1956 Niles Canyon Douglas R5D-2 crash
 | This article, 1956 Niles Canyon Douglas R5D-2 crash, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
 A smilar Douglas R5D as crashed; pictured in 1956 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 July 1957 |
| Site | Niles Canyon, c. 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Niles, California |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Douglas R5D-2 Skymaster |
| Operator | United States Marine Corps |
| Registration | WC 116 |
| Flight origin | Marine Corps Air Station El Toro |
| Destination | Naval Air Station Alameda |
| Passengers | 35 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 40[1] |
| Survivors | 0 |
On 17 February 1956 a Douglas R5D-2 Skymaster of the United States Marine Corps on route from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California to Naval Air Station Alameda crashed on approach at Niles Canyon, c. 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Niles, California. All 35 marines and 5 crew members died. The board of inquiry by the Marine Corps into the cause of the crash blamed that the flight crew’s made multiple mistakes.[2]
It was the first time this type of aircraft crashed.[3] It was the third major airplane crash at Niles Canyon area within five years after the crash of United Air Lines Flight 615 near Decoto in August 1951 and the crash of an Transocean Air Lines flight near Alvarado in 1953.[2]
Flight and crash
On 17 February 1956 a Douglas R5D-2 Skymaster with BuNo 39116, 'WC 116', of Marine Transport Squadron 152 of the United States Marine Corps departed at 10:30 from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California for a routine flight to Naval Air Station Alameda. Aboard were 40 people: 35 American Marines and five crew members.[2]
After circling for thirty minutes, the pilot contacted Oakland Municipal Airport at 13:42 telling that he was approaching NAS Alameda and was on its descent. However in low overcast and drizzling rain the aircraft crashed at at 13:45 up a steep canyon.[2] Initial reports stated that is was assumed that an explosion occurred in the air.[4] The airplane skimmed over one ridge and strikes into Sunol Ridge on a ranch circa 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Niles, California. The aircraft broke up and burned. Scattering debries and bodies over 300 yards against the canyon walls.[2]
Rescue operation
A photographer of the Oakland Tribune Russ Reed and his pilot Warren Bogges were the first who found the aircraft, when they flew over the crash site shortly after the crash. It took over an hour for rescue workers to reach the crash site. The crash site was located at an altitude of 1300 foot and was on treacherous terrain.[2]
Victims
There was a lack of clarity about who was on board the plane. Several marines had been reported as deceased to their family but came forward as alive. It turned out that the aircraft had the wrong passenger list aboard. The passenger list of aircraft of plane 3 and plane 4 were swapped, due an unknown reason.[2] In addition marine Donald J. Fraser "hitchhiked" a ride on the plane. He had written in a letter the day before the crash that he wouldn't come home for his 22nd birthday because he "had the duty”, but went on the plane at the last moment to surprise his parents.[2]
All forty people on board were killed[2][1], while an initial report stated that four people were able to save themselves with the aid of their parachutes and four others were missing.[3][4]
There were 35 American marines on the aircraft. 34 marines were from Camp Pendleton traveling to Hawaii for an overseas assignment. The other marine was Fraser who was on route to San Francisco to visit his parents.[2]
The crew consisted of pilot major Alexander Watson, co-pilot, first lieutenant Thomas E. Straughan, navigator master sergeant Donald J. Down, flight engineer Terrell M. Young and radioman staff sergeant Harry E. Knight.[2]
Investigation
Lee Housman, the Oakland air traffic controller at the time of the accident told the investigators regarding to the plane: "We brought him down 1,000 feet at a time. Then, at 13:42 he reported he was at 3,500 feet, and we told him to begin his approach. His voice was calm, and everything appeared to be normal.“ Housman said that the plane crashed about six miles northeast of the approach lanes. According to Oakland however, the pilot said in his last communication that he was on the Newark beam on course.[2]
The board of inquiry by the Marine Corps into the cause of the crash blamed that the flight crew’s deviated from the indicated flight path, that they departured from the radio beacon and that they made the descent in an unprescribed manner.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Rampen troffen de wereld". Het huisgezin (in Dutch). 29 December 1956 – via Delpher.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "The Crash of Marine Corps Douglas R5D-2". Check-Six.com.
- ^ a b "Amerikaanse straalbommenwerper neergestort". Twentsch dagblad Tubantia (in Dutch). 17 February 1956 – via Delpher.
- ^ a b "Straalbommenwerper in V.S. verongelukt". Nieuw Utrechtsch dagblad (in Dutch). 17 February 1956 – via Delpher.
External links
- Crash at aviation-safety.net
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1956
Category:1956 in the United States
Category:Accidents and incidents involving military aircraft
Category:February 1956 events in the United States
Category:History of Alameda County, California