Crash of a North American B-25H Mitchell in Guachaca: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1976
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Vickii Meller
Registration:
N1203
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
98-21664
YOM:
1943
Location:
Guachaca
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
An engine caught fire in flight, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a prairie near Guachaca and was destroyed. A crew member was killed while two other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
An engine caught fire in flight for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a North American TB-25N Mitchell in Chicago: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1976 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
War Aero
Registration:
N9446Z
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago - Chicago
MSN:
108-34012
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chicago-Midway
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff at Midway Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane lost speed, stalled, struck three houses and crashed in flames 0,75 miles west of the airport. Both pilots were killed as well as one people on the ground.
Probable cause:
The left engine failed and caught fire shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a North American B-25H Mitchell in Dawsonville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1975 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
N96GC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
100-21337
YOM:
1942
Location:
Dawsonville
Georgia
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
6700
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a drug smuggling flight on this aircraft that was carrying 49 bales of marijuana. While flying at low height by night, the crew misjudged the distance with ground when the airplane hit the side of a high bluff and crashed about half a mile from an open field. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew misjudged altitude and clearance with ground. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Unwarranted low flying.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell near Cochabamba: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1975
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-545
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cochabamba - Cochabamba
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While completing an exercice out from Cochabamba, the airplane struck the slope of Mt San Pedro. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Paxton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1971
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
N8630H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Fremont - Torrington
MSN:
4-595
Location:
Paxton
Nebraska
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
58
Captain / Total hours on type:
17.00
Circumstances:
En route from Fremont (Nebraska) to Torrington, Wyoming, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with several cloud layers down to low altitude. In flight, control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was found six days later and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew continued under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Spatial disorientation,
- Low ceiling down to 400 feet, rain and fog,
- Inadequate preflight preparation.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Orange: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1970 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Yankee Air Club
Registration:
N3443G
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Turners Falls - Orange
MSN:
108-33806
YOM:
1944
Location:
Orange
Massachusetts
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
957
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Turners Falls Airport on a training flight to Orange, Massachusetts. On final approach, with landing gears and flaps down, he decided to make a go around when the airplane banked left, got inverted and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot attempted operation beyond experience and ability level. He failed to obtain/maintain flying speed on approach. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poorly planned approach,
- Failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Second go around with gear and flaps down,
- No time in type aircraft for about 11 years.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Recreio dos Bandeirantes: 17 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1968
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
5143
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Recreio dos Bandeirantes
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Guaratinguetá Airport on a liaison flight with two pilots and 15 passengers on board. While approaching Rio de Janeiro from the southwest, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Morro da Prainha mountain located near Recreio dos Bandeirantes. The airplane exploded on impact and all 17 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Sitka

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1968 at 1859 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
N7707C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
108-33965
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sitka
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3734
Captain / Total hours on type:
58.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight, the crew completed the landing procedure on a snow covered runway at Sitka Airport. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a rock pile. While all three occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. The aircraft was owned by Fred Lewis and Fred Zax.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to maintain directional control after landing due to snow on runway. The crew decided to attempt the flight with known deficiencies in equipment as the aircraft was poorly equipped with unreliable radios and the cockpit light failed in flight. At the time of the accident, the runway was covered with one inch of snow.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell near Rampart: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1967 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Colco Aviation
Registration:
N9937Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rampart - Rampart
MSN:
108-24236
YOM:
1942
Location:
Rampart
Alaska
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
6266
Captain / Total hours on type:
222.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire control mission in the region of Rampart. While cruising at a too low altitude, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged altitude and clearance.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25N Mitchell in Red Bluff

Date & Time: May 6, 1967 at 1639 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
N3521G
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
108-47507
YOM:
1944
Location:
Red Bluff
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, one of the engine caught fire. The crew was cleared to divert to Red Bluff-Bidwell Field Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in an open field short of runway. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire for undetermined reason. The crew misjudged distance and speed on final.
Final Report:
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