Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Amarillo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1944 at 0208 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-55974
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Amarillo - Monroe
MSN:
2435
YOM:
1943
Location:
Amarillo
Texas
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:
Shortly after take off from Amarillo Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed. All seven occupants were killed. Crew was on his way to Monroe and return for a night training exercise.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar in South Plains AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1944 at 2341 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-55938
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
South Plains AFB - South Plains AFB
MSN:
2375
Location:
South Plains AFB (Lubbock)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a glider towing exercise. Shortly after take off, while climbing to a height of 80 feet, the left engine failed. The glider's pilot immediately released the cable when the LodeStar banked left and crashed near the runway. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar IA in RAF Bilbeis

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
HK980
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2024
YOM:
1940
Location:
Bilbeis
Al Sharqia
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off run, the pilot attempted to rotate but the aircraft did not respond. Crew decided to abandon the take off procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun and came to rest into a ditch. While all occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-1-LO LodeStar near Farmersville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-32203
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Selman City - Hugo
MSN:
2293
YOM:
1942
Location:
Farmersville
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the LodeStar registered 42-32203 collided with an USAAF Beechcraft AT-7 registered 43-33303 with 4 crew on board. Both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All 10 occupants in both aircraft were killed. The reason of the occurrence is unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar near Sabinal: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1943 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-56049
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cleveland - Hondo
MSN:
2452
YOM:
1943
Location:
Sabinal
Texas
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:
While approaching Hondo AAF, Texas, the weather conditions worsened. Pilots were unable to localize the airport and decided to continue to San Antonio. In low visibility with clouds down to 900 feet, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground in a near vertical attitude and crashed in a prairie located 8 miles south of Sabinal. All eight occupants were killed. The crew was requesting radio compass assistance from San Antonio Ground Control Center when the loss of control occurred.
Crew:
2nd Lt Robert H. Gordon,
Cpt William F. Herbert,
Avc George B. Kirby,
Avc Walter F. Liszka,
Avc Edward A. Mallroy,
Avc Thomas J. Maroney Jr.,
Sgt Alfred F. Roberts,
2nd Lt Harry H. Womack.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar on Mt Beinn Nuis: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-56014
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Keflavik - Prestwick
MSN:
18-2487
YOM:
1943
Location:
Beinn Nuis Hill (Isle of Arran)
Ayrshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Beinn Nuis located on Arann Island, Ayrshire, while performing a flight from Keflavik to Prestwick. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (17th Aerial Transport Group):
Pfc Bernard T. Boone,
T/Sgt John M. Fantaskey,
Maj Louis C. Goldsmith,
S/Sgt John G. Johnson,
1st Lt John R. MacKenzie,
2nd Lt Richard H. Riddle,
Pvt William Silberg.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Khartoum: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-55921
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2336
YOM:
1943
Location:
Khartoum
Khartoum (الخرطوم)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On rotation, the aircraft stalled, hit the runway surface and veered off before coming to rest. The captain Thomas L. Eyre was killed in the accident while all other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The loss of control was caused by an engine failure.

Ground accident of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO Lodestar at South Plains AFB

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-55957
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2394
YOM:
1943
Location:
South Plains AFB (Lubbock)
Texas
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:
Suffered a ground accident while taxiing at South Plains AFB and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar at Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-108790
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2169
YOM:
1942
Location:
Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton)
Ohio
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Wright-Patterson AFB, the airplane suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed. There were no fatalities.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A LodeStar in Gander: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1943 at 0343 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
557
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moncton - Gander
MSN:
18-2377
YOM:
1943
Location:
Gander
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Moncton at 2345LT on May 7 on a cargo flight to Gander. At 0313LT the following night, the crew contacted the Aerodrome Control Officer at Gander Airport to request a landing clearance. The aircraft was given landing clearance by the aerodrome control officer, and was told to check their wheels down. The messages were acknowledged by 557. At this time the ceiling was practically unlimited. The aircraft was heard to pass over the airfield shortly thereafter, but the ceiling had unexpectedly fallen to 700 feet. This fly over was apparently done on instruments. The crew radioed to indicate they had missed the field and were trying again. The aircraft then acknowledged being given the ceiling height and barometric pressure by the station. The aircraft broke through the 600 feet ceiling, and was advised to circle and approach runway 27. The aircraft approached, but seemed to be lined up with the wrong runway and was advised to circle again and attempt runway 27. On the second attempt, the aircraft still did not turn enough and was again told to attempt again. The aircraft was instructed to make a right turn over the field, but, at this point, 557 was in a steep bank and went into a stall, losing altitude until it crashed 3 km east of the airport, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Humphrey Svendsen, pilot,
W/O Charles Needham Allen, copilot,
Lac Allan Gerald Sewellm radio operator.
Source: https://caspir.warplane.com/
Probable cause:
Pilot error, while attempting to get into position to make an approach under low ceiling. The aircraft either slipped in or partially stalled after swinging from a left hand turn into a right hand turn on low altitude and in recovering struck trees.
Final Report:
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