Stinson SM-6000 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew (an instructor and four student pilots) was performing night training exercises at Saint Louis-Lambert Airport. On approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low. The aircraft collided with a windmill and crashed in a field. Three pilots were killed and two others were seriously injured.

Crash of a Stinson SM-6000B near Lebec: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1932 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Stinson SM-6000

Operator:

Registration:

NC10813

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bakersfield – Los Angeles

MSN:

5034

YOM:

1931

Location:

Lebec

California

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:

4400

Circumstances:

The three engine airplane departed Bakersfield on a flight to Los Angeles, carrying seven passengers and one pilot. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to heavy snow falls. The pilot decided to return to Bakersfield when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a mountainous area located between Lebec and Fort Tejon, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found a week later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Joseph Victor Sandblom, pilot
Passengers:
Frank Dewar,
Spencer W. Swan,
J. H. Polhemus,
W. H. Smith,
Nita McGrath,
Margaret A. Fickeisen,
Marie Sweeny Combs.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in a snowstorm.