1966 — Dec 20, Executive Aviation Lodestar out of San Fran., CA crash ≈San Felipe, MX–10

–10 AP. “Search for Missing 10 Narrows. The Bakersfield Californian, 12-27-1966, p. 2.
–10 Aviation Safety Network. Executive Aviation Lodestar crash near San Felipe, 20 Dec 1966.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database:
“Date: Tuesday 20 December 1966
“Type: Lockheed 18-56-23 Lodestar
“Operator: Executive Aviation
“Registration: N2222B
“MSN: 18-2558
“First flight: 1953
“Crew: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 [Executive pilots from Alameda.]
“Passengers: Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 [Family from San Fran,; Christmas trip.]
“Total: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10
“Location: near San Felipe, Baja (Mexico)
“Phase: En route (ENR)
“Nature: Demonstration [Mr. Dakin was considering purchase of plane.]
“Departure airport: San Diego International Airport, CA…USA
“Destination airport: La Paz Airport…Mexico
“Narrative:

“The Lockheed 18 Lodestar, N2222B, went missing en route between San Diego International Airport, CA (SAN), USA and La Paz Airport (LAP), Mexico. There were eight passengers and two pilots on board. The airplane operated on a demonstration flight for the owners of an importing business who wanted to buy the plane. They decided to combine the demonstration flight with a holiday trip to Baja, Mexico out of Oakland, CA. The wreckage as found on a mountain near San Felipe.” (Aviation Safety Network. Executive Aviation Lodestar crash near San Felipe, 20 Dec 1966.)

National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB Identification: OAK67A0056:
“File 6-0093
“Date 66/12/20
“Location Baja, Mex
“Aircraft Data Lockheed 18 N2222B…Damage-Destroyed
“Injuries F S M/N
CR- 2 0 0
PX- 8
OT- 0
“Flight Purpose Noncommercial…Pleasure/Personal Transp.
“Pilot Data Certification unknown
“Type of Accident Undetermined
“Phase of Operation Unknown/Not Reported
“Missing Aircraft Later Recovered
“Remarks Investigation under the jurisdiction of the Mexican Government.
“Full narrative is not available.

Newspaper

Dec 27, AP: “Hamilton Air Force Base (AP) – The search narrowed today in Mexico’s Baja California for a missing twin-engine plane carrying 10 persons from the San Francisco area. Capt. Armin Wolf at Hamilton Air, Search and Rescue Center said the fire department in the town of San Felipe, 140 miles southeast of San Diego on the eastern Baja coast, was investigating a report that wreckage had been sighted. Wolf said the supposed location of the wreckage was about 35 miles south of San Felipe. Lending support to the story was a report from a Mexican private pilot that the missing plane, a Lockheed Lodestar, had given a position report near San Felipe on the afternoon of Dec. 21. That was shortly after Richard Y. Dakin, his family of seven and two crewmen had taken off from San Diego Airport for a 775-mile flight to La Paz, on the tip of Baja California. The aircraft never arrived in La Pax and checks with some 50 Mexican airfields failed to find it.

“Dakin, head of an importing firm and board chairman of Franklin Hospital in San Francisco, was combining a Christmas vacation trip to La Paz with a demonstration flight of the twin-engine plane. He reportedly was considering purchase of the aircraft from Executive Aviation Inc. at Oakland Airport. Also on the flight were Dakin’s wife, Susanna, an authoress and art patron; their son, Roger; the latter’s wife, Joan; and four children of the younger Dakins, Alexandria, 16, Sachary, 15, Matthew, 5, and Roger Jr., 4. A fifth child, Samuel, 12, is on a ski holiday in Switzerland.

“Crew members were pilot Elton C. Stone and co-pilot Dennis Seitz, both of Alameda. They are employes of Executive Aviation.

“Officials of the firm reported the plane missing last Friday after receiving no word from the pilots. The aircraft left Oakland Dec. 20 and refueled in San Diego.

“Joining in the search are the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Air Force, Mexican authorities and three private planes.” (AP. “Search for Missing 10 Narrows. Bakersfield Californian, 12-27-1966, p. 2.)

Sources

Associated Press “Search for Missing 10 Narrows. The Bakersfield Californian, 12-27-1966, p. 2. Accessed 7-14-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-dec-27-1966-p-2/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database. Executive Aviation Lodestar crash near San Felipe, 20 Dec 1966. Accessed 7-14-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19661220-0

National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB Identification: OAK67A0056. Accessed 7-15-2023 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/sites/default/files/2018-04/N2222B.pdf