Zone

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando off Pensacola: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N51424
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brookley - Robins
MSN:
30430
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a cargo flight from Brookley AFB (Mobile, Florida) to Robins AFB, Georgia. While cruising over the gulf of Mexico, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions. In thunderstorm activity, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Pensacola. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in thunderstorm activity (turbulences).

Crash of a Kaiser-Fraser C-119G Flying Boxcar near Huntsville: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
53-8102
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Sewart - Brookley
MSN:
205
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft struck the Shin Hook ridge located about 18 miles southeast of Huntsville, Alabama. Two passengers were rescued while nine other occupants were killed. The crew was performing a flight from Sewart AFB (Smyrna, Tennessee) to Brookley AFB in Mobile, Alabama.

Crash of a Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II near Brookley AFB: 9 killed: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
50-1260
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brookley - Brookley
MSN:
43282
YOM:
1950
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II was performing a local training sortie at Brookley AFB with a crew of six on board. While approaching the airfield from the north, the four engine aircraft collided with a USAF Douglas VC-47D registered 45-926. Also approaching Brookley AFB, the VC-47 was completing a flight from Maxwell AFB, Alabama, with nine crew members on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a car parking lot located about 6 miles north of the airbase. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 15 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47D near Brookley AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
45-0926
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Maxwell - Brookley
MSN:
16929/34187
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While approaching Brookley AFB on a flight from Maxwell AFB, Alabama, the twin engine aircraft collided with a USAF Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II. Registered 50-1260, the four engine aircraft was performing a local training sortie from Brookley AFB with a crew of six on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a car parking lot located about 6 miles north of the airbase. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 15 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D on Mt Mitchell: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1949 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-16386
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bolling - Brookley
MSN:
20852
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane left Bolling AFB (Washington) at 0855LT bound for Brookley AFB in Mobile. About two hours into the flight, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Mitchell (6,684 feet high). The wreckage was found two days later and all nine occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Brookley AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-15534
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mobile - Fort Benning
MSN:
7329
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Brookley AFB, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the Mobile Bay. Three crew were killed while two others were rescued. The crew was performing a training mission to Fort Benning.

Crash of a Douglas UC-67 Dragon near McDavid: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1943 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
39-43
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
McDill - Brookley
MSN:
2729
YOM:
1939
Location:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed McDill AFB on a flight to Brookley AFB, Mobile, carrying five passengers and five crew members. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane suffered a major structural failure, disintegrated in the air and crashed in an open field located near McDavid, some 75 km northeast of Brookley AFB. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj Sidney B. Gimble Jr., pilot,
F/O Glenn A. Johnson, copilot,
M/Sgt Pius C. Witherow, flight engineer,
S/Sgt J. C. Melder, radio operator,
Lt Edward A. Drucia.
Passengers:
Br Gen Carlyle Hilton Wash, commanding general of the Second Air Support Command,
Lt Col James H. Cunnigham,
Lt Col James A. Cain Jr.,
Maj John R. Lee,
Lt John A. Simon.
Probable cause:
In-flight structural failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas A-20B Havoc off Mobile: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-2989
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brookley - Brookley
MSN:
5319
YOM:
1941
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Brookley AFB on a local solo training flight. The airplane went out of control and crashed for unknown reasons into the Mobile Bay, about 14,5 km southeast of the airbase. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Richard Thomas Walsh, pilot.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Lockhart: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-18613
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brookley - Pope
MSN:
4774
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Brookley AFB in Mobile on a flight to Pope AFB. In unknown circumstances, it crashed 10 km northwest of Lockhart and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew.
1st Lt George W. Petersen,
T/Sgt Donald K. Sweigart,
S/Sgt Irwin C. Hutchinson.