44-62078
Flight / Schedule
44-62078
Aircraft
Boeing B-29 SuperfortressRegistration
44-62078
MSN
11555
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFDate
December 7, 1951 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Lajes Azores Islands
Region
Europe • Portugal
Crash Cause
Weather
Narrative Report
On December 7, 1951 at 12:00 AM, 44-62078 experienced a crash involving Boeing B-29 Superfortress, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Lajes Azores Islands.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
16 people were known to be on board, 16 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 16, crew fatalities: 16, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is weather. Shortly after takeoff from Lajes Airbase, while in initial climb, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. No survivors was found among the 16 occupants who were returning home for Christmas after a three month period of training in England. The airplane was performing a flight from UK to Florida with an intermediate stop in Lajes, Azores Islands, for refueling.
Aircraft reference details include registration 44-62078, MSN 11555, year of manufacture 1944.
Fatalities
Total
16
Crew
16
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
Shortly after takeoff from Lajes Airbase, while in initial climb, the heavy bomber went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. No survivors was found among the 16 occupants who were returning home for Christmas after a three month period of training in England. The airplane was performing a flight from UK to Florida with an intermediate stop in Lajes, Azores Islands, for refueling.
Cause: Weather
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
16
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 16
Operational Details
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
Europe • Portugal
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Portuguese Air Force - Aeronáutica Militar
Tellier T.3
The seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea off Cascais, killing both crew members.
Portuguese Air Force - Aeronáutica Militar
Breguet 14
The crew was completing a training flight when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Barcarena. All three occupants were killed.
Portuguese Air Force - Aeronáutica Militar
Avro 504
The crew was completing a local training flight out from Lisbon-Alverca Airport. Shortly after takeoff, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. Both crew members were killed. Crew: Lt Ferreira de Brito, Cpl Castro e Silva.
Portuguese Air Force - Aeronáutica Militar
Avro 504
The single engine airplane was approaching the Granja do Marquês AFB in Sintra when it crashed in unknown circumstances. Both occupants, Lt Almicar Alvarenca Passo and the passenger, Doctor Alf José de Azevedo Reis were killed.
Heinkel Flugzeuge
Heinkel He.6
The crew was performing a flight from Rostock to Newfoundland on behalf of the German manufacturer Heinkel Flugzeugbau. The aircraft departed Warnemünde harbor (north of Rostock) at 1221LT on 12OCT1927 and made several intermediate stops en route: Brunsbüttel on 12OCT, Wilhelmshaven on 13OCT, Amsterdam on 14OCT, Vigo on 16OCT, Lisbon on 18OCT and Horta on 04NOV. After few days on Faial Island, the crew decided to continue his trip to Canada and started on the night of 12 to 13 of November. Two takeoff attempts were abandoned due to unfavorable winds, and during the third attempt, while climbing, the aircraft crashed in the sea, in the harbor of Horta. While all three occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed. Crew: Captain Horst Mertz, pilot, Willem Bock, radio navigator, Fritz Rohde, engineer.
L'Aéropostale
CAMS 51
The seaplane named 'La Frégate' crashed while taking off from the Horta Bay for unknown reasons. While both crew members were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was on its way from Brest, France, to New York.