1969 — Dec 5, Lockheed Lodestar plane structural failure/crash, ~Albuquerque, NM–all 11

–11 Albuquerque Tribune. “11 From Texas Killed When Craft Crashes in Albq,” Dec 6, 1969.
–11 Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. Lockheed 18 Lodestar, 05 Dec 1969.
–11 Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, Geneva, Switzerland. “Crash of a Lockheed…”
–11 Eckert. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” AJFMP, 3/1, Mar 1982, Table 1.
–11 NTSB. NTSB Identification: DEN70A0038.

Narrative Information

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives:

“Date & Time: Dec 5, 1969 at 1500 LT
“Type of aircraft: Lockheed 18 LodeStar
“Operator: Troy G. Hawkins
“Registration: N410M
“Flight Phase: Flight
“Flight Type: ` Private
“Survivors: No
“Site: Plain, Valley
“Schedule: Las Vegas – Dalhart
“MSN: 2203
“YOM: 1942
“Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
….
“Crew on board: 2
“Crew fatalities: 2
“Pax on board: 9
“Pax fatalities: 9
“Other fatalities: 0
“Total fatalities: 11
….
“Circumstances: En route from Las Vegas to Dalhart, Texas, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with icing and turbulences. The VFR rated pilot preferred to continue in such conditions when few minutes later, a structural failure occurred on the left wing that detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in an open field. All 11 occupants were killed.

“Probable cause: Airframe failure in flight and uncontrolled descent caused by the combination of the following factors:
– The pilot-in-command attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
– The pilot-in-command continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
– The pilot-in-command exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
– Overload failure of airframe, wings spars,
– Separation in flight,
– Icing conditions, including sleet and freezing rain,
– Airframe ice,
– The left wing failed and separated in flight,
– The pilot type rated for VFR flight only,
– The aircraft was not fitted with de-icing equipment.”

National Transportation Safety Board:
“File 3-3779
“Date 69/12/5 Time – 1500
“Location Albuquerque, N Mex
“Aircraft Data Lockheed 18 N410M Damage – Destroyed
“Injuries CR 2 [fatalities] PX 9 [fatalities]
“Flight Purpose Noncommercial. Pleasure/Personal Transp
“Name of Airport Coronado
“Departure Point Las Vegas, Nev
“Intended Destination Dalhart, Tex
“Type of Accident Airframe Failure: In Flight…Collision with Ground/Water: Uncontrolled
“Probable Cause (S)
Pilot in Command – Attempted Operation W/Known Deficiencies In Equipment
Pilot in Command – Continued VFR Flight into Adverse Weather Conditions
Pilot in Command – Exceeded Designed Stress Limits of Aircraft
Airframe – Wings: Spars
Miscellaneous Acts, Conditions – Overload Failure
Factor(s)
Miscellaneous Acts, Conditions – Separation In Flight
Weather – Icing Conditions – Includes Sleet, Freezing Rain, Etc.
….
“Remarks – L WG Failed, Separated. Plt Type Rated for VFR Flt only in L-18. Acft not Deicer Equipped.

Newspaper

Dec 6: “The Lockheed Lodestar, a converted World War II passenger plane, exploded and crashed in a field between Edith NE and Interstate 25 north of Osupa Road about 3 p.m. yesterday. The plane, carrying 11 prominent West Texas cattle and oil men, narrowly escaped crashing into a 16-house development about two miles west of the Coronado Airport….No one in the plane survived. Federal Aviation Administration officials said the plane was en route to Dalhart, Tex., from Las Vegas, Nev. The plane, according to an FAA Spokesman passed Albuquerque and had requested permission to return to Albuquerque. Permission was granted and it was believed the pilot was planning to land at Coronado Airport….

“Mrs. Carolyn Corley…said she was in her house when the plane came over at a very low altitude. ‘I ran outside and thought the plane was going to hit the house. It went over and I saw a flash of fire and then it exploded before it hit the ground,’ she said. ‘When it exploded, I could see parts of the plane and bodies being thrown about’.”

“A spokesman for the International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., said the 11 victims had been registered in the hotel and had checked out yesterday morning….” (Albuquerque Tribune. “11 From Texas Killed When Craft Crashes in Albq,” Dec 6, 1969.)

Sources:

Albuquerque Tribune, NM. “11 From Texas Killed When Craft Crashes in Albq.” 12-6-1969, p1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=61411390&currentResult=0&src=search

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Lockheed 18-08 Lodestar…5 December 1969. Accessed 3-23-2022 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19691205-1&lang=es

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, Geneva, Switzerland. “Crash of a Lockheed 18-08 Lodestar in Albuquerque: 11 Killed.” Accessed 3-23-2022 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-lockheed-18-08-lodestar-albuquerque-11-killed

Eckert, William G. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, Vol. 3, No. 1, March 1982, Table 1.

National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB Identification: DEN70A0038. Accessed 3-23-2022 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/sites/default/files/2018-06/N410M.pdf