Crash of a Boeing KC-97G-23-BO Stratotanker in Stephenville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1964 at 0330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
52-0907
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stephenville - Stephenville
MSN:
16601
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Stephenville-Ernest Harmon Airport. Following several circuits, the crew started a night approach to runway 09 with a tailwind component. Apparently due to a wrong approach configuration, the airplane landed too far down the runway. After touchdown, the pilot feathered the propeller on two engines but the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, struck several approach lights and eventually came to rest in a pond located short of runway 27 threshold. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-40-LO Orion off Argentia: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1964 at 1855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
151362
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Argentia - Argentia
MSN:
5075
YOM:
1964
Country:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew departed Argentia NAS for a training mission over the Atlantic Ocean. While in cruising altitude, a generator failed. Few minutes later, a second generator failed as well and the crew decided to return to Argentia NAS for a safe landing. On final approach in marginal weather conditions, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Bay of Placentia, about 6,5 km off shore. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported that a third generator failed during the final approach, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable. The exact cause of the failure of all three generator could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Douglas C-133A-30-DL Cargomaster in Goose Bay: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1964 at 1649 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-2014
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dover – Goose Bay – Sondreströmfjord - Thule
MSN:
45251
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The ill-fated aircraft that crashed was a Douglas C-133A Cargomaster s/n 56-2014 from Military Air Transport Service’s 1st Air Transport Squadron, based at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. It arrived at Goose Bay 01:55 hours local time. After a 15-hour crew rest, they proceeded to depart enroute to Thule Air Base, Greenland with a stop enroute at Sondrestrom Air Base, also in Greenland. They were loaded with meat and other provisions. The first departure attempt was delayed due to a technical issue. The aircraft sat for a period of time without being de-iced before making a second try. At between 120 and 150 feet, the aircraft’s starboard (right) wing suddenly dropped 20 to 30 degrees. The aircraft commander managed to momentarily regain a level attitude. The aircraft then rolled to the left. The port wing dropped even more quickly and was almost vertical. The aircraft commander was unable to do anything. At 16:49 hrs local time, the Cargomaster struck the ground in a left wing down, nose high attitude.
Crew:
1st Lieutenant Guy L. Vassalotti, pilot,
Cpt Charles L. Jenkins, copilot,
Maj Frank X. Hearty, copilot,
1st Lt Douglas H. Brookfield, navigator,
T/Sgt John. A. Kitchens, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Norman H. Baron, flight engineer,
A1c Shelton Toler, loadmaster.
Probable cause:
After an intensive investigation, the accident investigation board determined the primary cause was a power stall. The most probable reason was structural icing of the wing and /or vortex generators that had accumulated ice over the 15-hour layover.

Crash of a Lockheed EC-121K Super Constellation in Gander

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1963
Operator:
Registration:
141329
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gander - Gander
MSN:
4453
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
8444
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight consisting of touch and go manoeuvres. After touchdown, the four engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest, broken in two and with its left wing sheared off. All seven crew members were evacuated safely.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster into the Trinity Bay: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1961 at 0330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
51-17626
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kenitra – Lajes – Argentia – Norfolk
MSN:
43670
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
While approaching Argentia-Bristol Field by night, the four engine aircraft crashed into the Trinity Bay about 50 km northeast of Argentia. In the early morning, few debris were found floating on water and all 23 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft disintegrated in the air, maybe following a major technical issue. Nevertheless, due to the lack of evidence, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune off Cape Race: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
128335
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
426-5181
Country:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful patrol flight over the North Atlantic, the crew was returning to Argentia-Bristol Field NAS when, approaching the coast of Newfoundland in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the ocean. Few debris were found floating on water off Cape Race (southeast part of Newfoundland) and all nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ltjg Billie M. Wertz, pilot,
Ltjg David Hardy, copilot,
Ltjg William T. Flynn, navigator,
Ad2 George P. Smith,
At2 Daniel R. Carlson,
Adr3 Lee Calvin Ashburn,
Ao1 Rocco S. Sallesa,
At1 Stillman Schulze Jr.,
Ams2 Don O. Voland.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II near Stephenville: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1960
Operator:
Registration:
52-1062
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dover – Stephenville – Lajes – Mildenhall
MSN:
43971
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Dover to RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, with intermediate stops at Stephenville and Lajes, carrying a load of mail and medical supplies. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing in low visibility due to fog, the airplane struck a hill (450 feet) located about 10 km from the airfield and was destroyed upon impact. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Donald P. Sheehan, pilot,
Lt Robert E. Little, copilot,
Cpt Gerald E. Avery, pilot,
Lt Leon E. Pedersen, navigator,
Lt Harold G. Harrison, navigator,
M/Sgt Ben A. Sharpe, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Clark N. Orndorff, flight engineer,
M/Sgt Edward T. Retus, flight engineer,
A2c Wallace M. Williams, loadmaster.

Crash of a Lockheed WV-2 Super Constellation at Argentia NAS: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1959 at 2335 LT
Operator:
Registration:
141303
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4427
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a maritime patrol flight over North Atlantic when an engine failed in flight. The crew decided to divert to Argentia NAS for an emergency landing. On touchdown by night, the right wing failed and the aircraft crashed in flames. A passenger was killed while all other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

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

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1959 at 1459 LT
Operator:
Registration:
141332
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4456
YOM:
1957
Country:
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 Lockheed WV-2 Super Constellation off Argentia NAS: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
141294
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Patuxent River - Argentia
MSN:
4418
YOM:
1956
Country:
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.