Crash of a Douglas C-74 Globemaster I in Marseille: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-74 Globemaster I
Operator:
Aeronaves de Panama
Registration:
HP-385
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Copenhagen – Marseille – Cairo – Jeddah
MSN:
13915
YOM:
1946
Location:
Marseille-Marignane
Bouches-du-Rhône
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a cargo flight from Copenhagen to Jeddah, carrying six crew members and 30 cows. After a refuelling stop at Marignane Airport, the crew was cleared for takeoff from runway 32. By night, the crew mistook the runway and started the takeoff from runway 14. During initial climb, it is believed the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height when it struck a hill located near Gignac-la-Nerthe, about 5 km south of the airfield. The wreckage was found less than 10 meters below the summit and all six crew members and all animals were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-74 Globemaster I near Torrance

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1946 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-74 Globemaster I
Operator:
Registration:
42-65403
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Long Beach - Long Beach
MSN:
13914
YOM:
1946
Location:
Torrance
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Long Beach Airport on a test flight. While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the pilot initiated a series of stall in accordance to the test program. During the descent, a section of the right wing broke off and separated. All four crew members (civilian employees of Douglas Company) bailed out and parachuted to safety while the airplane dove into the ground and crashed on a Texaco Oil refinery property at Carson avenue and Avalon boulevard in north Wilmington, near Torrance. The airplane disintegrated on impact.
Crew:
Russell Thaw Jr., pilot,
George Jansen, copilot,
Chris Nielsen, flight engineer,
H. H. Lane, technician.
Probable cause:
The fabric covered ailerons caused control problems and ultimately the separation of a section of the right wing.
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