1956 — July 13, USAF C-118A takeoff crash (2min), windshear, near Brown’s Mills, NJ–46

— 46 Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. USAF Douglas C-118A, 13 Jul 1956.
— 46 Baugher. 1953 USAF Serial Numbers. 10-27-2011 rev.
— 46 Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, pp. 64-65, 70.

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Douglas C-118A Liftmaster….3301 (c/n 44672, 1611th ATW) crashed after takeoff near Brown’s Mills, NJ Jul 13, 1956. 46 of 66 onboard killed.” (Baugher. 1953 USAF Serial Numbers. 10-27-2011 rev.)

Gero:
“Date: 13 July 1956 (c.15:35)
“Location: Near Browns Mills, New Jersey, US
“Operator: US Air Force
“Aircraft type: Douglas C-118A (53-3301A)

“This scheduled Military Air Transport Service 1 (MATS) flight [53-3301A] ended in disaster shortly after the aircraft had taken off from Runway 24 at McGuire Air Force Base, located on the grounds of the Fort Dix Military Reservation, some 20 miles (30km) south-west of Lakewood. Bound for Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland, Canada, the first segment of a transatlantic service with an ultimate destination of England, the four-engine transport had been airborne for approximately 2 minutes before it slammed into a wooded area some 2 miles (3km) from the end of the runway and shattered into pieces, although there was no post- impact fire.

“The crash claimed the lives of 46 persons, including all but two of the aircraft’s 10 Air Force crew members; though mostly comprised of US military personnel, the passengers included six American and British civilians who were among those killed. All 20 survivors suffered serious injuries.

“Shortly before the accident, the weather in the area consisted of thunderstorm activity, with `sheets’ of rain, a ceiling of about 2,000ft (600m) and scattered clouds at 500ft (1.50m), and a visibility of 1 mile (1.5km). The wind was blowing out of the west at 10 knots, gusting to almost 30. Severe down-draughts were believed to have been present, and although no official cause was announced by Air Force authorities, an encounter with one or more of these vertical air currents apparently led to the uncontrolled descent of the aircraft into the ground. The fact that the C-118 had rear-facing passenger seats may have saved lives in this crash.” (Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, pp. 64-65, 70.)

Baugher: On the same day a USAF B-47 Blew a tire on takeoff and crashed at Smokey Hill AFB, KS, exploding and killing the four crewmembers.

“Boeing B-47E-100-BW Stratojet 572 (40th BW, Smokey Hill AFB, KS) Tire blew on takeoff, 0n 13 July 1956. Aircraft went into overrun area and exploded. Four crewmembers killed.”
(Baugher. 1952 USAF Serial Numbers. 10-29-2011 rev.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Accident Description. United States Air Force, Douglas C-118A, 13 Jul 1956. Accessed 2-22-2009 at:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19560713-0

Baugher, Joseph F. 1953 USAF Serial Numbers. Oct 27, 2011 revision. Accessed 1-12-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1953.html

Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.