Lockheed 5 Vega
Safety Rating
9.9/10Total Incidents
56
Total Fatalities
54
Incident History
L. Mauldin
The single engine aircraft was carrying two people who were flying to Brownsville to take part to an airshow. The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances and both occupants were injured.
Private Mexican
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Torréon to Los Mochis, carrying a load of three tons of shrimp according to various sources. While approaching Los Mochis Airport, the single engine airplane crashed in a field, injuring all three occupants. If the total weight of the cargo is confirmed to be three tons, this should remains a major issue as the Lockheed Vega MTOW certification is just above two tons.
Alaska Coastal Airlines
Alaska Coastal Airlines, a scheduled air carrier, is authorized to conduct operations throughout southeastern Alaska. On January 15, 1958, Captain Fred B. Sheldon departed from Juneau to fly Trip 40. Scheduled stops were planned at Angoon, Hood Bay, Baranof, Rodgers Point, Tenakee, and the flight was to terminate at the point of origin, Juneau. Weather reports for the area indicated conditions to be generally good, enabling the flight to be conducted according to visual flight rules. Ceilings were forecast to be 2,000 to 3,000 feet and winds near the surface were anticipated to be moderate and generally southwesterly. At least one mountain pass over the route was reported closed because of clouds. The gross takeoff weight of the aircraft at Juneau was calculated to be 5,237 pounds, approximately 4 pounds less than the maximum allowable. The load was correctly distributed within the center of gravity limitations. Flight 40 departed Juneau at 1301 and was routine to Angoon. After refueling, the flight continued uneventfully to Hood Bay, Baranof, Rodgers Point; arriving at Rodgers Point about 1520. About 1530, after the takeoff from Rodgers Point, a radio operator there advised the station agent at Tenakee (the next intended en route stop) that flight 40 was off the water and would need 20 gallons of fuel when it arrived. At approximately 1557 the agent at Tenakee heard a distress call from flight 40 over the radio. The pilot called “Mayday” and stated he was trying to make it to the flats in Kadashan Bay. The agent then called Flight 40 by radio asking its position. Sheldon’s final message was “ . . . the flats across from Tenakee.” Immediately thereafter the aircraft crashed. Both passengers were injured while the pilot was killed.
Private Mexican
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both occupants. The single engine aircraft was owned by A. Brito.
Lineas Aéreas Mexicanas - LAMSA
Crashed in unknown circumstances in 1946. The exact date and the occupant fate remains unknown.
Private American
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot and injuring all three passengers.
Lineas Aéreas Mexicanas - LAMSA
Crashed on landing at Durango Airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all five occupants were injured.
Amazonia Comercio e Industria
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Boaco, some 80 km northeast of Managua. Occupant fate unknown. Registered to J. Angel & J. Baker but operated by Amazonia Comercio e Industria de Nicaragua.
Alaska Airlines
In unknown circumstances, the single engine aircraft crashed in the region of the Kuskokwim River. While the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire, all five occupants, a pilot and four passengers, were injured.
Lineas Aéreas Mineras - LAMSA
Crashed in unknown circumstances.
Lineas Aéreas Mineras - LAMSA
During the take-off roll, an undercarriage failed. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest. Both occupants were able to leave the cabin and were uninjured. The aircraft caught fire and was destroyed.
Compañia Aeronautica Francisco Sarabia SA - CAFSSA
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown as well.
Lineas Aéreas Mineras - LAMSA
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.
Private American
The aircraft was owned by L. Ingalls who was in command at the time of the accident. On landing, the aircraft lost a gear and went out of control before coming to rest, broken in two. The pilot was slightly injured.
Compañia Aeronautica Francisco Sarabia SA - CAFSSA
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.
Compañia Aeronautica Francisco Sarabia SA - CAFSSA
Crashed in unknown circumstances.
United Air Services - USA
The single engine aircraft christened 'Honeymoon Express' was owned by Paul Mantz (pilot) and used for cinematography. With two photographer on board, he was completing some maneuver for the movie 'Only Angels Have Wings' with Cary Grant. While landing, the aircraft hit the ground violently, went out of control and came to rest upside down. A photographer was killed while both other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Lineas Aéreas Mineras - LAMSA
For unknown reason, the pilot took off from a taxiway. Shortly after rotation, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. All five passengers, LAMSA employees, were injured while the pilot Miguel Angel Padilla was killed. It appears that the flight was not granted.
Lineas Aéreas Occidentales
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.
Private American
The pilot and owner Joseph Costa was taking part to a rally from Rio de Janeiro to Portugal. While overflying State of Minais Gerais, technical problems forced the pilot to make an emergency landing. Pilot was unhurt while the single engine aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Blue Bird Air Service
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Naperville, in the suburb of Chicago, killing all four on board.
Varney Air Transport - VAT
En route, while flying some 30 miles south of Pueblo, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed against a hill. All three occupants were killed.
Braniff Airways
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Fort Worth Airport. The pilot was killed.
Varney Air Transport - VAT
While approaching Rattlesnake Butte at a height of 150 feet, the pilot decided to overfly the school of the village to drop a letter for the children. While completing a right turn, the aircraft lost altitude and the right wing hit the ground. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed. The pilot was killed.
Braniff Airways
The pilot was performing a night mail flight from Kansas City to Chicago. While approaching Columbia, he encountered icing conditions and decided to make an emergency landing. The airplane went out of control and crashed in a open field near a road. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Alaska Southern Airways
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Pinta Bay. The aircraft named 'Baranof' was lost, one passenger was killed and three other occupants were injured.
Transcontinental %26 Western Air - TWA
Crashed following an inflight brake up, maybe caused by a structural failure. Occupant fate unknown. The aircraft was a DL-1, a duralumin version of the Vega 5C.
Skyloft
En route from Atlantic City to Washington DC, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. While trying to avoid a storm, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a marshy area located about 5 km southeast of Leipsic. The pilot Harold E. McMahon was killed.
Shell Aviation
While taxiing at high speed at Seattle-Boeing Field, the airplane suffered a head-on collision with another aircraft. All four occupants in both aircraft were injured.
W. N. Gregory
En route from Augusta to St Louis, the single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a field, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.
Crosley Radio Corporation
The American aviator Ruth Nichols was attempting a new solo transatlantic flight from New York to Paris on this Lockheed 5 Vega named 'Akita' and owned by the Crosley Radio Corporation. Shortly after takeoff from Floyd Bennett Field in New York, the airplane lost height and crashed. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was uninjured.
James Joseph Mattern
The crew was attempting a world tour from the US via Russia. While overflying Belarus, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane landed hard, causing a part from the cockpit panel to separate. Control was lost and the airplane crashed. Both occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Some parts were used to built another Lockheed Vega with MSN 118.
Braniff Airways
En route from Kansas City to Chicago, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. The crew decided to divert to Kewanee for an emergency landing. On approach, the airplane impacted the roof of a barn and crashed. Two passengers were killed and four other occupants were injured.
Braniff Airways
After takeoff from Chicago Airport, while climbing to a height of 700 feet, the engine failed. The crew elected to return and initiated a turn to the right when the airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
B.F. Goodrich Company
The crew was performing a local test flight when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Vineland. While both occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
United States Army Air Corps - USAAC
The crew departed Long Beach bound for the east coast to establish a new west-east record. While cruising over Kentucky, the engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in Tolu. While both occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Wedell-Williams Air Services
En route from Dallas to New Orleans, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions when the aircraft crashed in Marshall, TX. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. Crew: Arthur C. Brown, pilot, Everett Williams, mechanic. Passenger: Robert Wilton.
Texas Pipe Line Company
Crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Alaska Washington Airways
The aircraft departed Vancouver to take part to a SAR mission following the disappearance of a Ryan B-5 Brougham operated by the Canadian Aerial Explorations that crashed in north BC last October 10. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances, killing all three occupants.
Alaska Washington Airways
En route from Seattle to Victoria, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing after the engine caught fire. He was able to land on a beach located near Kingston. The single engine airplane named 'Taku II' flipped over and came to rest, bursting into flames. All six occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
John Henry Mears
The crew was attempting a world tour when the aircraft crashed on takeoff in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. Both pilots John Henry Mears and Harry Brown were injured and the aircraft named 'City of New York' was damaged beyond repair.
Cross Airways
Few minutes after takeoff from Port Aransas Airport, while climbing to a height of 4,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Aransas Pass, some 10 miles northwest of Port Aransas Airport. All five occupants were killed. They were returning to Kansas City following a fishing trip. There was an explosion aboard according to those who saw the accident. The plane did not catch fire, however. Persons who viewed the accident expressed the opinion that lightning struck the plane while flying high, as the aircraft seems to lose a wing before diving into the ground. Crew: Gene Gabbert. Passengers: Murat Boyle, Raymond Watson, Eugene Lynn, Roy Dellano.
Corporación Aeronautica de Transportes
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Monterrey and was destroyed by fire. Occupant fate unknown.
Schlee-Brock Aircraft Corporation - SBAC
On approach to Hamilton following an uneventful flight from Detroit, the single engine airplane crashed in Ancaster, about 7 km northwest of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were injured, the pilot Don Walker seriously.
Texas Worth Tool Company
En route from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth, the pilot encountered poor weather condition with thunderstorm activity. While cruising at low altitude, the engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a pasture located about 8 km north of Alvord. A passenger was injured and all three occupants were killed.
G. R. Boggs
The pilot attempted to land with strong winds. Upon landing, the wing hit an obstacle and the airplane crashed. Both occupants were injured.
Corporación Aeronautica de Transportes
En route from Matamoros to Mexico City and while overflying north of the State of Veracruz, the single engine aircraft hit the Cerro de Carbón located south of Papantla. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed. The aircraft was supposed to be registered XA-BHH but this registration was not taken up at the time of the accident.
Safety Profile
Reliability
Reliable
This rating is based on historical incident data and may not reflect current operational safety.