Ford Trimotor - Accidents and Incidents

Accidents and Incidents

• On April 21, 1929, a Maddux Air Lines 5-AT-B Trimotor, NC9636, collided with a U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) Boeing PW-9D, 28-037, over San Diego; all six on board both aircraft died. The pilot of the Boeing PW-9D was performing stunts and then attempted to pass in front of the airliner, but misjudged the speed of the Maddux aircraft and his aircraft struck the cockpit of the Ford Trimotor.
• On September 3, 1929, a Transcontinental Air Transport 5-AT-B Trimotor, NC9649, and named The City of San Francisco, crashed into Mount Taylor near Grants, New Mexico in a thunderstorm; all eight on board died.
• On January 19, 1930, a Maddux Air Lines 5-AT-C Trimotor, NC9689, and operating as Flight 7, crashed near Oceanside, California due to adverse weather conditions, killing all 16 on board.
• On June 24, 1935, a Trimotor of Servicio Aéreo Colombiano, C-31, collided with a Trimotor of SCADTA, F-31, at Olaya Herrera Airfield near Medellín, Colombia; of the 20 on board both aircraft, only three passengers survived. Among the dead was the legendary tango singer Carlos Gardel.