Zone
Washington

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Brookings: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46611
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Francisco – Seattle
Location:
Brookings
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Enroute, the seaplane hit the slope of a mountain near Brookings, killing all nine crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Oakland: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1944 at 0613 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-30682
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Oakland - Seattle
MSN:
13833
YOM:
1943
Location:
Oakland
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 27 in Oakland Airport, while climbing, left engine failed. Right away, the pilot feathered the propeller and started a right turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed onto a house near the airport. All eight occupants were killed while nobody on the ground was injured.
Probable cause:
According to officials, the failure of the left engine was likely caused by the ruptured of a fuel line.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando in McCloud: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1943 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-12356
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
McClellan - Seattle
MSN:
26483
YOM:
1943
Location:
McCloud
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
In the evening, the crew left McClellan AFB, near Sacramento, on a routine flight to Seattle, Washington. After take off, the pilot completed a circuit over the airport to reach the assigned altitude of 16,500 feet and reduced the engine power to 2,300 RPM. After few minutes, the right engine failed, followed shortly later by the left engine. A crew member was able to bail out before the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All five occupants were killed while the sixth was found alive.
Crew:
Cpt Marvin E. Bradley,
Cpl Robert E. Delmar,
2nd Lt Christopher P. Gadsden Jr.,
2nd Lt Joe F. Welch.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura on Mt Washington: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
33142
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seattle - Seattle
MSN:
5151
YOM:
1942
Location:
Mt Washington
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie out from NAS Seattle, on behalf of the United States Marine Corps. While cruising in zero visibility, the airplane impacted the northeast slope of Mt Washington located 52 km southeast of Seattle. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt(jg) B. L. Lough, pilot +4.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Grumman JRF-2 Goose near Blyn: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Registration:
V176
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Angeles – Seattle
MSN:
1065
YOM:
1940
Location:
Blyn
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Few minutes after departure from Port Angeles, en route to Seattle, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While cruising in instrument conditions, the seaplane impacted the slope of a mountain located south of Blyn. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
L/Cdr Frederick L. Westbrook, pilot,
Lt Jg Carl R. Heussy,
Cpt Eerl H. Muyskens,
Rm1 Thurlow E. Kesner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing XB-29 Super Fortress in Seattle: 34 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1943 at 1226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-003
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Seattle - Seattle
MSN:
2482
YOM:
1941
Location:
Seattle
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight on this second prototype. Ten minutes after departure from Seattle-Boeing Field, the crew informed ATC that engine n°1 caught fire and attempted to return. At an altitude of 2,400 feet, the pilot feathered the propeller and notified ATC that the fire was spreading quickly. One minute later, as it was about to land, the bomber struck a power line and crashed on an industrial butchery. Extensive emergency resources were dispatched to the scene where rescuers did not find any survivors among the debris scattered over a wide area. The building was destroyed and 34 dead bodies were found: all 11 occupants on board the airplane and 23 people on ground. Thirty people on the ground were injured.
Crew:
Eddie Allen, Chief test pilot by Boeing,
Bob Dansfield, captain.
Probable cause:
A fire on engine n°1 was likely due to the rupture of a supply fuel line. When fuel contacted the engine nacelle and several other components whose temperature was high, a fire erupted that quickly spread across the wing. On final approach, a violent explosion occurred on the left wing when fire contacted the valves of the wing defrost system which was mainly composed of magnesium. In addition, air flowing under the leading edge slats boosted flames significantly, which was considered as a contributory factor. Following this tragedy, Boeing technicians were forced to modify the engine fuel system as well as some others points.

Crash of a Lockheed 10B Electra near Ketchikan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1943 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
NC14915
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seattle – Annette Island
MSN:
1021
YOM:
1935
Location:
Ketchikan
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7412
Captain / Total hours on type:
757.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Seattle-Boeing Field Airport at 1327LT on an on-demand taxi flight to Annette Island, carrying five passengers and one pilot. While approaching Ketchikan at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the pilot informed ground that the left engine failed. Due to strong winds and marginal weather conditions, it was difficult to control the airplane and maintain a radio contact with ATC. After crossing clouds at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the pilot cut the right engine and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane collided with two tall trees and crashed in hilly terrain some 48 km east of Ketchikan. All six occupants were injured. Two days after the accident, a female passenger died from injuries sustained. The four survivors remained lost for a period of 29 days following the accident, during which time and extensive air, land, and water search was carried on over large areas east and south of Ketchikan and up into British Columbia. After continuing the hazardous search during winter weather for a period of approximately three weeks, the party was given up for lost and the search was abandoned. On February 3, 1943, two of the survivors searching for aid came upon a United States Coast Guard patrol boat in Weasel Cove on Boca de Quadra Inlet and the remaining two were rescued from their camp on February 7, by civilian guides and Coast Guard personnel. The pilot was apparently uninjured in the accident but in an effort to summon aid to his injures passengers he perished by exposure and freezing. His remains were found on February 6, 1943, on the shores of the Boca de Quadra Inlet, some 11 km from the scene of the accident.
Crew:
Harold Gillam, pilot. †
Passengers:
Robert Gebo,
Percy Cutting,
Joseph H. Tippets,
Dewey Metzdorf,
Susan Winch Batzer. †
Probable cause:
While the stoppage of the left engine from an undetermined cause in extremely rough weather and over hazardous terrain undoubtedly was the primary cause of the accident, it is apparent that strong contributing factors were the pilot's failure:
- To equip himself with an up-to-date aeronautical chart and,
- To utilize the radio aids available to him to accurately establish the position of the flight while on instruments.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra near Kellogg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1936 at 0323 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
NC14935
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chicago – Minneapolis – Missoula – Seattle
MSN:
1024
YOM:
1935
Flight number:
NW001
Location:
Kellogg
Idaho
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a night mail flight from Chicago to Seattle with intermediate stops in Minneapolis and Missoula, carrying two pilots and a load of 500 lbs of mail. While overflying west Idaho in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located in the region of Kellogg. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Joe Livermore, pilot,
Arthur A. Haid, copilot.
Probable cause:
In arriving at a conclusion after an analysis of the evidence, it does not appear that the accident was due to weather, mechanical failure of the aircraft, radio aids or communications, or to any failure of the company to comply with prevailing rules and practices. Full cognizance is taken of the possibility that the magnetic compass may not have been functioning properly during the flight. However, a study of available evidence, this appear improbable. It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident was faulty navigation in not following the radio range course upon leaving Missoula and failing to ascent to a safe altitude over the course pursued from Elk River.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 247D near Selleck

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 247
Operator:
Registration:
NC13302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Spokane – Wenatchee – Seattle
MSN:
1683
YOM:
1933
Location:
Selleck
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Spokane at 1522LT with two passengers and three crew members on board. It landed at Wenatchee-Fancher Field at 1635LT and four additional passengers boarded. On the leg to Seattle, weather conditions worsened and the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane impacted trees and crashed on the slope of a mountain located 10 km east of Selleck. The aircraft was destroyed and all 9 occupants were injured.
Crew:
Ben Z. Redfield, pilot,
Dwight A. Hansen, copilot,
Marian Bennett, stewardess.
Passengers:
Paul C. Beezley,
Mildred A. Johannesen,
Helen Curran,
Robert C. Clark,
Daisy A. Moony,
Mercedes Boyd.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing 40B-4 in Crescent Lake

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 40
Operator:
Registration:
NC743K
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Medford – Seattle
MSN:
1150
YOM:
1929
Location:
Crescent Lake
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Medford to Seattle, the pilot lost his orientation due to foggy conditions. He attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area. The pilot walked for about 24 hours in deep snow to find help.
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