Bustleton – Washington DC

On April 10, 1920 at 12:00 AM, Bustleton – Washington DC experienced a crash involving Curtiss R-4LM, operated by U.S. Air Mail Service, with the event recorded near Camden New Jersey.

The flight was categorized as postal (mail) and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The airplane departed Bustleton, PA, on a mail flight to Washington DC, carrying one passenger and one pilot. While cruising at an altitude of 1,700 feet, the engine caught fire. The pilot reduced his altitude to attempt an emergency landing but at a height of about 200 feet, the passenger jumped out the aircraft and fell into the ground. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. While the pilot escaped unhurt, the passenger died from his injuries few hours later.

Aircraft reference details include registration 49.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 39.9448°, -75.1199°.