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Crash of a Curtiss Eagle in Morgantown: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss Eagle
Operator:
Registration:
AS-64243
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Langley – Bolling
Location:
Morgantown
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The ambulance airplane of the 1st Provisional Air Brigade, crashed during a severe thunderstorm attempting to land at Morgantown, Maryland, while returning to Bolling Field, District of Columbia, from Langley Field, Virginia. The pilot, 1st Lt. Stanley M. Ames, and six passengers were killed. Four of the six were Air Service officers and an enlisted man. Two United States congressmen had chosen not to make the flight because of airsickness on the flight from Washington to Langley.
Probable cause:
The Army's Inspector General conducted an investigation of the crash and theorized that the aircraft stalled when it encountered an updraft at low altitude while trying to clear trees near the unfamiliar field and fell vertically, nose first, into the ground.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.12 in Morgantown

Date & Time: May 21, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.12
Operator:
Registration:
AS-62451
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Morgantown
Maryland
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:
The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft was destroyed and there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4M in College Park: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
31704
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
College Park - College Park
Location:
College Park
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The piot, sole on board, was completing a local training flight at College Park Aerodrome, practicing landings. Just after the third takeoff, the right lower wing impacted a wireless tower. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot Robert Gautier was killed.

Crash of a Curtiss R-4LM in Catonsville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1919
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss R-4LM
Operator:
Registration:
32
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Washington DC – New York
Location:
Catonsville
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Catonsville, about 10 km north of the Baltimore Airport. The pilot Lyman W. Doty was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in College Park

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1919
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
110
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
College Park - College Park
Location:
College Park
Maryland
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:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local training flight at College Park Airport. While flying at low height in the vicinity of the airfield, the engine failed. The pilot attempted to return for an emergency landing when, during the last turn, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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