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Crash of a Douglas R4D-8 in Naples: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1959 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
17241
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Naples – Luqa
MSN:
43343
YOM:
1944
Location:
Naples
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Naples-Capodichino Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a farmland. Three passengers and one worker on the ground were killed while 17 other occupants were injured. US Navy personnel and family members were on their way to Malta.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Lockheed WV-2 Super Constellation in Argentia NAS

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1959 at 1459 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
141332
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4456
YOM:
1957
Location:
Argentia NAS
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just before touchdown, the aircraft encountered windshear and hit violently the runway surface. On impact, the right main gear was sheared off. The airplane skidded for about 1,500 feet when the right wing was sheared off as well. The aircraft veered to the right and came to rest 400 feet farther. All 21 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on short final due to windshear.

Crash of a Martin P5M-2 Marlin off Norfolk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Martin P5M-2 Marlin
Operator:
Registration:
135529
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Norfolk - Norfolk
Location:
Norfolk-Chambers Field NAS
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, the crew reported that the right engine failed and elected to return to Norfolk-Chambers Field NAS. On approach, the left engine failed as well and the airplane stalled and crashed into the Willoughby Bay. Four crew members were killed while six others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland UC-1A Otter in Marble Point: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1959
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
144673
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Marble Point - Marble Point
MSN:
163
YOM:
1956
Location:
Marble Point
All Antarctica
Country:
Antarctica
Region:
Antarctica
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in the 'Deep Freeze IV' mission in Antarctica. After takeoff, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn to the left at low height, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed and was destroyed. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Lt Harvey E. Gardner,
Lt Lawrence J. Gardner.

Crash of a De Havilland UC-1 Otter in Ross Sea

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1958
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
142427
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
79
YOM:
1955
Location:
Ross Island
All Antarctica
Country:
Antarctica
Region:
Antarctica
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a structural failure while taking off from Ross Island on a supply mission for the operation 'Deep Freeze IV'. The crew was able to fly to McMurdo Sound were the airplane was declared as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed WV-2 Super Constellation off Argentia NAS: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
141294
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Patuxent River - Argentia
MSN:
4418
YOM:
1956
Location:
Argentia NAS
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While approaching Argentia NAS on a flight from Patuxent River NAS, the crew did not realize his altitude was insufficient. On final, the four engine aircraft crashed into the Bay of Placentia, about 1,000 feet short of runway threshold. Eleven occupants were killed while 18 others were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune off Key West: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1958 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
131461
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Key West - Key West
MSN:
426-5342
Location:
Key West
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training sortie out from Key West NAS when the patrol crashed in unknown circumstances into the gulf of Mexico about 22 miles north of Key West. All ten crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7LP Neptune in Ontario

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
140434
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
726-7093
Location:
Ontario
California
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:
Lost in a crash landing with VX-6 at Ontario. While taking off for an acceptance check flight at Ontario, a landing gear ski jammed and the aircraft was destroyed while attempting an emergency landing a few minutes later. There were no injuries but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed R7V-1 Super Constellation near Taft: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
131652
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ontario - Moffett
MSN:
4153
YOM:
1954
Location:
Taft
California
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:
En route from Ontario (California) to Moffett AFB, the crew decided to perform five consecutive stalls. Doing so, the airplane lost 3,000 feet and suffered severe vibrations that caused structural damages to skin, stringers and bulkheads in the aft portions of the fuselage. The pilot requested permission to divert to Taft Airport for an emergency landing but shortly later, the airplane disintegrated in the air and crashed in a mountainous area located 7 miles east of Taft. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight structural failure of the airframe.

Crash of a Martin P5M-1 Marlin at Iwakuni AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Martin P5M-2 Marlin
Operator:
Registration:
130269
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Iwakuni AFB
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Iwakuni AFB, killing 8 of 11 crew members.
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