Crash of a Douglas C-47B-50-DK near Hobart Mills: 26 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1946 at 1145 LT
Operator:
Registration:
45-1085
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Stockton – Sacramento – Ogden
MSN:
17088/34355
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
While flying at an altitude of 7,200 feet, the twin engine aircraft lost a part of its right wing and the empennage failed as well. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the Donner State Park, west of Hobart Mills. All 26 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard K. Young, pilot,
1st Lt Louis N. Duesing, copilot,
Sgt Antone J. Esgro, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Lyle C. Dykes,
Richard O. Ehlers,
Cpt Donald A. Bride,
Raymond L. Schneider,
Lt L. S. Stark,
Floyd R. Sundgren,
Lt Col Clyde M. Taylor,
1st Lt Ervin P. Cue,
Maurice L. Bose,
Charles R. Branass,
Pvt Glenn P. Dickerson,
Cpl William T. Woodhouse,
Pasqual Iuluicci,
Melvin S. Van Riper,
Lt Frank W. Davis,
Ens Gino C. Caletti,
Stephen R. Kirsch,
Gerald P. Udell,
Robet A. McGee,
Lt John C. Shaw,
1st Lt James E. Milton,
2nd Lt Richard F. Simpson,
Pvt Willie B. Wilson.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a structural failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-227B near Pine Valley: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1946 at 0812 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC21799
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
New York – Nashville – Dallas – El Paso – Tucson – San Diego
MSN:
2203
YOM:
1940
Flight number:
AA6103
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Captain / Total flying hours:
6973
Captain / Total hours on type:
1423.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3300
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1000
Aircraft flight hours:
16322
Circumstances:
At 0559LT, the aircraft departed Tucson and routine position reports were subsequently received from the flight over Casa Grande, Gila Bend, and Yuma, Arizona. At 0754, the American Airlines radio operator at San Diego transmitted the 0750 weather report for San Diego: Indefinite ceiling 1,200 feet, broken clouds; visibility 8 miles. Receipt of this information was acknowledged by flight 6103 and immediately thereafter the flight reported that it had been over El Centro, California, at 0753 at 3,000 feet. Los angels Airway Traffic Control delivered a clearance for Flight 6103 to American Airlines radio station at San Diego clearing the flight to San Diego to cruise at 8,000 feet and to cross San Diego at an altitude of at least 500 feet above the overcast. The company station, in turn, attempted to relay the Airway Traffic Control clearance to the flight at 0812, however, after several attempts at establishing contact with the flight, Airway Traffic Control was advised that the clearance as not delivered. All further attempts to contact the flight were unsuccessful. Routine search procedures were initiated immediately and at 1305 aircraft of the Naval Air Control Center at San Diego reported sighting the wreckage of the airplane was spotted on the east slope of Thing Mountain, some 10 miles southeast of Pine Valley. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in descending or permitting a descent to be made, into instrument conditions to an altitude below that required to maintain clearance over Thing Mountain. The reason for the descent has not been determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American CB-25J Mitchell off Malibu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
44-30047
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Los Angeles
MSN:
136-34372
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following several modifications, the aircraft was completing a test flight for a CAA certification and was carrying a NAA research engineer, one pilot and a CAA inspector. After its departure from Los Angeles-Mine Field, the twin engine aircraft flew to the northwest when an engine caught fire in flight. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the sea and crashed few miles off Malibu. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Joseph E. Barton, pilot,
Albon C. Cowles Jr., research engineer.
Passenger:
Mr. McCutcheon, CAA inspector.
Source: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b25_20.html
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Auburn: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1945 at 1715 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-16374
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Davis Monthan – Palm Springs – McClellan
MSN:
20840
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
115
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Palm Springs in VFR conditions but while approaching the Sacramento area, the crew should continue in IFR mode. While descending to McClellan AFB, pilots were unable to locate the airport and were unaware of their exact position when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on a wooded mountain located three miles northwest of Auburn, about 20 miles northeast of the McClellan AFB. All three crew members and six passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-1-CU Commando near Upland: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-5190
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Norton - Reno
MSN:
26392
YOM:
943
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Norton AFB, in San Bernardino, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the west slope of Mt Baldy at a height of 10,064 feet. The wreckage was found a day later and all four occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, visibility was poor due to low clouds and precipitations.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off San Diego: 13 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59185
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
North Island - North Island
MSN:
59185
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While performing a night training mission off San Diego, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the sea and sank. There were no survivors.
Probable cause:
Investigators reported that the loss of control could be the consequence of a faintness or vertigo on part of the pilot in command. Nevertheless, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Grumman JRFG-5 Goose in San Diego: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
37795
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
San Diego - San Diego
MSN:
B048
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight while flying at low height, the seaplane (ski equipped) hit power cables and crashed into the Mission Gorge near the Mission Dam. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Cpt G. D. Ferrin,
Acmc F. S. Rakovic.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Gold Run: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1945 at 2337 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-107339
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Reno – Long Beach
MSN:
27026
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Reno on a high level training flight bound for Long Beach, California. Enroute, weather conditions worsened and the captain decided to return to Reno. Few minutes later, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in the American River Canyon located in Gold Run. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. There are conflicting versions about the reason of occurrence as one revealed that the loss of control was caused by an explosion in the right wing and the separation of both wings shortly later, and the second version mentioned a fire in the cockpit.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Cordelia: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1945 at 0005 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-16383
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
McClellan – San Rafael
MSN:
20849
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after midnight, while cruising in low visibility, the twin engine aircraft hit a ridge and crashed in a canyon located 3,5 miles southwest of Cordelia. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Pvt Harry S. Cooper,
1st Lt Glen K. Dorsey,
1st Lt Francis E. Reagan.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in San Francisco: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48416
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
San Francisco - San Francisco
MSN:
1778
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San Francisco, while climbing, the seaplane hit a mountain slope and crashed. Two crew members were seriously injured while seven others were killed.