Western Air Express

Boeing 247

While overflying Saugus at 5,200 feet, aircraft was already 300 feet to low. Pilot tried to contact ATC without any success. Due to low visibility caused by foggy conditions, pilot did not realize he was flying at an insufficient altitude. In a descent rate of 525 feet per minute, the twin engine aircraft hit the Pinetos Peak located near Newhall, north of Burbank. The copilot and four passengers, among them the explorer Martin Johnson, were killed. Crew: William W. Lewis, pilot, Clifford P. Owens, copilot, † Esther Jo Conner, stewardess.

Boeing 247

While approaching Salt Lake City Airport by night and poor weather conditions, crew was unable to establish his real position and was unaware that the aircraft deviated from the approach path to the east. While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet at a speed of 207 miles an hour, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of mount Lone Peak (11,253 feet high) located some 20 miles southeast of the airport. SAR teams were unable to locate the aircraft and all operations were suspended few days later. The debris were eventually found on July 4, 1937. Crew: S. J. Samson, pilot, William L. Bogan, copilot, Gladys Witt, stewardess. Passengers: C. Christopher, Mr. & Mrs. John Wolf, E. W. Edwards.

Boeing 247

Few minutes after take off from Burbank Airport, while climbing at a height of 1,000 feet in foggy conditions, aircraft went out of control, stalled, hit power cables and crashed in flames in a field. All three occupants, two pilots and a stewardess, were killed.

Fokker Super Universal

The pilot, sole on board, departed Trinidad on a cargo flight to Santa Fe. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 800 feet, the engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in an open field. The airplane rolled for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. The pilot evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Fokker Super Universal

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

Fokker F10

Suffered an accident in Lynndyl. There were no casualties.

Boeing 40

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

Fokker F10

The three engine airplane departed Salt Lake City in the evening of December 21 on a cargo flight to Alhambra, carrying one passenger, two crew members and a load of 1,445 pounds of Christmas mail. After landing at Alhambra Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest against a house, bursting into flames. All three occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft, the cargo and the house were totally destroyed by fire. Crew: Bart Cox, George Sherwood.

Stearman C-3

Crashed in unknown circumstances. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Boeing 95

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a night mail flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and while attempting an emergency landing, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a mountainous area located about 20 km west of St George, Utah, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.

Fokker F10

The crew departed Kingman on a ferry flight to Glendale after dropping off their passengers. En route to Grand Central Airport, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to heavy snow falls. The aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Shay located about 30 km northeast of San Bernardino. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found six days later by Dudley Steele, flying a Richfield Oil Company aircraft with Mrs. Juanita E. Burns as observer. The wreckage was spotted about eight miles from Lake Arrowhead. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. Crew: James E. 'Jimmy' Dole, pilot, A. W. Bieber, copilot, John W. Slaton, steward.

Boeing 95

The pilot Maurice Graham was performing a mail flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City with an intermediate stop in Las Vegas. He departed Las Vegas at 2200LT bound for Salt Lake City. While flying at night over the mountains east of Cedar City, Utah, he encountered poor weather conditions with blizzard. At a height of 12,000 feet, the aircraft stalled and crash landed on a mountain slope. The pilot was unhurt and walked away with the mail package. As the aircraft did not arrive in Salt Lake City, SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found. Eventually, Ward Mortenson and Elburn Orton, two youthful sheepherders, found the wreckage of the aircraft on 24 June 1930 some 22 miles south of Cedar City, in the Kanarra Mountains. The dead body of the pilot was found few days later, in July 1930, six miles away from the crash site.

Stearman C-3

While on a mail flight, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to heavy snow falls. While attempting an emergency landing, the airplane impacted power cables and crashed. The pilot was injured.

Fokker F10

Upon landing at Oakland Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Fokker F10

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in New Mexico. There were no casualties.

Stearman C-3

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

Douglas M-4

Crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.