Zone
California

Crash of a Martin B-26-MA Marauder at Biggs AAF: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1443
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biggs - Edwards
MSN:
1443
YOM:
1940
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Biggs AAF, the port engine failed. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane crashed near the airbase, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and three others were injured. The aircraft was on its way to Muroc Dry Lake near Edwards AFB, California.
Crew (22nd BG):
Maj Mark K. Lewis, Jr., pilot, †
Maj David P. Lauback, navigator, †
S/Sgt Michael A. Miullo, crew chief, †
Cpl Francis J. Rizzio, radio operator †, +3.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo near Morton: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-523
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
McChord - Edwards
MSN:
2523
YOM:
1937
Location:
Morton
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was on its way from McChord AFB, Washington, to Edwards AFB, California, to take part to a training exercise at the Muroc Dry Lake. While cruising some 30 miles south of his departure point, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility due to clouds. Too low, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Deschutes (4,322 feet high) located in the Snoqualmie National Forrest. The wreckage was found by two woodsmen on February 3, less than 30 feet below the summit. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert M. Krummes, pilot,
2nd Lt Charles Thomas Nielsen, copilot,
T/S Hearn A. Davis, flight engineer,
2nd Lt John F. Geis, navigator,
Sgt Paul L. Maas, bombardier,
Sgt Leo H. Nietling, radio operator.
Passenger:
1st Lt Lewis E. MacKay.
Source: http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9923
Probable cause:
The official cause of the accident was attributed to a pilot error.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo at Edwards AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-509
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
March - Edwards
MSN:
2509
YOM:
1937
Location:
Edwards AFB
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On final approach to Edwards AFB (Muroc AAF), the twin engine aircraft crashed in the Muroc dry lake, few hundred yards short of runway. A passenger was seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fokker Y1C-14 near Cajon Pass

Date & Time: May 7, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F14
Operator:
Registration:
31-385
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Edwards - March
MSN:
1417
YOM:
1931
Location:
Cajon Pass
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:
En route from Edwards AFB to March AFB, the pilot encountered engine problems. He bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed in a mountainous terrain near Cajon Pass, 30 km southwest of Victorville. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.
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