1942 — July 1, USAAF C-49 structural failure in thunderstorm, crash, ~Premier, WV– 21
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 6-9-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 21 Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-50027 to 42-57212). 11-7-2011 rev.
— 21 Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, 20.
— 21 Mireles 2006, Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents in US 1941-1945, Vol. 1, p. 105.
— 21 WV Div Culture, History. WV Archives. “On This Day in WV History…[July 1, 1942].”
— 21 Welch Daily News (WV). “Identify 17 Army Plane Dead,” July 2, 1942.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Douglas C-49E….56093 DST-217 c/n 1976 ex NC18144. To USAAF Jun 08, 1942. Crashed in thunderstorm near Premier, WVa Jul 1, 1942. 21 killed.” (Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-50027 to 42-57212). 11-7-2011 rev.)
Gero: “Date: 1 July 1942 (c.12:00)….
“The twin-engine transport [42-56093] crashed and burned about 5 miles…south-west of Welch, and all 21 American servicemen aboard, including the two-member flight crew, perished. Having taken off earlier from Battle Creek [Kellogg Field], Michigan, on a domestic flight to Florence, South Carolina, the aircraft was to have landed at Lunken Field, Cincinnati, Ohio, an en-route stop.
“Following three unsuccessful attempts,[1] the C-49 began a fourth approach, at an excessive speed and with its flaps retracted, and as the pilot evidently tried to force the landing, it ‘ballooned’ [bounced] about 20 ft…into the air, the dropped back onto the runway and bounced before power was applied. The aircraft then proceeded on towards its ultimate destination [Florence, SC]…
“Shortly before the crash [near Premier, WV]…42-56093 was observed flying in and out of a layer of low clouds in an area of thunderstorm activity, yawing with one power plant apparently surging. Plunging out of the overcast in a near-vertical dive, it then pulled up and leveled off at a height of approximately 800 ft…at which time both wing tips and the outer sections of both ailerons broke off, followed by the starboard wing and engine and both stabilizers and corresponding elevators. The C-49 then went into a spin and plummeted into a wooded ravine.[2]
“According to the investigative report, the pilot exercised ‘very poor’ flying technique and judgment in subjecting the aircraft to severe, abnormal shock loads in the baulked landing at Cincinnati, and then in continuing the flight without setting down to inspect for possible damage. Subsequently, he proceeded into questionable weather conditions, with turbulence, trying to fly visually and alternating to instrument procedures through an area where the ceiling was low.
“Prior to the accident, he apparently became lost and circled in the vicinity of Welch in an attempt to land or re-orientate himself.
“It was concluded that the transport had suffered damage at the wing root fittings and wing structure in both the initial hard landing and from the reversed loads experienced in the bounce. The surging power plant, which may have been related to carburetor icing, coupled with the turbulent air, which led to torsional vibration and created flutter, probably contributed to the failure of the wing that was ultimately overstressed during the pull-up maneuver. It was noted in the report that the atmospheric conditions were conducive to such icing, and that the carburetors installed on 42-56093 had shown potentially dangerous characteristics if allowed to ice. Had the engine been subjected to a long period of surging, with backfiring and alternate cutting in and out of full power, it could have shifted the counterweight, creating a misalignment of the crankshaft, resulting in rough running or vibration that could have led to the in-flight break-up, particularly if combined with turbulence or mishandling by the crew.
“Heavy loading was an additional factor in the accident, and for that reason one of the recommendations made in the investigative report called for the specification of loading charts and rules for individual aircraft, a procedure that would later become a regular practice in transport flying.” (Gero 1999, 20-21)
Mireles: “Newspaper accounts of the crash reported that “thousands” of local residents arrived in the area to view the crash scene…. On 7-4-42, a mass service with military escorts and a rifle salute was held for the victims at the Norfolk and Western Railroad Station at Welch, West Virginia, before the bodies were removed to their respective hometowns.” (Mireles 2006, Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents in US. Vol. 1, 106.)
Newspaper
July 1, Welch Daily News, WV: “An eleventh body was reported to have been removed from the wreckage of the air liner which crashed this afternoon near Premier. At least 10 men, all believed personnel of the United States Army Air Corps, were killed and their bodies burned beyond recognition early this afternoon when what was believed to be an American Airlines flagship crashed and burned about a half a mile from Premier.
“State Troopers Earl Yeager and Tom Harrison of the Welch state police detachment said 10 charred bodies had been taken from the wreckage. Articles found about the burning plane, they said, were from U. S. Army equipment. The bodies were removed from the wreckage and placed nearby under police guard, as others were sought.
“The troopers said there was a possibility the death toll would be even higher as reports had been received what appeared to be men jumping from the plane. This indicated that some of the men may have attempted to parachute to safety, but it was believed the plane was too low for a successful leap and that any such attempts would prove fatal….
“Names of at least two air fields were found on articles taken from the wreckage, but these were withheld. The plane fell about three miles southwest of Welch and a half a mile from Premier in what is known as No. 4 hollow.
“Several persons at Premier and Coalwood saw the big airliner disappear. It was traveling in a southwest direction and passed over about the center of Coalwood. James R. Moreau, editor of the Coalwood-Caretta News, said he saw the plane flying at not more than 500 feet as it passed over Coalwood. He said he later saw smoke coming from it and then the wing fall off. It was raining hard at the time and there was a heavy low fog, witnesses reported….
“The pilot’s maintenance report found near or in the wreckage revealed that the plane was a flagship of American Airlines. Since most airline transport planes have been taken over by the army, it was presumed the plane was being used for transport duty by the army and that all on board was army air corps personnel.” (Welch Daily News, WV. “Airliner Falls Near Premier;” 7-1-1942.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-50027 to 42-57212). Nov 7, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-15-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_3.html
Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 1: Introduction, January 1941 – June 1943). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006
Welch Daily News, WV. “Airliner Falls Near Premier; 10 Bodies Recovered from Charred Wreckage.” July 1, 1942. At: http://www.wvculture.org/history/disasters/mcdowellplanecrash01.html
Welch Daily News, WV. “Identify 17 Army Plane Dead; Investigation of Crash Near Premier Begun.” July 2, 1942. At: http://www.wvculture.org/history/disasters/mcdowellplanecrash02.html
West Virginia Division of Culture and History. West Virginia Archives & History. “On This Day in West Virginia History…[July 1, 1942].” Accessed at: http://www.wvculture.org/history/thisdayinwvhistory/0701.html
[1] “On the pilot’s first attempt to land the C-49, he approached with landing gear and flaps down but was misaligned with the runway. On the second and third landing attempts, the airplane approached with the gear and flaps down but the pilot overshot the field both times and went around.” (Mireles 2006, V.1, p. 105)
[2] “The C-49 plunged to the ground, striking trees on the top of a ridge nose first then careening down a wooded ravine sloped about 50 degrees, coming to rest inverted at the base of a mountain on the opposite side of the ravine about 350 feet from the point of initial impact. The airplane immediately caught fire.” (Mireles 2006, V.1, p. 105)