Crash of a Kaiser-Frazer C-119F-KM Flying Boxcar near Pope AFB: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-8163
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pope - Pope
MSN:
166
YOM:
1952
Location:
Pope AFB (Fayetteville)
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Pope Army Airfield with 11 other similar aircraft to take part to a paratroopers dropping exercice. In flight, an engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that left the formation and dove into the ground. During the dive, the aircraft hit ten paratroopers who just bailed out from other aircraft and eventually crashed in a field located few miles from the airport. All five occupants (four crew members and one doctor from Fort Bragg) were killed as well as ten paratroopers.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-15-FA Packet in Harnett: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Registration:
44-23010
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Fayetteville - Fayetteville
MSN:
10054
YOM:
1944
Location:
Harnett
North Carolina
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:
The aircraft left Fayetteville-Pope AFB for a local training sortie with 36 paratroopers on board. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and ordered all passengers to bail out. After the last paratrooper evacuated the cabin, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Harnett, about 17 miles northeast of the airbase. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Fayetteville-Pope AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1945 at 1448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100998
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fayetteville-Pope - Fayetteville-Pope
MSN:
19461
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pope AFB (Fayetteville)
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a training mission at Fayetteville-Pope AFB, consisting of takeoffs and landings. Shortly after takeoff, during initial climb, the aircraft hit tree tops located at the end of the runway, crashed in flames and was destroyed by fire. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert L. Hughes,
2nd Lt William E. Pero,
Cpl Jack A. Trussell,
Sgt Richard E. Whann.
Probable cause:
It is believed that an engine failed shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Fayetteville-Pope: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1944 at 0737 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23866
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fayetteville - Fayetteville
MSN:
9728
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pope AFB (Fayetteville)
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a paratroop exercise involving twelve similar aircraft. Number eight, the pilot started the take off procedure when the aircraft swerved on the runway. The captain decided to take off prematurely and while at a height of some 150 feet, the aircraft banked left and crashed in flames on the left side of the runway. A pilot was killed while all ten other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
According to the investigations, the crew precipitated the rotation because the aircraft swerved on take off and slip from left to right. The course was not straight because the tail wheel was unlocked.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Fayetteville-Pope: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1944 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23925
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fayetteville - Fayetteville
MSN:
9787
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pope AFB (Fayetteville)
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight in the region of the Fayetteville-Pope Airport. En route, the aircraft flew into a cloudy area and the pilot decided to leave the zone and made a 180 turn when, from a height of some 700 to 1,000 feet, he lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground. During the dive, the right elevator failed before the aircraft crashed in a field in a near vertical position. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Sanford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1944 at 0235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100493
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Fayetteville - Raleigh - Greensboro
MSN:
18956
YOM:
1943
Location:
Sanford
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training exercise to Greensboro with an intermediate stop in Raleigh-Durham. The aircraft left Fayetteville-Pope AFB at the end of the evening and while cruising at an altitude of some 5,000 feet, the electrical system suffered technical problems while an auxiliary generator failed. The Pitot tube deicing system failed as well, so the parameters transmitted to the airspeed indicator were erroneous. In such situation, crew decided to return to Fayetteville and while flying across the last cloud layer, the crew did not realize his altitude was insufficient due to poor visibility. The aircraft hit a mountain slope and was totally wrecked some 14 km west of Sanford. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Theodore Cole 1.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper near Garland: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1943 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-68746
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Fayetteville-Pope - Fayetteville-Pope
MSN:
11673
YOM:
1943
Location:
Garland
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Fayetteville-Pope AFB in the evening to complete a circular training flight. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 11 miles southwest of Garland. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Robert M. Anderson,
2nd Lt Howard R. Johnson Jr.,
Sgt Roger H. Knowlton,
2nd Lt Richard G. Shipley.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Fayetteville-Pope AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-68783
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fayetteville-Pope - Fayetteville-Pope
MSN:
11710
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pope AFB (Fayetteville)
North Carolina
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:
On final approach to Fayetteville-Pope AFB, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (435th TG):
2nd Lt Harrol H. Jacks,
2nd Lt Martin H. Kehoe,
Cpl Melvin C. Perialas.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL in Maxton AFB: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1943 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23512
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fayetteville-Pope – Maxton
MSN:
9374
YOM:
1943
Location:
Maxton AFB
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
On final approach by night and in poor weather conditions, while at a height of 200 feet, the aircraft nosed down and crashed in a field located 4 miles short of runway. All 20 occupants were killed, among them 16 glider pilots.
Probable cause:
Weather conditions were poor at the time of the accident with thunderstorm activity and turbulence in the approach path.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Oliver Springs: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1943 at 1235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-5695
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pope AFB - Tulsa
MSN:
9002
YOM:
1943
Location:
Oliver Springs
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Pope AFB on a flight to Tulsa, carrying seven passengers and a crew of four. At 1223LT, the crew called Knoxville, Tennessee, Airways Radio, stating he was at 11,500 feet and asked for instructions. Knoxville radio replied 'no instructions'. The pilot broke of the overcast at about 3,000 feet in a descending attitude 32 miles west of Knoxville. Descent continued for about 2.2 miles holding a generally straight heading. The ship the assumed an abrupt left climbing turn, at which time a section of the metal skin over the left tanks and a small piece of left stabilizer left the aircraft. Immediately thereafter an explosion occurred which completely disintegrated all the forward portion of the aircraft from the main entrance door, also the tail surfaces, scattering portions over about one and one-half square miles. One propeller was feathered, the other almost completely feathered, probably because the pilot had detected excessive vibration or flutter. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O Charles E. Fontaine, pilot,
2nd Lt J. C. Wingate, copilot,
S/Sgt Joseph A. Stahlman, flight engineer,
Cpl Walter C. Oughton, radio operator.
Passengers:
2nd Lt Allen C. Deatherage,
S/Sgt William G. Snell,
Sgt Willis F. McElroy,
Pfc William C. Hoover,
Pvt George P. Bacca,
Pvt James E. Berry,
Pvt Claude A. Brasier.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Committee that the accident was caused by one or more of the following:
- Disintegration of the fabric covered control surfaces due to excess speed.
- Structural failure of left wing and stabilizer in sudden pull-up, which might have been caused by either pilot making this maneuver on sight of the ground, or shifting of passengers into the tail for possible crash landing after realizing loss of control surfaces by shredding, or failure of elevator hinge bracket by a resonate vibration set up in using 1,200 to 1,600 rpms.
- The descent from original altitude was probably due to conditions beyond the pilot's control, such as icing of one or more of the following: engines, outside instrument vents on ship, mechanical failure of either or both engines, failure of controls due to resonant frequency, or controls becoming jammed.
- The explosion was probably caused by the auxiliary venting through the filler cap of the fuel tanks installed in the cabin or the fracture of the gas line leading to the wing tanks from these auxiliary cabin tanks at the time of the crumpling action in the left wing.
Subscribe to Pope AFB (Fayetteville)