Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Mt Pilat: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1944 at 1430 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-92700
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Luxeuil – Istres
MSN:
12530
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Captain / Total hours on type:
792.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
198
Circumstances:
En route to Istres with 15 wounded soldiers on board, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility, fog and severe icing. The aircraft hit the slope of Mt Pilat located some 10 km southeast of Saint-Chamond and was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. All 20 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 90 meters from the top of the mountain (1,350 meters high).
Crew (802nd Evac Squadron):
1st Lt Carson Max Roberts, pilot,
2nd Lt William C. Ward, copilot,
Sgt Shirley N. Breckinridge, flight engineer,
Cpl Howard E. Kahler, radio operator,
Aleda Ester Lutz, nurse.
Passengers:
Cpt William A. Steinhurst,
1st Lt Roger M. Philips,
S/Sgt Leonard Vasquez,
Sgt Ronald Takara,
1st Class Ellis F. Gillespie,
1st Class Ciro J. Romono,
2nd Class Edwin Beal,
2nd Class John Ferrata,
2nd Class John B. Young,
Anton Eppenschwantiner,
Bertholdt Hennegriff,
Heinrich Loesch,
Erich Kimmerle,
Max Schmann,
Ottmar Spang.
Source & photo:
http://calm.sopixi.fr/files/crashesc47valleerhonecalm.pdf

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra in Saint-Sauveur

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AFGN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon – Basel – Zurich
MSN:
1467
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Croydon to Basel, while cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet over France, the crew encountered technical problems on both engines and reduced his altitude. Few minutes later, one engine fired and the captain attempted to make an emergency landing at Luxeuil-les-Bains AFB. On final, the crew lowered the gear and landed in a wheat field located in Saint-Sauveur, northeast of the airbase. Upon touchdown, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All 12 occupants evacuated safely and the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine failure and fire.