Big Bear Lake – Glendale

On June 18, 1933 at 07:15 PM, Big Bear Lake – Glendale experienced a crash involving Stearman C-3, operated by Harry Sweet, with the event recorded near Big Bear Lake California.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Harry Sweet departed Glendale on a flight to Big Bear Lake to scout filming locations. At Big Bear Lake, he was supposed to meet a friend who failed to show up, so he took off at dusk to return to Glendale. After takeoff, he made a low pass over the lake at a height of about 40 feet when the engine failed. The airplane nosed down and crashed into the lake. All three occupants were killed. Crew: Harry Sweet, pilot and actor. Passengers: Vera Williams, aka Claudette Ford, actress, Howard Davitt, writer.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC6488, MSN 185, year of manufacture 1928.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 34.2441°, -116.9102°.