Zone
California

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo Chieftain in Hollywood: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1969 at 0524 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
United Clearing
Registration:
N9150Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hollywood - Fresno
MSN:
31-199
YOM:
1968
Location:
Hollywood-Burbank (Bob Hope)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1825
Captain / Total hours on type:
162.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Hollywood-Burbank Airport, while climbing, one of the engine lost power. Control was lost and the airplane crashed near the runway end. While the passenger was seriously injured, both pilots were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew,
- The pilot-in-command failed to abort takeoff,
- Partial loss of power on one engine due to ignition system failure,
- Spark plug carbon deposit,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- The passenger was seating between both pilots with no seat or belt,
- The total weight was near gross weight,
- The cargo was not tied down.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 720 Alti Cruiser in Klamath River: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1969 at 1805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 720
Operator:
L. Chesterfield
Registration:
N4831C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Fresno - Eugene
MSN:
720-760-10
YOM:
1959
Location:
Klamath River
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:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
695
Captain / Total hours on type:
154.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night in marginal weather conditions (rain and fog), the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed near Klamath River, north of California. The wreckage was found a day later and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the probable cause of the accident was that the carburetor on one engine failed after encountering icing conditions. It was reported that the aircraft was not equipped with de-icing equipments.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando near Coos Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77561
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sedalia – Fresno – McChord
MSN:
32957
YOM:
1944
Location:
Coos Bay
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
When the crew started the approach to McChord AFB, he was informed that a landing was not possible due to poor weather conditions. The captain decided to return to Fresno but while flying east of Coos Bay, the crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a wooded area located 42 miles east of Coos Bay. Rescuers arrived on site two days later and nine occupants were evacuated. For unknown reason, two people were still in the aircraft and were killed while a third one was never found. The exact cause and circumstances of the accident remains unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-1-LO LodeStar in Mt Bear: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1944 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-32197
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hondo – Fresno
MSN:
2287
Location:
Bakersfield
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Hondo AAF, the crew started the descent to Fresno by night when at the altitude of 4,300 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Bear located some 18 miles southeast of Bakersfield. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew and passengers:
Clarence W. DeGroff,
1st Lt Hobert D. Simpson Jr.,
2nd Lt James F. Applewhite,
2nd Lt Jimmie E. Hoch,
2nd Lt Louis J. Hoekstra,
F/O Otto F. Illias,
F/O Michel D. Pavich,
Sgt Ira R. Ratliff,
Pfc Walter H. Denk.

Crash of a Lockheed 1 Vega in Dos Palos

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1933 at 1750 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 1 Vega
Operator:
Registration:
NR7805
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Fresno – San Francisco
MSN:
28
YOM:
1928
Location:
Dos Palos
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:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Fresno to San Francisco, the engine failed. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a swamp. The pilot Donald McIntyre, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Boeing 40B-4 in Fresno

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1932 at 0157 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC10348
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bakersfield – Fresno
MSN:
1429
YOM:
1930
Location:
Fresno
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:
While approaching Fresno at night at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the airplane caught fire. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field when the aircraft crashed and burnt. The pilot evacuated safely and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Boeing 40B-4A near Gorman: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC5340
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Bakersfield – Fresno – San Jose – San Francisco – Medford – Vancouver – Seattle
MSN:
1036
YOM:
1928
Location:
Gorman
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Bakersfield to Fresno (route CAM 8), the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls and fog. While cruising at low altitude in limited visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Tehachapi Mountain Range. The wreckage was found six miles east of Gorman and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Flavius A. Donaldson, pilot,
George A. Rogers, mechanic.
Passenger:
Jean Markow.
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