Zone
California

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK near Hobart Mills: 26 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1946 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-1085
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Stockton – Sacramento – Ogden
MSN:
17088/34355
YOM:
1945
Location:
Hobart Mills
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
While flying at an altitude of 7,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft lost a part of its right wing and the empennage failed as well. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Donner State Park, west of Hobart Mills. All 26 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard K. Young, pilot,
1st Lt Louis N. Duesing, copilot,
Sgt Antone J. Esgro, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Lyle C. Dykes,
Richard O. Ehlers,
Cpt Donald A. Bride,
Raymond L. Schneider,
Lt L. S. Stark,
Floyd R. Sundgren,
Lt Col Clyde M. Taylor,
1st Lt Ervin P. Cue,
Maurice L. Bose,
Charles R. Branass,
Pvt Glenn P. Dickerson,
Cpl William T. Woodhouse,
Pasqual Iuluicci,
Melvin S. Van Riper,
Lt Frank W. Davis,
Ens Gino C. Caletti,
Stephen R. Kirsch,
Gerald P. Udell,
Robet A. McGee,
Lt John C. Shaw,
1st Lt James E. Milton,
2nd Lt Richard F. Simpson,
Pvt Willie B. Wilson.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a structural failure in flight.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers OA-10A Canso A near Grants: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Registration:
44-34096
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hunter - Sacramento
MSN:
CV-607
Location:
Grants
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
An engine failed enroute, causing the seaplane to crash in a mountainous region located 25 miles southwest of Grants. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt William T. Bartlett,
Sgt Robert L. Crook,
1st Lt James J. Garland,
Sgt John M. Jackson
Sgt Irwin S. Marcus;
1st Lt Wilson H. Parker,
Sgt Harold L. Post.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV on Mt Pinos: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN345
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Biggs - Sacramento
MSN:
15913/32661
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lebec
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Biggs AFB, El Paso, to Sacramento, California. While cruising by night in stormy weather, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on the Mt Pinos located some 14 miles west of Lebec. All five occupants were killed. The wreckage was found by walkers on 13MAY1945 only.
Crew:
Peter Antrobus, pilot
Floyd E. George, copilot
Frank S. Holmes, navigator
Edward Watkins, radio operator
Passenger:
Max K. Nelson.

Crash of a North American B-25C-1 Mitchell in Sacramento: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1943
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
41-13218
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sacramento - Sacramento
MSN:
82-5853
YOM:
1941
Location:
Sacramento
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:
The airplane was transferred from Sacramento-Mather Field to Sacramento Municipal Airport. On final approach, it went out of control and crashed 400 metres short of runway. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Leland G. Larkin.

Crash of a Lockheed A-29-LO Hudson in Sacramento

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23378
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6195
YOM:
1941
Location:
Sacramento
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair following a takeoff accident at Sacramento Airport. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Fairfield: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18674
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sacramento - Sacramento
MSN:
6080
YOM:
1942
Location:
Fairfield
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed 10 km west of Fairfield and was destroyed. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ralph Martin Duffie,
2nd Lt James A. Howell,
2nd Lt Herman Loeffler Jr.,
2nd Lt James M. Russell,
M/Sgt Reginald D. Tolar.

Crash of a Lockheed A-29-LO Hudson in Sacramento: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23417
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6234
YOM:
1941
Location:
Sacramento
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Sacramento Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled, entered a spin and crashed. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
Ernest C. Eddy, pilot.

Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress on Mt Ragged Top: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
38-216
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ladd AAF - Sacramento - Lowry AFB - Wright AFB
MSN:
2009
YOM:
1939
Location:
Mt Ragged Top
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ladd AAF in Fairbanks on a flight to Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton with intermediate stops in Sacramento Air Depot and Lowry AFB in Denver. En route from Sacramento to Denver, the airplane impacted the slope of the Ragged Top Mountain located about 19 miles southwest of Lovelock. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed. The aircraft was equipped with the top secret Norden bombsight and sabotage was suspected as the cause of the crash, but was never proven.
Crew:
Cpt Richard S. Freeman +7.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-191 off Point Reyes: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1938 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC16066
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Seattle – Portland – Medford – Sacramento – Oakland – San Francisco – Fresno – Bakersfield – Los Angeles – San Diego
MSN:
1906
YOM:
1937
Flight number:
UA006
Location:
Point Reyes
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
8649
Captain / Total hours on type:
442.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3284
Copilot / Total hours on type:
291
Circumstances:
While flying at night, the crew failed to realize that he was following the wrong track to Oakland and was now over the sea. Both engines failed in flight, forcing the pilot to ditch the airplane off Point Reyes. Five occupants were killed, among them two crew members. The captain and a passenger survived.
Crew:
Charles B. Stead, pilot,
Lloyd E. Jones, copilot, †
Frona B. Clay, stewardess. †
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to definitely establish the position of the aircraft through standard orientation procedures within a reasonable time after intersecting a leg of the Oakland radio range at 0317LT, and of company flight dispatchers, charged with the responsibilities of directing the operation of the trip, to properly safeguard the flight, resulting in forced landing of the aircraft at sea due to exhausted fuel supply.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4K in San Francisco: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
222
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco – Sacramento
Location:
Marina Field (San Francisco)
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Marina Field in San Francisco, while climbing to a height of about 500 feet, the aircraft was caught in an air pocket. The pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The pilot was killed.
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