Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Glendale

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC994Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
17
YOM:
1931
Location:
Glendale
California
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:
Upon takeoff, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed in a pond. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Newhall

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1934 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC999Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Winslow – Los Angeles
MSN:
4
YOM:
1931
Location:
Newhall
California
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 cargo flight from Winslow to Los Angeles, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, the pilot was found safe a day later.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4 in Saint Clairsville

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC986Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
11
YOM:
1931
Location:
Saint Clairsville
Ohio
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 mail flight, the pilot decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The single engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in Saint Clairsville, west of Wheeling, and was destroyed. The pilot was uninjured.
Probable cause:
The decision to abandon the aircraft was taken due to a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Portage

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1933 at 0256 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC127W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pittsburgh – Harrisburg
MSN:
2
YOM:
1931
Location:
Portage
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:
The pilot departed Pittsburgh on a night cargo flight to Harrisburg. En route, weather conditions worsened with snow falls. Ice accumulated on wings and airframe so the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Northrop Alpha 4A in Roaring Springs

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1933 at 0250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Northrop Alpha 4
Operator:
Registration:
NC947Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Harrisburg – Pittsburgh
MSN:
7
YOM:
1931
Location:
Roaring Springs
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:
The pilot departed Harrisburg on a night cargo flight to Pittsburgh. En route, weather conditions worsened with snow falls. Ice accumulated on wings and airframe so the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

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 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 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 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.
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