Crash of a Stinson Model A-2W near Redesdale: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1945 at 0825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UYY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne – Kerang – Mildura – Broken Hill
MSN:
9130
YOM:
1936
Location:
Redesdale
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Enroute, the outer port wing broke off. The three engine aircraft christened 'Tokana' dove into the ground and crashed near Redesdale, killing all 10 occupants.
Crew:
Alan Murn, pilot,
Orville Openshaw, copilot.
Probable cause:
It appears that the physical loss of the port wing was caused by a structural failure due to the presence of fatigue cracks. Following this accident, it was decreed that all aircraft should henceforth be x-rayed for signs of cracks and structural weaknesses. The presence of turbulence and strong winds at the time of the accident was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Stinson Model A near Lonavala: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AQW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Colombo – Poona – Bombay – Karachi
MSN:
9113
YOM:
1935
Location:
Lonavala
Maharashtra
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route from Poona to Bombay in marginal weather conditions, the three-engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located north of Lonavala. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Stinson Model A off Juneau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1943 at 1240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Woodley Airways
Registration:
NC14566
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Juneau - Juneau
MSN:
9104
YOM:
1935
Location:
Juneau
Alaska
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:
6128
Captain / Total hours on type:
318.00
Circumstances:
The intended flight was for the purpose of carrying passengers, mail and cargo from Juneau to Anchorage. After several attempts to start the right outboard engine, during which the battery was run down, the pilot discharged his passengers, removed part of the baggage and mail and took off from Juneau Airport at 1225LT on the left and center engines in an attempt to windmill the dead engine into operation. Shortly after clearing the airport area, turbulent air and strong downdrafts were encountered. Over the Gastineau Channel, the airplane was seen losing altitude then touched the water in two successive skips approximately 3 km before its final contact with the water about 16 km from the airport, where it sank in approximately five minutes. The wreckage was later located in 32 metres of water and recovered. The pilot drowned.
Crew:
Donald Albert Glass, pilot.
Probable cause:
Action of the pilot in attempting a flight in a multi-engine aircraft with one engine inoperative. Severe turbulence and downdrafts in the area was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson Model A on Mt Wasatch: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Duck Air Services
Registration:
NC15156
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
9116
YOM:
1935
Location:
Mt Wasatch
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. He lost control of the aircraft that crashed on the slope of Mt Wasatch. Two occupants were killed and five others were injured.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in Brisbane: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1937 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UGG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brisbane – Townsville
MSN:
9122
YOM:
1936
Location:
Brisbane-Archerfield
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Brisbane-Archerfield Airport, while climbing at night and in foggy conditions, the three engine aircraft collided with trees, overturned and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed. The airplane was on its way to Townsville on an early morning newspapers flight.
Crew:
T. S. Cameron, pilot.
Passenger:
E. Shang.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in McPherson Range: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1937 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UHH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Brisbane – Lismore – Sydney
MSN:
9126
YOM:
1936
Location:
McPherson Range
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft named 'City of Brisbane' was performing a regular schedule flight from Brisbane to Sydney with an intermediate stop in Lismore. Some 40 minutes after takeoff from Brisbane-Archerfield Airport, while cruising in marginal weather conditions over the McPherson Range, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. Both crewmen and two passengers were killed while three passengers survived. They walked away to find help but one of them (James Westray) died when he fall down a ravine. Eventually, on March 1st, 1937, the two last survivors (John Proud and Joseph Binstead) met Bernard O'Reilly, a bushman, and were rescued.
Crew:
Rex Boyden, pilot, †
Beverley Shepherd, copilot. †
Passengers:
R. Graham, †
W. Fountain, †
James Westray, †
John Proud,
Joseph Binstead.
Probable cause:
Prior to the accident, VH-UHH was being flown at a low altitude and under the cloud level, its pilot apparently trying to maintain visual contact with the ground, and the crash occurred when it encountered winds of up to 60 knots, which created a strong down drafts that exceeded its ability to climb.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in Atlanta

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
NC15134
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9111
YOM:
1935
Location:
Atlanta
Georgia
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:
Suffered an accident at Atlanta Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in Chicago

Date & Time: May 26, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
NC14141
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago – Detroit
MSN:
9100
YOM:
1934
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Chicago Airport, one of the engine caught fire. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a field near the airport, bursting into flames. All three occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in Pavilion: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
NC15152
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
New York – Buffalo
MSN:
9112
YOM:
1935
Location:
Pavilion
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 New York to Buffalo, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Pavilion, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in Pittsburgh

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1935 at 0120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
NC15107
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9107
YOM:
1935
Location:
Pittsburgh-Allegheny County
Pennsylvania
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
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night mail flight with one passenger on board. After take off from Pittsburgh-Allegheny County airport, while climbing to a height of 50 feet, the front (central) engine failed. Few seconds later, both other engines (left and right) failed as well. The crew decided to make an emergency landing in an open field. Upon landing, the aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. All three occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
James A. Carmichael, pilot,
Edward H. Gerber, copilot.
Passenger:
Tracy Baker.
Probable cause:
A check on the tank four days previously had revealed no water and it appears that fuel taken from the service truck tank at 9 30 p.m. on the night of the accident was free of water. However, shortly before the accident it was refilled with fuel from the storage tank into which rain water and seeped and this was subsequently pumped into the fuel tanks of the aircraft without the presence of the water being detected. It is the opinion of the bureau of Air Commerce that the probable cause of this accident was an abnormal amount of water in the fuel tanks of the aircraft to accidental entry of water into an underground fuel storage tank as a result of a strained fitting.
Final Report:
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