Country

Crash of a Lockheed L-749A Constellation in Topham: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1962 at 1213 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N116A
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Topham - Topham
MSN:
2611
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
5867
Captain / Total hours on type:
3911.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8353
Copilot / Total hours on type:
524
Aircraft flight hours:
41481
Circumstances:
A Lockheed Constellation, Model L-749A, N 116A, owned by the United States Government and operated by the Federal Aviation Agency, crashed following a local training flight at Topham Field, Canton Island, April 26, 1962, at 1213 local time. All four FAA crew members were fatally injured. One of the two passengers, not an FAA employee, was also fatally injured. The other, an FAA physician, was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The purpose of the flight was to train the copilot in various maneuvers and flight configurations prior to being tested for an Airline Transport Pilot Rating, and to train a flight maintenance technician as a flight engineer.
Probable cause:
The Board finds that the probable cause of the accident was loss of control during an attempted go-around following initial touchdown, as the result of an undetected reversal of No. 4 propeller.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL on Tarawa Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
41-18530
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4622
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
At least one crew member was killed when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances on the Tarawa Island.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL near Topham: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
43-30739
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Topham - Topham
MSN:
13890
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local trip around Canton Island following maintenance. While flying along the shore at a too low altitude (about 30 feet), the aircraft hit a tree with its right wing that was partially sheared off. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed in flames some 400 metres further on. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/Sgt Walter W. Gebhardt,
2nd Lt George W. Gee,
2nd Lt John A. Harcharik Jr.,
Cpl Charles H. Lohman,
2nd Lt William A. Prater,
T/Sgt Leslie A. Roberts Jr.,
Pfc Joseph F. Scogna,
2nd Lt Morris M. Steinberg 1.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87-CF Liberator Express off Topham: 18 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1943 at 2100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-23903
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
698
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
On final approach to Topham Airfield (Canton Island), by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in to the sea few hundred yards off shore. 18 occupants were killed while three others were rescued. The flight was operated by a United Airlines crew on behalf of the Air Transport Command (ATC).
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
It was deemed possible that an asymmetric flap deployment caused the accident.