1948 — Aug 5, USN Douglas R4D-6 and civilian Stearman collide near NAS Miami, FL– 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Sep 23, 2023 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–11 Delphos Courant, OH. “Midair Crash Kills 11 Men.” 8-7-1948, p. 1.[1]
–11 New Castle News, PA. “Eleven Dead in Midair Crash of Two Planes.” 8-6-1948, p. 1.
–10 Aviation Safety Network. USN Douglas R4D-6, 17285, 18 km from Miami NAS, FL.
–10 Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (10317 to 21191) 7-17-2011.[2]
–10 Youngstown Vindicator, OH. “10 in Navy Plane Die in Crash with Trainer…” 8-6-1948, 2.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Network, Database, 1948. Accident description:
“Date: Thursday 5 August 1948
“Type: Douglas R4D-6 (DC-3)
“Registration: 17285
“MSN: 25959-/14505
“First flight: 1944
…. Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10
….
“Location: 18 km (11.3 mls) from Miami NAS, FL – USA
“Phase: Approach (APR)
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Norfolk NAS Chamers, VA – USA
“Destination airport: Opa-Locka Airport, FL – USA
“Narrative: Crashed after midair collision with civilian Boeing Stearman plane. Both
pilots of the Stearman parachuted to safety.
Baugher: “Douglas R4D-6….17285 in midair collision with civilian Stearman near NAS Miami Aug 7, 1948. 10 killed.” (Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (10317 to 21191) 7-17-2011.)
Newspapers
Aug 6, International News Service: “Hollywood, Fla., Aug. 6 – (INS) – Naval and civilian authorities combed today through the wreckage of a Navy transport and a Stearman training plane that crashed in midair near Hollywood, Fla., killing 11 persons. All of the dead were believed to be Navy personnel. Their bodies were badly mangled and burned when the huge transport, a twin-engine DC-3 type, crashed and burst into flames after colliding with a two-seater converted PT-17 Stearman late yesterday [Aug 5].
“The two occupants of the civilian plane, Tommy Poe, a flying instructor, and Jack Rackett, his 21-year-old student and pilot of the craft, bailed out and landed unhurt.
“The collision occurred as the Navy transport, enroute from Norfolk, Va., to Puerto Rico by way of Miami, Fla., was starting its approach for a landing at the Miami air station.
“Naval authorities withheld comment on the crash pending an investigation.
“Wreckage of the two planes was strewn over the ground about five miles west of Hollywood and fifteen miles north of Miami.
“A Navy pilot who was flying nearby said the pilots of both planes apparently saw the crash coming and pulled up sharply in an effort to avoid a collision.
“Naval authorities declared the huge transport had made no stops on the trip from Norfolk where all personnel had boarded the ill-fated craft. The Navy transport was scheduled to make a brief stop in Miami before continuing on to Puerto Rico.” (Delphos Courant, OH. “Midair Crash Kills 11 Men.” 8-7-1948, p. 1.)
Aug 6, INS: “Hollywood, Fla., Aug. 6. – (INS)…. Naval authorities-withheld comment on the crash pending an investigation, but Florida state highway patrolmen announced that 11 bodies had been removed from the charred wreckage.” (New Castle News, PA. “Eleven Dead in Midair Crash of Two Planes.” 8-6-1948, p. 1.)
Aug 6, AP: “By The Associated Press. Miami, FLA., Aug. 6 – A navy board of inquiry today studied the charred wreckage of a navy transport plane in which 10 men were killed. Reports that there was a WAVE aboard, making the toll 11, later were found to be false, the navy said.
“The plane crashed and burned after a collision with a Stearman training plane 23 miles north of here late Thursday. The two occupants of the trainer parachuted to safety.
“One of the victims was identified by relatives as Lt. Comdr. Phil Peters, aged 29, of Mobile, Ala. Identification was difficult and the navy said names of the other victims would not be available until later.
“The Florida highway patrol said six bodies were found outside the plane and the others inside the wreckage.
“The plane, an R4D which corresponds to the C-47 and the DC-3, was en route from Norfolk, Va., to Cuba, with a scheduled stop at the naval air station’s master field in suburban Opa-Locka, almost within sight of the scene of the crash. It had reported to the control tower seconds before the collision.
“A navy enlisted man flying in the area said both pilots apparently saw each other and pulled up, one on top of the other. He estimated they were flying at about 2,000 feet.
“Occupants of the training plane were Thomas M. Poe Jr., aged 27, and John Hackett a student. Poe is an Army Air Force veteran. Hackett was treated at a hospital for cuts on his forehead and cheeks. Hackett said Poe was at the controls and neither saw the navy plane until just before the collision. He said the planes were going in the same direction and as soon as they saw what has happening, they threw off their safety belts, pushed the door open and jumped.” (Youngstown Vindicator, OH. “10 in Navy Plane Die in Crash with Trainer…” 8-6-1948, 2.)
Sources
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Network, Database, 1948. Accident description. United States Navy Douglas R4D-6, 17285, 5 Aug 1948, 18 km from Miami NAS, FL. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19480805-0
Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (10317 to 21191). July 17, 2011 revision. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries2.html
Delphos Courant, OH. “Midair Crash Kills 11 Men.” 8-7-1948, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=130472999
New Castle News, PA. “Eleven Dead in Midair Crash of Two Planes.” 8-6-1948, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=61951818
Youngstown Vindicator, OH. “10 in Navy Plane Die in Crash with Trainer…” 8-6-1948, 2. Accessed at: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JmNIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dYIMAAAAIBAJ&dq=navy%20plane&pg=5556%2C2444357
[1] See Youngstown Vindicator on the fatality discrepancy.
[2] Baugher has the date incorrectly listed as Aug 7.
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