Ford 4

Island Airlines

After takeoff, two of the three engines lost power. The pilot elected to return when the airplane struck power cables and crashed in a field. All three occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Island Airlines

After liftoff from Port Clinton Airport, while on a touristic flight to Put-in-Bay, the right engine lost power. The airplane lost height and crashed by the runway. All 16 occupants were evacuated, a passenger was seriously injured.

Johnson Flying Service

The crew was performing a crop spraying mission at Townsend, Montana. While flying at low height, the left engine lost power and eventually detached. The crew elected to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed. Both occupants were slightly injured while the airplane was written off.

Travelair Taxi

Suffered an accident while taking off from Kelleys Island-Landing Field. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Johnson Flying Service

The crew was completing a crop spraying mission against spruce bud worms. While flying at low height, the three engine aircraft hit power cable and crashed in a field. Both crew members were killed.

Iberia - Lineas Aéreas de Espana

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Spain during the year 1948. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown.

Negociación Aérea Mexicana

During the takeoff roll, the three engine aircraft was caught by strong crosswinds, went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest, broken in two. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Shell Company of Ecuador

On touchdown, the left tyre burst. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the left and crashed on rocks. All three passengers were unhurt while the pilot was killed.

Shell Company of Ecuador

Went out of control on touchdown, nosed over and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Atlantic Airmotive

Crashed on take off from Billings Airport, killing both crew members who were on a delivery flight to the US Army Engineer Corps.

Atlantic Airmotive

Few minutes after take off from Newark, while on a cargo flight, the three engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in West Orange, some 7 miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and the pilot Richard A. Behrens, sole aboard, was killed.

Private American

Owned by H. W. Robinson, the three engine aircraft was on its way to be delivered to Star Airlines. En route, the left engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. On final, the aircraft hit a tree and crashed. While the pilot was seriously injured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Private American

Shortly after take off from Wichita Falls Airport, while climbing, the three engine aircraft crashed in a field located five km east of the aerodrome. There was no casualties but the aircraft owned by B. F. Gregory was destroyed.

Hangar 6

Crashed on landing for unknown reason. No casualties.

White Pass Airways

On landing, the three engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a hangar. While the pilot was unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The cause of the loss of control remains unknown.

Private American

Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot, sole aboard. The aircraft was owned by H. W. Musleh.

Private American

Owned by O. K. Southwick, the three engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Belleville, Illinois. All occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Private American

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

Knowles Flying Services

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of some 75 feet, the right engine failed. Crew decided to return to Flint but during the last turn, the central engine failed as well. Aircraft stalled and crashed near the airport. Two passenger and the pilot Theodore E. Knowles were killed while all other occupants were injured. Theodore E. Knowles was the founder and owner of this local operator.

Private American

Crashed in unknown circumstances. No one was hurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Cubana de Aviación

On approach to Santiago de Cuba, the pilots encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. In rain falls, the three engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located near Palma Soriano, north of Santiago. Both pilots and two passengers were killed. First accident involving Cubana, the national carrier of Cuba, since its creation in 1929. Crew: Torres Navarro, pilot, Emeterio Vorilla, copilot.

Ptarmigan Airlines

Following an uneventful cargo flight, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions upon arrival with strong winds. Upon touchdown, the airplane landed hard, causing the undercarriage to be torn off. The airplane went out of control, came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. Both pilots evacuated safely. The airplane was carrying spare parts for tractors and it is believed that its total weight was within limit upon landing.

Ray Loomis

Suffered an accident in Lima, OH. There were no casualties.

Morgan Air Lines

Shortly after takeoff from Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport, while in initial climb, the three engine airplane collided with power lines, stalled and crashed in a ravine located about 300 metres past the runway end. An Italian passenger tried to escape and jumped out the cabin but fall in the ravine with his kid in his arms. The father was killed and his kid was injured. All 10 other occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is believed that the takeoff was initiated with a tailwind component and the left main wheel or the left wing impacted an electric power line during initial climb. Some debris such as an engine (third image) were found 83 years later by a depth of 65 feet. Crew: Eugene 'Smokey' Rhoads, pilot, Mr. Holmberg, mechanic. Source and photos via Amado Aguiluz Ferrari, Coronel José Alfredo San Martín and Carlos Rosa Mejía.

F. Free

Shortly after takeoff from Managua Airport, while climbing to a height of 2,000 feet, the three engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the Managua Lake, off the capital city. All three occupants, employed by an American oil company, were killed.

J. H. O’Brien

En route from Tulsa to Winnipeg, while cruising south of Topeka, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The pilot reduced his altitude and elected to land in an open field when the aircraft stalled and crashed 11 km south of Neodesha. Both pilots and five passengers were killed. All occupants were members of the Winnipeg Toilers basketball team. Crew: Avlie H. Hakes, pilot, H. E. Eggens, copilot.

Transcontinental %26 Western Air - TWA

Crashed on takeoff from Oklahoma City Airport, while performing a position flight to Amarillo with one engine inoperative. The copilot was killed while the captain was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Pittsburgh Airways

On the evening of Friday 19DEC1930, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to blizzard. He completed an emergency landing in an open field located near Jennerstown, Pennsylvania. The aircraft passed the night in the field and on Saturday morning 20DEC1930, the pilot started all three engines to re-position the aircraft to its base. Shortly after takeoff from the field, at a height of about 10 feet, the right engine failed. The pilot elected to gain height but due to an insufficient speed, the aircraft did not get enough altitude and impacted trees with its right wing. The airplane stalled and crashed on the ground. The pilot evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

New York, Rio %26 Buenos Aires Airlines

Upon landing in Córdoba, the airplane went out of control and came to rest. There were no casualties and the aircraft named 'Rio de la Plata' was damaged beyond repair.

D. A. Seitz

Upon landing at San Marcos Airport, one of the main gear failed. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest. All seven occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Mexicana de Aviación

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, one of the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all five occupants, among them pilot Dennis W. Taylor.

Colonial Western Airways

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 500 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The captain was injured while all 14 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was performing a local sightseeing flight over the area of Newark. Up to date, worst accident within the US.

Stout Air Services

Shortly after takeoff from Toledo Airport, while climbing, a fire erupted in the cabin. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crashed in an open field and came to rest, bursting into flames. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Texaco Petroleum Company

While taking off from Floresville, the three engine airplane stalled and crashed near the runway. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Sunbeam Air Transport Company

Homer D. Ballard, owner of the Sunbeam Air Transport Company, took delivery of this aircraft in San Antonio and was flying back to his base in Denver with one pilot, a garage's employee, his chef and his chauffeur. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and lost control of the aircraft that crashed 10 km north of Spur, Texas. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All five occupants were killed. Crew: Matthew Watson, pilot. Passengers: Homer D. Ballard, Willis Washburn, Mr. Quinten, James O'Banion.

Spokane Airways

The aircraft departed Colfax at 0800LT bound for Spokane. The flight was uneventful until the captain started the approach to Spokane-Felts Field in foggy conditions. The visibility was low and the pilot attempted to land by diving through what appeared to be a 'hole' in the dense fog bank that covered the city. The aircraft hit the ground in the vicinity of the junction of the Palouse highway and Regal street and was destroyed on impact. Rescuers could evacuate a passenger and the mechanic who were seriously injured, while all four other occupants were killed. Few hours later, the mechanic died from his injuries. Crew: William H. Williams, pilot, D. R. Mitchell, mechanic, Louis Norwell de Burger, mechanic. Passengers: J. I. Dunlop, Arthur G. Enarson, Rex Heath.

Stout Air Services

While approaching Detroit Airport, the three engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. All three occupants were injured.

British Columbia Airways - BCA

The three engine airplane departed Vancouver on a flight to Seattle with an intermediate stop in Victoria, carrying five passengers and two crew members. While overflying the Puget Sound, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to this fog. Too low, the airplane hit the water surface some 12 miles south of Port Townsend and sank. All seven occupants were killed.

Ford Air Freight Lines

This cargo flight from Dearborn to Buffalo was the inaugural one. Shortly after takeoff from Dearborn-Ford Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It rolled to the left then hit the ground before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Both occupants William Munn and E. K. Parker were killed.