South Korea | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While returning to its base following a night intruder mission, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the north of South Korea, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Robert L. Cherry,
A2c Victor G. Corona,
A2c Donald L. Hart,
2nd Lt Frank T. Loughery.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-65-BN Superfortress near Ocho-o: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

44-62166

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Suwon - Suwon

MSN:

11643

YOM:

1944

Location:

Ocho-o

North Gyeongsang (경상북도)

Country:

South Korea

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine caught fire. Shortly later, the heavy bomber exploded in the air and crashed, killing all 13 crew members.
Crew:
1St Lt Forrest B. Angstman,
Cpt Leroy E. Aschenbrenner,
Cpt Osbaldo Garza,
T/Sgt Leroy A. Haney,
A2c Lloyd W. Ingrim,
A2c Michael L. Jacobs,
Cpt David Meredith,
A2c David E. Miles,
Cpt Paul C. Ross,
A2c Clifton E. Scites,
A2c Charles O. Spain,
T/Sgt Keith D. Thomas,
A2c Manuel J. Yduarte Jr.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-2 Navigator in South Korea

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator

Operator:

Registration:

39206

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Pyongtaek – Sokcho

MSN:

4290

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions from Pyongtaek to Sokcho, the twin engine aircraft was hit by antiaircraft fire. Both pilots decided to abandon the aircraft and baled out. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed while both crew members were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by antiaircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-66-DL Invader off Gunsan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-34623

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Gunsan - Gunsan

MSN:

27902

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a night training mission in the region of Gunsan. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea, about 6 km offshore. A crew member was rescued while the second one was killed.
Crew:
1st Lt L. J. Schiller,
1st Lt Fernie Wood. †

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL off Incheon: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15379

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Seoul - Ch'o-do Island

MSN:

19845

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances off Incheon, South Korea, killing all eight crew members. They were taking part to the evacuation of US wounded soldiers.
Crew:
1st Lt Francis P. Burns,
1st Lt Donn H. Haugen,
Cpt Richard E. Hines,
Cpt Frederick S. Kelley,
S/Sgt Albert C. May,
A1C Calvin G. Sandrock Jr.,
1st Lt Frank F. Sherman,
1st Lt Benjamin H. Woodruff Jr.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-45-DL Invader off Gunsan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

44-34098

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Gunsan - Gunsan

MSN:

27377

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from runway 24 at Gunsan AFB, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea about a mile off shore. Two crew members were killed while two others were rescued.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles M. Familia, †
1st LT James B. Gorral Jr.,
1st Lt William F. McMurry, †
2nd Lt Wallace D. Stewart.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the loss of control was caused by an engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Hoengseong AFB

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

45-0932

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

16935/34194

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash landed for unknown reason. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off and used for spares.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119C-16-FA Flying Boxcar off Gampo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Operator:

Registration:

49-0172

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Pohang – Seoul

MSN:

10409

YOM:

14949

Location:

Gampo

North Gyeongsang (경상북도)

Country:

South Korea

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising along the coast, the crew encountered a major technical issue with both engines. The pilot-in-command elected to ditch the aircraft few km off Gampo. Three crew members were killed while two others were rescued. They were performing a supply mission from Pohang to Seoul.
Crew:
1st Lt Charles S. Aldrich,
1st Lt Robert K. Bancker, †
Cpt Joseph R. Hewitt, †
T/Sgt William A. Metcalfe, †
Cpl Billy J. Robinson.

Probable cause:

It is believed that a technical issue occurred on both propeller blades that may have detached in flight.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-60-BN Superfortress in Seoul

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

44-62071

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

11548

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During a bombing mission, the heavy bomber was hit by enemy fire (Soviet MiG-15) and the crew was able to return to Seoul. On touchdown at Gimpo Airport, the aircraft went out of control and crashed. All 11 occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
Maj John D. Cheek,
Cpl Leonard R. Eversole,
Cpt Vito J. Fierro,
1st Lt William R. Gale,
Cpl Ross E. Joslyn,
Cpt Thomas L. Lutz,
Cpl John Mantzaris,
Cpl Henry McConnell,
Sgt Donald R. Miller,
1st Lt Raymond J. Nellis,
S/Sgt John H. L. Todd Jr.