Zone
Potosí

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando in San Francisco

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Curtiss
Registration:
TI-1065
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
San Francisco
Potosí
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the left engine lost power. The captain decided to return for a safe landing. While completing a last turn to join the approach path, the left engine exploded and caught fire. As the airplane was losing height, the captain attempted an emergency landing in a field located few km short of runway. Both pilots were quickly evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left engine exploded and caught fire due to the failure of the carburetor. It is believed that the failure of the left engine and its components may be the consequence of an overloaded aircraft.

Crash of a Fokker Y1C-14 in near the Cajon Pass: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F14
Operator:
Registration:
31-388
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
March – Crissey
MSN:
1420
YOM:
1931
Location:
Cajon Pass
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed March AFB on a flight to Crissey Field, San Francisco, carrying 7 crew members. En route, while flying in foggy conditions, the airplane impacted a mountain slope near the Cajon Pass, in the San Bernardino National Forest, California. Three crew members were killed and four others were injured, two seriously.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Bakersfield

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
NC9666
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco – Los Angeles
MSN:
5-AT-025
YOM:
1929
Location:
Bakersfield
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from San Francisco to Los Angeles, the aircraft suffered an in-flight fire. The crew diverted to Bakersfield Airport. After touchdown, the airplane rolled for few dozen yards before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All nine occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Travel Air 6000 in Lucerne: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Travel Air 6000
Operator:
Lucerne Airways
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lucerne – San Francisco
Location:
Lucerne
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lucerne Airfield, while climbing, the engine failed. The pilot decided to return for an emergency landing and initiated a sharp turn when the aircraft impacted trees and crashed. All six occupants were killed, among them four golfers returning to the Bay Area following a tournement in Lucerne.
Crew :
William H. Hoffman, pilot.
Passengers :
Louis M. Becker,
George Ritchie,
Jack Kerrigan,
Leon Keller,
Zigmunda Lax.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing 95 in Brownson: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC184E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Francisco – Chicago
MSN:
1047
YOM:
1929
Location:
Sidney
Nebraska
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 to Chicago while on a mail flight from San Francisco, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The pilot Charles Kenwood attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located in Brownson. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Boeing 80 in Loomis

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 80
Operator:
Registration:
NC7136
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chicago – San Francisco
MSN:
1031
YOM:
1929
Location:
Loomis
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Chicago to San Francisco, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the aircraft impacted tress and crashed on hilly terrain near Loomis. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were injured.

Crash of a Boeing 95 in Elm Creek

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1929 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 95
Operator:
Registration:
NC192E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chicago – San Francisco
MSN:
1055
YOM:
1929
Location:
Elm Creek
Nebraska
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:
En route from Chicago to San Francisco, while cruising by night, the pilot encountered engine problems. While attempting an emergency landing, the aircraft crashed in a field near Elm Creek, bursting into flames. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Engine problems caused by the failure of a fuel line.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B off San Francisco

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1923
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
164
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Francisco - San Francisco
Location:
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:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Marina Field for a local test flight. The engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to ditch the airplane in the San Francisco Bay. The pilot was rescued by the crew of a tugboat after an hour.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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