Zone
Texas

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Walsenburg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC176W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
El paso – Pueblo
MSN:
129
YOM:
1930
Location:
Walsenburg
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising some 30 miles south of Pueblo, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed against a hill located near Walsenburg. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed 5C Vega in Rattlesnake Butte: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1935 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 5 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NC891E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pueblo – El Paso
MSN:
73
YOM:
1929
Location:
Rattlesnake Butte
Colorado
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
Circumstances:
While approaching Rattlesnake Butte at a height of 150 feet, the pilot decided to overfly the school of the village to drop a letter for the children. While completing a sharp turn to the right, the aircraft lost altitude, causing the right wing to hit the ground. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
John J. Montijo, pilot.
Probable cause:
Nothing was found to indicate that either plane or engine were not functioning normally. A letter found in the wreckage, evidently written by the pilot, requested the school children of Rattlesnake Butte to write him and let him know how close to the door of the school he had dropped the letter. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was an accidental collision with the ground while doing low flying in violation of the Air Commerce Regulations.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F10A in Salt Flat: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1932 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F10
Operator:
Registration:
NC9716
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
El Paso – Dallas
MSN:
1009
YOM:
1928
Location:
Salt Flat
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising some 80 miles east of El Paso on a cargo flight to Dallas, the crew encountered foggy conditions. In low visibility, the aircraft hit a mountain slope located near Salt Flat and was destroyed by impact forces. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Keystone LB-4A on Guadalupe Peak

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Keystone LB-4
Operator:
Registration:
32-119
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dallas – El Paso
Location:
Guadalupe Peak
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Dallas to El Paso, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. All four crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed near the Guadalupe Peak. All four occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Fokker F7a/3m in Beaumont: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1929 at 0918 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F7
Operator:
Registration:
NC7888
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Los Angeles – El Paso
MSN:
617
YOM:
1926
Location:
Beaumont
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching the mountains near Beaumont, California, the pilot Delbert Everett encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the three engine aircraft impacted a mountain slope and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All four occupants were killed.
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