Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing

Historical safety data and incident record for the Pitcairn PA-6 Mailwing aircraft.

Safety Rating

10/10

Total Incidents

17

Total Fatalities

5

Incident History

American Airways

Conneaut Ohio

While on a night cargo flight from Cleveland to Buffalo, flying into snow falls, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed in an open field located near the shore of Erie Lake. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was uninjured.

Eastern Air Transport

Edgemoor South Carolina

The pilot, sole on board, departed Richmond on a night mail flight to Jacksonville. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to foggy conditions. The pilot got lost and because the aircraft ran out of fuel, the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the airplane that crashed in a pasture. The pilot was found alive.

July 21, 1931 1 Fatalities

American Airways

Centralia Illinois

While on a night mail flight from Saint Louis to Evansville, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. He attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field located in Centralia. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Canadian Airways

Unionvale Prince Edward Island

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Unionvale. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Eastern Air Transport

Laurel Maryland

En route, the pilot encountered icing conditions and the control of the aircraft became hard. The pilot eventually decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture. The airplane was destroyed while the pilot was unhurt.

Eastern Air Transport

Casar North Carolina

En route from Charlotte to Greensboro, the engine failed. As the pilot was unable to attempt an emergency landing, he decided to bail out. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed. The pilot Henry Tyndall 'Dick' Merrill was unhurt.

October 30, 1930 1 Fatalities

Embry Riddle Company

Brookston Indiana

The airplane crashed during a snowstorm. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

July 22, 1930 1 Fatalities

Thompson Aeronautical Corporation

Huron Ohio

The airplane crashed in foggy conditions, killing the pilot, sole on board.

Eastern Air Transport

Hagerstown Maryland

En route, the pilot encountered foggy conditions and due to low visibility, was unable to locate his position. He eventually decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed and the pilot was unhurt.

Thompson Aeronautical Corporation

Mishawaka Indiana

While approaching South Bend, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. As he lost his orientation and was unable to fix his position, he decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. He landed about four miles southeast of Mishawaka, half a mile from where the plane crashed and was destroyed. Two sacks of mail were undamaged. The pilot Albert Hunt "Al" DeWitt was uninjured.

Thompson Aeronautical Corporation

Flint-Bishop Michigan

While cruising at an altitude of 1,000 feet in poor weather conditions (heavy snow falls), the engine failed. The pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a spin and crashed in a field located one mile northeast of Flint. The plane was wrecked but three pouches of mail were saved. The pilot Clifford William March was uninjured.

February 3, 1930 1 Fatalities

Colonial Air Transport

Hartford Connecticut

The pilot was completing a mail flight from Newark to Hartford, Connecticut. While approaching the destination, he failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane impacted the roof of a house and crashed in the Connecticut River. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Colonial Western Airways

Silver Creek New York

While cruising by night, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Pitcairn Aviation

Atlanta Georgia

On approach to Atlanta, the aircraft was too low and collided with the mast of radio antenna. Out of control, it crashed in a field located in Fort McPherson, north of the airport. The pilot Rushton Sidney 'Sid' Molloy was killed.

Pitcairn Aviation

Jetersville Virginia

En route, the pilot decided to abandon the aircraft due to a fuel exhaustion and bailed out. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in an uninhabited area. The pilot was found alive.

Eastern Air Transport

Blue Plains Washington DC

On approach to Washington DC Airport, the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in Blue Plains when the airplane hit a fence and crashed. The pilot was injured and the airplane was destroyed.

International Airways of Canada

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Quebec

Few minutes after takeoff from Montreal, while flying in poor weather conditions, the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a pasture located about 5 km north of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was injured.

Safety Profile

Reliability

Reliable

This rating is based on historical incident data and may not reflect current operational safety.

Primary Operators (by incidents)

Eastern Air Transport5
Thompson Aeronautical Corporation3
American Airways2
Pitcairn Aviation2
Canadian Airways1
Colonial Air Transport1
Colonial Western Airways1
Embry Riddle Company1
International Airways of Canada1