Scheduled Revenue Flight | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On the leg from Villahermosa to Veracruz, the crew informed ATC about his position. Shortly later, while cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet in heavy rain falls, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near San Andrés Tuxtla. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 11 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain due to adverse weather conditions that almost certainly caused or contributed to the crash related to a hurricane affecting the region.

Crash of a Douglas DF-151 off Chichijima Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DF-151

Operator:

Registration:

J-ANES

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing off the Chichijima Island, the float plane crashed in unknown circumstances. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Martin M.130 China Clipper into the Pacific Ocean: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1938 at 0411 LT

Type of aircraft:

Martin M.130

Operator:

Registration:

NC14714

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

San Francisco – Honolulu – Agana – Manila

MSN:

556

YOM:

1934

Flight number:

PA229

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1900

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1650

Aircraft flight hours:

4757

Circumstances:

The float plane was on a transpacific flight from San Francisco to Manila with two intermediate stops in Honolulu and Guam Island. En route, the aircraft named 'Hawaiian Clipper' crashed in unknown circumstances into the ocean. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the 15 occupants was found.
Crew:
Leo Terletsky, pilot,
Mark A. Walker, copilot,
George M. Davis, Second Officer,
Jose M. Sauceda, Third Officer,
John W. Jewett, Fourth Officer,
William McGarty, Radio,
Howard L. Cox, Engineer,
T. B. Tatum, Assistant Engineer,
Ivan Parker, Steward.
Passengers:
Earl B. McKinley,
Fred C. Meier,
Edward E. Wyman,
Kenneth A. Kennedy,
Howard C. French,
Choy Wah Sun.

Probable cause:

In conclusion, it appears that the only definite facts established up to the present time, are that between 0411 and 0412 G.C.T on July 29, was a failure of communication between the ground and the Clippers. Communication was not thereafter reestablished, and that no trace of the aircraft has since been discovered. A number of theories have been advanced about the possible basic cause of or reason for the disappearance of the Clipper. The Board has considered each of them. Some have not been disproved and some have been contradicted by the facts. However, the Investigating fecls that this report cannot properly include a discussion of conjection unsupported by developed facts. The Board, therefore, respectfully submit this report with the thought that additional evidence may yet be discovered and the investigation completed at that time.

Final Report:

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.15 Atalanta in Kisumu: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.15 Atalanta

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABTG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London – Kisumu – Cape Town

MSN:

AW.785

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport, the four engine aircraft lost height and impacted the ground nose first before coming to rest. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 14H Super Electra near Gӑinești: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1938 at 1738 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Operator:

Registration:

SP-BNG

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Warsaw – Lviv – Chernivtsi – Bucharest – Thessaloniki – Athens

MSN:

1432

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Less than 30 minutes after its departure from Chernivtsi Airport, while cruising over the region of Suceava, north part of Romania, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions. The twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, dove into the ground and crashed in a hilly and wooded area located near the village of Gӑinești, some 35 km southwest of Suceava. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 14 occupants were killed, among them the Romanian composer and aviator Ionel Fernic.

Probable cause:

It is the opinion of the Board that the accident was caused by lightning which struck the aircraft in flight. Strong turbulences should be a contributory factor.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Wuhan

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

XXI

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

5087

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach and landing at Wuhan Airport were completed in strong crosswind conditions. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after landing due to strong crosswinds.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-228 in Morón: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1938 at 0530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

NC18114

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Morón – Asunción

MSN:

1990

YOM:

1937

Location:

Morón AFB

Buenos Aires province

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew elected to return to the airport and initiated a turn when the aircraft stalled, impacted the roof of the local hospital and crashed in trees. All 13 occupants were rescued while one person in the hospital was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti S.66 into the Tyrrhenian Sea: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1938 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti S.66

Operator:

Registration:

I-VOLO

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Cagliari – Rome

MSN:

15013

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine float plane departed Cagliari in the early morning and continued its route along the east coast of Sardinia. While overflying over the Tyrrhenian Sea, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. The crew did not send any mayday message. Debris were found floating on water some 145 km east of Olbia and none of the 20 occupants survived the crash.

Crash of an Emsco B.3 near Chetumal: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Emsco B.3

Operator:

Transportes Aéreos de Chiapas

Registration:

XA-BFX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mérida – Chetumal

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way from Mérida to Chetumal when it crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the State of Quintana Roo. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupant was ever found.

Crash of a Lockheed 14H Super Electra in Billings: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1938 at 0256 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Operator:

Registration:

NC17383

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Seattle – Spokane – Helena – Billings – Fargo

MSN:

1402

YOM:

1938

Flight number:

NW004

Location:

Billings-Logan

Montana

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11500

Circumstances:

Following a night takeoff from Billings Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. A passenger was killed while all nine other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Walter R. Bullock, pilot,
Lester H. Doan, copilot.

Probable cause:

It is the opinion of the Investigating Board that the probable caused of this accident was a stall at low altitude, following take-off, from which the pilot was unable to recover, due to lack of emergency power.

Final Report:

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