Zone
California

Crash of a Rockwell T-39E Sabreliner near Ukiah: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1975 at 1055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner
Operator:
Registration:
157352
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alameda - Alameda
MSN:
282-46
YOM:
1965
Location:
Ukiah
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:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Alameda NAS for a training mission when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located 11 miles south of Ukiah. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-382B-10C Hercules near Springfield: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1974 at 1653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
N14ST
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Alameda – Indianapolis – Wilmington
MSN:
4225
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
SAT014
Location:
Springfield
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
15553
Captain / Total hours on type:
2424.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4222
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1060
Aircraft flight hours:
18837
Circumstances:
In the morning, the four engine airplane departed Alameda NAS, California, for Wilmington, with an intermediate stop in Indianapolis, carrying cargo on behalf of the US Air Force. While cruising over Colorado, the crew modified his route to avoid a thunderstorm area. Few minutes later, while cruising in better weather conditions, the left wing detached by section 162. The aircraft rolled and yawed sharply and after the left wing completely failed, the right wing failed outboard of the n°4 engine. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in an open field. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The undiscovered, preexisting fatigue cracks, which reduced the strength of the left wing to the degree that it failed as a result of positive aerodynamic loads created by moderate turbulence.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7S Neptune off Alameda NAS

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
140966
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Alameda - Alameda
MSN:
726-7068
Location:
Alameda NAS (Oakland)
California
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Alameda NAS, the port auxiliary jet engine caught fire. The crew attempted to return but the airplane became uncontrollable and crashed into the San Francisco Bay. The crew was rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 at Fallon NAS: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Grosse Ile – Fallon – Alameda
Location:
Fallon NAS
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fallon NAS, while climbing to a height of 10 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Six occupants were killed and 12 others were injured.

Crash of a Convair R3Y-2 Tradewind off Alameda NAS

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Convair R3Y Tradewind
Operator:
Registration:
128446
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honolulu - Alameda
Location:
Alameda NAS (Oakland)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a flight from Honolulu (Keehi lagoon) to Alameda NAS, the propeller detached from the engine number one and struck the fuselage, causing vibrations. The crew continued the flight to Alameda NAS and while landing on breakwater, the airplane crash landed and sank. All 21 occupants were rescued but the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Loss of a propeller blade in flight.

Crash of a Martin P5M-1 Marlin near Corpus Christi: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Martin P5M-2 Marlin
Operator:
Registration:
130291
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Corpus Christi – Alameda
Location:
Corpus Christi
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its takeoff from Corpus Christi, the seaplane suffered an engine explosion. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames about 18,5 miles from Corpus Christi. A crew member was seriously injured while eight other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine explosion during initial climb.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune at Alameda NAS

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
135619
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
726-7051
Location:
Alameda NAS (Oakland)
California
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at or near Alameda NAS. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-2 on Mt Sunol Ridge: 40 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1956 at 1342 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
39116
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Camp Pendleton – El Toro – Alameda – Hickam
MSN:
18331
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Sunol Ridge
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed El Toro Airbase at 1030LT Bound for Alameda NAS on behalf of the Marine Transport Squadron 152. On board were United States Marines from Camp Pendleton en route to Hickam Field, and five crew members. While approaching his destination, the captain was instructed to follow a 30 minutes holding circuit. At 1342LT, while descending at an altitude of 3,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the pilot started the approach when the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Sunol Ridge located about 21 miles southeast of Alameda Airbase. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 40 occupants have been killed. It was reported that the airplane hit the mountain about 200 feet below the summit.
Crew:
Maj Alexander Watson, pilot,
1st Lt Thomas E. Straughan, copilot,
M/Sgt Donald J. Down, navigator,
S/Sgt Terrell M. Young, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Harry E. Knight, radio operator.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision with the mountain was the consequence of several errors and omissions on part of the flying crew who neglected approach procedures and wrongly interpreted some signals transmitted by local beacons. This caused the crew to start the descent prematurely and the aircraft to drift off course by six miles to the northeast at the time of the accident. Low visibility due to clouds was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer on Black Peak: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
59937
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alameda – Whidbey Island
MSN:
59937
YOM:
1943
Location:
Black Peak
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In low visibility, the aircraft registered 59937 (VP-9) hit the slope of the Black Peak and disintegrated on impact. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted and localized in July 1953. All 10 occupants have been killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. The airplane was on its way from NAS Alameda to NAS Whidbey Island, carrying two Navy Officers and a crew of eight.
Crew:
Lt Leland R. Stegemerten, pilot,
Lt David Jarvis, copilot,
Adc C. C. Longacre,
At1 T. W. Huffman,
Ao3 J. A. Kerrigan,
Ao3 J. L. McDonnell,
Ad3 H. L. Ziemba,
Adan T. J. Whited.
Passengers:
Cpt Julian David Greer,
Lt O. C. Everhart.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer off Corpus Christi NAS: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Corpus Christi – Alameda
Location:
Corpus Christi
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Corpus Christi NAS, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. All ten occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt William Ervin Dozier,
Lt Bertram Magna Roeder,
Lt Delangton Ernest Ruttledge,
Lt Rodney Gwynn Williams,
Richard Wilfred Augrain,
Robert Benedict Nye,
Richard Charles Chase,
John Leonard Daffenberg,
Donald Jarrell Givens,
Robert Herman Steinbaugh.
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