Lockheed L-1649 Starliner

Trans American Leasing - TAL

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Lima to Montevideo, carrying a load of cigarettes and whiskey. En route, the crew encountered problems with the engine number two and elected to return to Lima when the engine number one caught fire shortly later. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a desert area located near Isluga, near the Chili-Bolivia border. Upon landing, the left wing was torn off and the airplane came to rest, broken in two. All three crew members were uninjured.

Six T Ranch

The Lockheed L-1649A Starliner cargo plane was damaged beyond repair when the aircraft hit trees after take off at night on a contraband flight from Zanderij Airport, Paramaribo, Surinam in late 1968 or early 1969. A leading edge was damaged and no.2 engine caught fire. It manage to return to the airport and was abandoned there. The contraband consisted of cigarettes or other consumer goods in order to evade import taxes.

Fly by Night Safaris

After liftoff at McCarran Airport, while in initial climb, the crew raised the landing gear when two engines suffered a simultaneous loss of power. The captain initiated an immediate landing and the airplane belly landed on the runway and slid for few dozen yards before coming to rest. All 104 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Willair International Airlines

The crew was completing a local training flight at Stockton Airport, California. Following several uneventful circuits, the crew initiated a new approach. On final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the right main gear struck a blast pad located 102 feet short of the runway threshold and was torn off. The airplane partially belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. While all 11 occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aerocondor de Colombia - Aerovias Condor

The aircraft, which was on wet lease from Passaat Ltd., Miami, U.S.A., to Aerocondor de Colombia, was on a non-scheduled international flight from Miami International Airport, U.S.A., to Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, Colombia. The flight took off from Miami at 2040 hours local time on 17 December and proceeded normally. At 0240 hours local time, on 18 December, it reported over the Bogotá VOR at 12,000 feet and requested from the Air Route Traffic Control Centre authorization to change over to frequency 118.1 mcs and to contact El Dorado Control Tower. This was granted and communications were established with the Control Tower. The flight was given a QNH of 30.14 in. Hg. and was cleared for landing on Runway 12; however, it requested permission to land on Runway 30. It was then instructed to proceed directly to the inner marker for Runway 12, at 8,895 feet (elevation of the airport was 8,364 feet) and if visual to make a circling approach to Runway 30. There were fog patches on and in the vicinity of the aerodrome. The tower communications tape recording revealed that the flight reported proceeding inbound to Runway 12 and that it was instructed to continue its approach to Runway 12 as the fog appeared to be thinning out in that direction. Shortly thereafter the tower asked "how is visibility in the direction of 12" and the flight replied "It is a little better, I think we can make it in a second". At 0753 hours GMT the flight requested permission to land and the tower replied 'I... correct, cleared to land if you can do so, lights are at maximum intensity, let us know if it is necessary to reduce them'. The flight advised the lights were OK and reported on final approach. It was cleared to land and was advised again that the wind was calm and the QNH was 30.14 in. Hg. It acknowledged the message by "Thanks". Some 10 to 20 sec. later an explosion was heard and the control tower called the flight several times in vain. The fire crews were immediately alerted and directed to the threshold of Runway 12. They reported that the wreckage of the aircraft was some 10 to 20 m before the threshold of Runway 12. Four crew members and 13 passengers were killed while 42 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Federal Aviation Administration - FAA

The aircraft was deliberately crashed on takeoff at Deer Valley Airport for a FAA experimental program. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft hit several obstacles and eventually crashed onto a hill, broken in three. Both wings and all four engine were sheared off at impact. Special thanks to Chris Baird - www.arizonawrecks.com

Trans Atlantica Argentina - TAA

On approach to Santos Dumont Airport in Rio, the four engine aircraft was too low and struck a seawall located short of runway threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane crash landed and came to rest after a course of one km. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Air France

While cruising by night at an altitude of 20,000 feet vertical to the Sahara Desert, the airplane disintegrated in the air and crashed in a desert area located in the east part of Algeria, at the border with Libya. The crew was unable to send any distress call. The debris were scattered on a wide area between Ghadamès (Libya) and Zarzaïtine, Algeria. All 78 occupants were killed in the crash. Crew: Mr. Bouchier, pilot, Mr. Best, copilot, Mr. Baylion, navigator, Mr. Guntz, radio operator, Mr. Gambart de Lignières, mechanic, Mr. Burgaut, mechanic, Mrs. Chiapolino, stewardess, Mr. Eichelberger, steward, Mr. Pasqueron, steward.

Trans World Airlines - TWA

About fifteen minutes after it departed Milan-Malpensa Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. It is believed the airplane was hit by lightning when the right wing broke off shortly later. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a field located 32 km northwest of Milan. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 68 occupants have been killed. More info on https://www.olgiateolona26giugno1959.org/cra_e.html