55-4643
Flight / Schedule
55-4643
Aircraft
Rockwell Aero Commander 560Registration
55-4643
MSN
560-0261
Year of Manufacture
1955
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFDate
November 18, 1956 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Potomac Heights Maryland
Region
North America • United States of America
Coordinates
38.5999°, -77.1347°
Narrative Report
On November 18, 1956 at 12:00 AM, 55-4643 experienced a crash involving Rockwell Aero Commander 560, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Potomac Heights Maryland.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 66.7%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
Went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the Potomac River off Potomac Heights, Maryland. A crew member was rescued while both other occupants were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration 55-4643, MSN 560-0261, year of manufacture 1955.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.5999°, -77.1347°.
Fatalities
Total
2
Crew
2
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
Went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the Potomac River off Potomac Heights, Maryland. A crew member was rescued while both other occupants were killed.
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
66.7%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
North America • United States of America
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The single engine airplane departed Dayton-McCook Field for a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing both occupants. Crew: Maj Oscar Brindley, Lt Col Henry Damm.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
Lt. Frank Stuart Patterson, son and nephew of the co-founders of National Cash Register, is killed in the crash of his DH.4M, AS-32098, at Wilbur Wright Field during a flight test of a new mechanism for synchronizing machine gun and propeller, when a tie rod breaks during a dive from 15,000 feet (4,600 m), causing the wings to separate from the aircraft. Wishing to recognize the contributions of the Patterson family (owners of NCR) the area of Wright Field east of Huffman Dam (including Wilbur Wright Field, Fairfield Air Depot, and the Huffman Prairie) is renamed Patterson Field on 6 July 1931, in honor of Lt. Patterson.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The crew was completing a training mission. At an altitude of about 4,000 feet, the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field near Everman-Barron Field Airport. A crew was killed and the second occupants was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
U.S. Air Mail Service
De Havilland DH.4
Crashed following an engine failure. Pilot fate unknown.
United States Signal Corps - USSC
De Havilland DH.4
The accident occurred in unknown circumstances.