy in London.
Crew:
Maj Clarence Leonard Tinker.
Passenger:
Cdr Robert Andrew Burg. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Ottawa

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1926 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
112
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Peoria - Chicago
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot Charles Lindbergh was performing a mail flight from Peoria to Chicago. En route, weather conditions worsened and he lost his orientation. Few minutes later, fuel exhausted and he eventually took the decision to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a corn field. While the aircraft was destroyed, the aviator was unhurt.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in McConnellsburg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1925
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
25-446
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot John R. Armstrong was killed in this accident that occurred in unknown circumstances.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B on Mt Nittany: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1925
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
385
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
New Brunswick – Bellefonte
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Charles H. Ames was performing a mail flight from New Brunswick to Bellefonte. Enroute, he encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to fog. While trying to establish a visual contact with the ground, the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Nittany. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Bellefonte, SAR operations were initiated and more than 1,000 people took part to these operations. Ten days later, on October 11, a boy aged 15 found the wreckage and the dead body in a dense wooded area.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B near Silver Zone Pass: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1924
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
270
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Salt Lake City – Reno
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 8,200 feet in poor visibility due to foggy conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Silver Zone Pass. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Kaneville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1924
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
311
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chicago - Omaha
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Chicago to Omaha, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. He abandoned the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in Kaneville. The pilot died as his parachute failed to open.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B at Chanute AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1924
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
22-1131
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chanute AFB - Chanute AFB
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local training flight at Chanute AFB, Rantoul. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot Lt Frank P. Albrook who later gave his name to the airport of Panama City, Panama.