Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-197B on Mt Holston: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1959 at 2032 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N18941
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nashville – Knoxville – Bristol
MSN:
2007
YOM:
1938
Flight number:
SE308
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
7214
Captain / Total hours on type:
2674.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2367
Copilot / Total hours on type:
432
Aircraft flight hours:
5675
Circumstances:
During a night approach to Bristol-Tr-Cities Airport, the airplane was too low and struck the slope of Mt Holston located 15 miles from runway 27 threshold. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all ten occupants were killed. The evidence indicates Flight 308 departed Nashville, Tennessee, with an inoperative radio compass. Although the flight was cleared by way of low frequency airway Green 5, it does not appear that the facilities defining this airway were used. Upon arriving in the Tri-Cities area the aircraft was east of its intended track and erroneously identified the reporting point from which an ILS approach procedure was to be initiated. During the instrument approach, which was conducted in snow showers, the flight missed the outer marker. The approach was continued under instrument conditions without utilizing the VOR facility which would have been of assistance in confirming the flight's position. Without having clearly established his position, the pilot flew 15 miles beyond the outer marker and descended to an altitude too low to clear high terrain in this area.
Probable cause:
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the pilot to identify Gray intersection properly and his decision to continue an ILS approach contrary to company and regulatory procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1856 LearStar near Woonsocket: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1958 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N37500
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Linden – Boston
MSN:
2251
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route to Boston, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with icing. Both carburetors suffered icing in flight and both engines failed. The airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located five miles southwest of Woonsocket. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Alexander Sable, pilot,
Edward Luidcinaitis, copilot.
Passengers:
Nelson A. Bergstend,
Ferdinand Liot,
Stephen Baksal,
Raymond Buese,
Jesse Hackney.
Probable cause:
The pilot's decision to continue on to his destination in freezing weather after total power loss of one engine from induction icing. Contributing causal factors were the serious deficiency in weather briefing and inadequate information in the Airplane Flight Manual for the most effective use of carburetor anti-icing and deicing.

Crash of a Boeing B-52E-85-BO Stratofortress at Altus AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1958 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0633
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Altus - Altus
MSN:
17316
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local night training mission at Altus AFB. After several circuits, the crew started a new GCA approach when the pilot-in-command requested climb to altitude for another jet penetration. Problems with stabilizer trim during overshoot caused the aircraft to lose height and to crash about 4 miles north of the airfield. A crew member bailed out and was rescued while eight other occupants were killed.
Crew (816th Air Division):
Maj Byard F. Baker, pilot,
Cpt Melvin Eckstein, †
Maj Willis E. Brady, †
1st Lt Carl D. Mackall, †
1st Lt Doyle Alexander Salley, †
S/Sgt. Thomas Lowry, †
S/Sgt Clarence R. Leger, †
T/Sgt Norman L. Kohlmeyer, †
S/Sgt Harold J. Funnell. †

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Loring AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1958 at 0727 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3598
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17347
YOM:
17
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off at 0445 on an "Operation Headstart" refueling mission. Headstart was the 42nd Bomb Wing's operation that "proved" the concept of airborne nuclear alert with B-52 aircraft for SAC. Before take-off, the crew was notified of a no-notice Standardization Board evaluation, so in addition to the crew of 4, there was an Instructor Pilot, Instructor Navigator, and Instructor Boom Operator aboard. Upon returning to the Loring AFB area, the aircraft was cleared to make a GCA approach from the south for a touch and go landing. The aircraft touched down about 2500 feet down the runway, applied power and became airborne at about the 7000 foot mark. Because of the aircraft's weight, air temperature and the forces involved in a touch and go landing, the Pilot got the tanker airborne in a condition where there was a 35 knot gap between adequate lift for take-off and adequate airflow over the ailerons for roll authority. The aircraft rolled to the right, striking the Number 4 engine which failed due to fuel control unit damage and jamming the right aileron in a 5 degree up position. The aircraft entered a nose high, right wing low attitude and cartwheeled into the woods about 1000 feet from the runway. It broke into several major sections and burned. The Instructor Navigator and Instructor Boom Operator were able to egress the burning wreckage but the Instructor Navigator died several weeks later as a result of his burns.
Crew (42th Air Refueling Squadron):
Cpt John Eifollla, pilot, †
1st Lt Donald Gladding, copilot, †
Maj John Brown, navigator, †
Cpt Bernard Morgan, instructor pilot, †
Cpt Herman Dosenbach, instructor navigator, †
T/Sgt Ronald Champion, boom operator,
T/Sgt Charles Holsclaw, instructor boom operator.
Source: http://www.mewreckchasers.com/KC1351958.html
Probable cause:
The investigation cited issues with the KC-135A Flight Manual that did not address the "window" in which the aircraft could become airborne in a touch and go without roll control, the Pilot's inability to take proper action to deal with the loss of Number 4 engine thrust, and the Instructor Pilot not occupying a front seat, with access to controls, during a touch and go landing as required by SAC regulations.

Crash of a Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II in Augusta

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
51-0162
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43496
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Bush Field for unknown reason. All 34 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Fort Collins: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1301N
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Denver - Ogden-Hill
MSN:
22480
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Denver-Stapleton to Ogden-Hill AFB, Utah. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 8,700 feet in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Fort Collins. The wreckage was found few hours later and both pilots were killed. At the time of the accident, weather was poor with icing conditions and turbulences. It is believed the airplane lost altitude until it impacted terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 724 Viscount in New York

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1958 at 1101 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-TGL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York - Montreal
MSN:
43
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
TCA604
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Viscount was parked at gate to board passengers when it was struck by a Seaboard & Western Airlines' Lockheed L-1049D Super Constellation which was performing training flight LN800 at Idlewild Airport. The Constellation began its takeoff run on runway 31R of the New York International Airport at 1100. When an airspeed of 117 knots (V 2) was reached, the aircraft became airborne and climbed to an altitude of approximately 25 feet. At this altitude severe control difficulty was encountered, causing the aircraft to veer suddenly to the left and the left wing to lower 20 to 30 degrees. This wing struck the runway and from this point on directional control of the aircraft was lost. The aircraft skidded In a westerly direction into a temporary terminal area and came to rest after striking the Viscount. All five crew members from the Constellation were injured while the Viscount was empty. Both aircraft were totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was an unwanted propeller reversal at a low altitude occurring immediately after takeoff. A contributing factor was the inadequate overhaul procedure employed by the propeller manufacturer.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049D Super Constellation in New York

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1958 at 1101 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6503C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York - New York
MSN:
4165
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
LN800
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12652
Captain / Total hours on type:
1634.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
13642
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2488
Aircraft flight hours:
11980
Circumstances:
Seaboard & Western's Flight LN-800, a training flight, began its takeoff run on runway 31R of the New York International Airport at 1100. When an airspeed of 117 knots (V 2) was reached, the aircraft became airborne and climbed to an altitude of approximately 25 feet. At this altitude severe control difficulty was encountered, causing the aircraft to veer suddenly to the left and the left wing to lower 20 to 30 degrees. This wing struck the runway and from this point on directional control of the aircraft was lost. The aircraft skidded In a westerly direction into a temporary terminal area and came to rest after striking a parked Trans Canada Air Lines Vickers 724 Viscount. All five crew members were injured while the Viscount was empty.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was an unwanted propeller reversal at a low altitude occurring immediately after takeoff. A contributing factor was the inadequate overhaul procedure employed by the propeller manufacturer.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Harrisburg: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
43-48300
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Perrin – Youngstown – Harrisburg-Olmstead
MSN:
14116/25561
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Perrin AFB (Denison, Texas) to Olmstead AFB (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) with an intermediate stop at Youngstown, Ohio. On final approach to Olmstead AFB, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with rain falls and fog. While under instruments at an altitude of 700 feet, the airplane struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located two miles short of runway. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt E. D. Kossick, pilot,
1st Lt J. O. McMichael, copilot,
A2c William C. Bailey, flight engineer,
Lt Col J. F. Tracy, navigator.
Passengers:
S/Sgt C. D. Jolley,
M/Sgt S. W. Christian.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123B-6-FA Provider at Mitchel AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-0614
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mitchel - Mitchel
MSN:
20063
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew as completing a local night training mission at Mitchel AFB. After touchdown, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran, went through a fence and a road, colliding with three cars before coming to rest. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. On the ground, one driver was killed while four other people were also injured.