Milwaukee | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to a height of some 20 feet, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and impacted the runway surface. Simultaneously, the left engine restarted and the aircraft climbed to a height of 75 feet. At this moment, the right engine failed and the aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. Quickly on the scene, rescuers were able to evacuate all eight occupants injured while the aircraft was destroyed. Brand new, it was delivered to Northwest Airlines few weeks ago.

Probable cause:

It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable causes of this accident were:
- Failure of the Supervisory Personnel to definitely determine the actual fuel consumption of a new airplane before placing it in scheduled operation,
- Failure of the fuel gauge on the left tank to function accurately,
- Pilot error for failing to attempt to use the right fuel tank after the instrument board warning light had indicated that the task which he was using was about empty. This was his first flight on this type of aircraft as well. At the time of the accident, the crew calculated that the fuel consumption was about 163 liters per hour while the real consumption was about 240 liters per hour.

Crash of a Loening C-2C Air Yacht into Lake Michigan

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1933 at 1540 LT

Type of aircraft:

Loening C-2 Air Yacht

Operator:

Registration:

NC139H

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Milwaukee – Muskegon

MSN:

236

YOM:

1929

Location:

Lake Michigan

Michigan

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The float plane departed Milwaukee harbor at 1510LT on a flight to Muskegon. About 30 minutes into the flight, while cruising at a height of 200 feet in marginal weather conditions, the engine failed, maybe due to a valve issue according to the pilot. The crew reduced his altitude and ditched the airplane. The crew remained sitting in the cabin for about 5 hours when the right pontoon snapped off and the right wing cracked. The ship started to list and the crew get out on the left wing to balance it. Because the waves were hitting the seaplane hard, it cracked and eventually sank. Both pilots Pat Gossett and Ben Craycraft were rescued by the crew of the USCG vessel named 'Escanaba' shortly before midnight.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1B Detroiter in Rockford: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1928

Type of aircraft:

Stinson SM-1 Detroiter

Operator:

Registration:

NC4679

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rockford – Milwaukee

MSN:

M226

YOM:

1927

Location:

Rockford-Greater Rockford

Illinois

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Rockford-Greater Rockford Airport, while in initial climb, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, hit telephone wires and crashed in the Rock River. Three occupants were rescued and three others were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb.