from author and historian Jim Ignasher
Pawtucket, Rhode Island January 9, 1930 On January 9, 1930, three men borded a Challenger biplane at Pawtucket s What Cheer Airport bound for Florida. The plane was reportedly heavy with supplies, luggage, and the weight of the three men. As the plae took off, it barely reached an altitude of 75 feet [ ] The post Pawtucket, R. I. – January 9, 1930 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Atlantic Ocean March 29, 1967 On March 29, 1967, the aircraft carrier USS Essex was crusing about 70 miles south-east of Rhode Island taking part in training exercises. A helicopter with three men aboard took off from the carrier and crashed into the ocean. Rescue operations were instituted and the co-pilot was [ ] The post Atlantic Ocean – March 29, 1967 first appeared on New England Aviation…
Quonset Point, Rhode Island February 9, 1967 On February 9, 1967, what was described in the press as a twin-engine propeller-driven Navy plane took off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station for a routine training flight. When the plane returned, it was discovered that the plane s left landing gear would not [ ] The post Quonset Point, R. I. – February 9, 1967 first appeared on New England…
Smithfield, Rhode Island July 12, 1938 On the afternoon of July 12, 1938, a pilot was giving a father and his 18-year-old daughter a ride in a bi-plane at the Smithfield Airport. The wind was unsettled that afternoon creating what the press termed air pockets . As the plane took off the pilot [ ] The post Smithfield, R. I. – July 12, 1938 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Smithfield, Rhode Island July 24, 1946 On July 24, 1946, a 36-year-old student pilot from Cranston was attempting to land a Fairchild low-wing monoplane at the Smithfield Airport when the motor failed and he crash-landed into an apple orchard adjacent to the landing field. Damage to the plane was not serious and [ ] The post Smithfield, R. I. – July 24, 1946 first appeared on New England Aviation…
Marlboro, New Hampshire September 1, 1967 On the morning of September 1, 1967, a 49-year-old pilot was killed when his single-engine Maule Rocket airplane crashed into a tree while attempting to make an emergency landing in a field in Marlboro. No further details are known. Source: Evening Bulletin [ ] The post Marlboro, N.H. – September 1, 1967 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Block Island, Rhode Island July 4, 1967 Just before 5 p.m. on the evening of July 4, 1967, three Connecticut men attempted to take off from the Block Island Airport in a Piper Tri-Pacer when the plane crashed into an embankment on Central Road just opposite the airport. The plane was wrecked [ ] The post Block Island, R. I. – July 4, 1967 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Block Island, Rhode Island August 6, 1969 On the night of August 6, 1969, three people took off in a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza from the Block Island Airport. Just after taking off, the plane crashed near Dodge s Sandpit on Old Mill Road, about a mile west of the airport. One person was [ ] The post Block Island, R. I. – August 6, 1969 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Woodbury, Connecticut December 18, 1969 On the evening of December 18, 1969, a 38-year-old New Jersey man took off from Nashua, New Hampshire, in a Cessna 150 (Reg. No. N6730S) bound for New Jersey. At about 5:30 P.M. the plane crashed in a wooded area in northern Woodbury killing the pilot. There [ ] The post Woodbury, CT. – December 18, 1969 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Searsport, Maine July 2, 1967 On July 2, 1967, a Republic RC-3 Seabee (Reg. No. N6475K) with five people abord crashed in the water off Searsport, Maine, killing all aboard. The cloud ceiling at the time was 200 feet, with 1/4 mile or less visibility. The plane came down [ ] The post Searsport, ME. – July 2, 1967 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Long Island Sound May 28, 1967 On the evening of May 29, 1967, a 20-year-old pilot rented a light single-engine plane at Brainard Field in Hartford, Connecticut, so that he could give pleasure flights to friends. While flying over Long Island Sound with a 25-year-old female passenger, the plane crashed five hundred [ ] The post Long Island Sound – May 28, 1967 first appeared on New England…
Westminster, Vermont November 27, 1969 On the night of November 27, 1969, a 1947 Piper Aeronica with two young men aboard was attempting to land on a farm in Westminster when a wingtip caught in a tree which flipped the plane over causing it to crash in a field. The field was [ ] The post Westminster, VT. – November 27, 1969 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Fall River, Massachusetts June 1, 1969 Shortly before 8 p.m. four friends were in the process of taking off from the Fall River Airport in a Lark Commander airplane bound for Martha s Vineyard. Immediately after leaving the ground the engine failed and the plane crashed back down on the east-west runway. The [ ] The post Fall River, MA. – June 1, 1969 first appeared on New England Aviation History…
Coventry, Rhode Island May 30, 1969 On May 30, 1969, two men from Long Island, New York, were flying in a two-seat Cessna aircraft bound for T.F. Green Airport in Warwick. Both were members of the Republic Aviation softball team in route to a game. It was noted that the plane was [ ] The post Coventry, R. I. – May 30, 1969 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Mendon, Massachusetts May 18, 1967 On May 18, 1967, a Piper Cherokee with four men aboard crashed in a wooded area just after taking off from the Hopedale Airport. The crash occurred about a mile west of the Bellingham town line, and a 1/4 mile south of Route 140. [ ] The post Mendon, MA.- May 18, 1967 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Woodstock, Connecticut July 6, 1967 At about 1 p.m. on July 6, 1967, a small aircraft with four people aboard crashed on takeoff from the Woodstock Airport. The plane crashed into a tree about 1,000 feet from the end of the runway and even though the fuel tanks were full there was [ ] The post Woodstock, Ct. – July 6, 1967 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Passamadumkeag Mountain, Maine December 10, 1969 On December 13, 1969, a Piper Aztec (N5090Y) with three men aboard took off from Old Town, Maine, bound for Portland, Maine. While in route the aircraft encountered heavy fog and crashed into the southeast side of Passamadumkeag Mountain killing all aboard. Sources: [ ] The post Passamadumkeag Mountain, ME. – December 10, 1969 first appeared on New…
Haystack Mountain, Wilmington, Vermont September 27, 1965 On September 27, 1965, a husband and wife took off from Rochester, New Hampshire, in a rented Cessna, bound for Hartford, Connecticut. While in route the plane disappeared. On July 4, 1967, the wreckage of the missing plane was spotted from the air by [ ] The post Haystack Mountain, VT. – September 27, 1965 first appeared on New England…
Greenville, Maine August 5, 1969 On August 5, 1969, a small amphibian plane with three people aboard crashed near the west branch of the Penobscot River as it was circling to land. The crash was in a remote area north of Moosehead Lake. A 40-year old woman was killed, and the other [ ] The post Greenville, ME. – August 5, 1969 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Yarmouth, Massachusetts August 3, 1967 In the early morning hours of August 3, 1967, a small plane with two people aboard crashed and burned in a wooded area about .2 of a mile from Route 28, and about two miles from the Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis. A 19-year-old witness who worked [ ] The post Yarmouth, MA. – August 3, 1967 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
North Providence, Rhode Island June 30, 1946 On the afternoon of June 30, 1946, a lone pilot took off from the Smithfield Airport and flew towards North Providence, where the plane developed engine trouble and the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing. The plane came down on the Wilcox Farm [ ] The post North Providence, R. I. – June 30, 1946 first appeared on New England Aviation History…
Middleboro, Massachusetts September 19, 1935 On the evening of September 19, 1935, a 27-year-old man took off from the Smithfield, Rhode Island, Airport in an open biplane for a round trip flight to Boston. The flight was to be a quick joy ride . On the way back from Boston darkness began closing [ ] The post Middleboro, MA. – September 19, 1935 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Smithfield, Rhode Island May 30,1 937 On May 30, 1937, a bi-plane with a lone pilot aboard was taking off from the Smithfield Airport when according to witnesses something went wrong with the landing gear as the plane left the ground. As the plane climbed higher it was seen to falter and [ ] The post Smithfield, R. I. – May 30, 1937 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Smithfield, Rhode Island March 27, 1938 On Shortly before 5 p.m. on March 27, 1938, a four-seat Waco cabin plane with four men aboard was attempting to take off from the Smithfield Airport. The plane had gained an altitude of only ten feet when the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. As [ ] The post Smithfield, R. I. – March 27, 1938 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Smithfield, Rhode Island May 28, 1934 On the morning of May 28, 1934, Herman Dolbeck, 40, of Woonsocket, arrived at the Smithfield Airport in his Eaglet monoplane to give flying lessons to 19-year-old Ralph Wilkins of North Smithfield. Wilkins had recently purchased an airplane of his own, a World War I vintage [ ] The post Smithfield, R. I. – May 28, 1934 first appeared on New England Aviation…
Smithfield, Rhode Island January 11, 1946 On January 11, 1946, a four-passenger plane belonging to a Providence man crashed while landing at the Smithfield Airport. (This airport was once located where Bryant University is located today.) The pilot was alone in the plane when the left wing clipped a tree [ ] The post Smithfield, R. I. – January 11, 1946 first appeared on New England Aviation…
Smithfield, Rhode Island January 9, 1942 On January 9, 1942, two young men took off from the Smithfield Airport in a four-passenger Stinson cabin monoplane for a routine flight about the area. The plane belonged to the Nelson Aircraft School based at the airport. (This airport was located where Bryant University is [ ] The post Smithfield, R. I. – January 9, 1942 first appeared on New England…
Cumberland, Rhode Island, WW II Memorial Click on images to enlarge. This memorial honors Cumberland resident Aviation Machinist Mate 2/C Stanley Z. Kochanek, 23, who perished in a plane crash at sea on April 6, 1944, while in route from Puerto Rico to the United States. The memorial is located at [ ] The post Cumberland, Rhode Island, WWII Memorial first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Arlington, Vermont February 11, 1967 On February 11, 1967, four Canadian men boarded a Beechcraft 35 Bonanza and took off from Canada bound for Boston to attend a National Hockey League game. While in-route the plane encountered severe weather and the tail section separated from the fuselage causing the plane to crash [ ] The post Arlington, VT. – February 11, 1967 first appeared on New England…
Danvers, Massachusetts December 9, 1967 On December 9, 1967, a student pilot and his instructor were flying near the Beverly Airport when the engine suddenly stopped and couldn t be restarted. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing at the airport but didn t make it. The plane clipped the top of a [ ] The post Danvers, MA. – December 9, 1967 first appeared on New England Aviation History…
Block Island Sound May 19, 1967 At 2:36 p.m. on the afternoon of May 19, 1967, a Navy S-2E Tracker aircraft, (Bu. No. 152353), took off from the Quonset Point Naval Air Station for a routine training flight. At about 3:00 p.m. the aircraft was seen to crash into the sea [ ] The post Block Island Sound – May 19, 1967 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts January 23, 1953 On January 23, 1953, a lone pilot from Bristol, Connecticut, was piloting a small plane when he crashed into Mount Greylock after encountering heavy fog. He survived the crash but had broken his back in two places and was suffering from other injuries. After extricating himself [ ] The post Mt. Greylock, MA. – January 23, 1953 first appeared on New…
Warwick, Rhode Island January 3, 1964 On January 3, 1964, a lone student pilot was making a landing in a single-engine airplane at Hillsgrove Airport in Warwick when the nose wheel collapsed causing the plane to nose over and skid to a stop. The pilot was not injured. Source: [ ] The post Warwick, R. I. – January 3, 1964 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Wiscasset, Maine October 11, 1964 On October 11, 1964, a single-engine private airplane with two men aboard crashed in a wooded area near the Wiscasset Airport. Both men were injured, one critically. No further details are known. Source: Providence Journal, Pilot Injured Critically In Maine Plane Crash , [ ] The post Wiscasset, ME. – October 11, 1964 first appeared on New England Aviation History…
Martha s Vineyard, Massachusetts July 2, 1963 On the night of July 2, 1963, a 42-year-old Plymouth, Massachusetts, man was killed when his private plane crashed on takeoff from Martha s Vineyard Airport. No further details are known. Source: Providence Journal, Plane Crash Kills Plymouth, Flier , July 3, 1963, Pg. [ ] The post Martha’s Vineyard, MA. – July 2, 1963 first appeared on New England…
Worcester, Massachusetts December 7, 1965 On December 7, 1965, a 21-year-old student pilot was making a landing approach at the Worcester Airport when the Piper Cherokee 140 he was piloting crashed in a wooded area short of the runway. The plane suffered an estimated $5,000 in damage, but the student received minor [ ] The post Worcester, MA. – December 7, 1965 first appeared on New England…
Machias, Maine August 28, 1964 On August 28, 1964, a small plane owned by the Atlantic Aviation Company of Worcester, Massachusetts, crashed in a wooded area of Machias, Maine. There were two men aboard at the time, neither was injured, but the plane was damaged. No further details are known. [ ] The post Machias, ME. – August 28, 1964 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Monroe, Connecticut August 25, 1965 On August 25, 1965, a small plane with a pilot and four passengers crashed on take-off at Monroe Airport. There were no serious injuries but the plane was reportedly damaged beyond repair. Source: Providence Journal, Plane Crash In Conn. , August 26, 1965, [ ] The post Monroe, CT. – August 25, 1965 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Montague, Massachusetts August 11, 1965 On August 11, 1965, two men were aboard a single-engine Beech T-34 airplane making practice landings and take-offs from the Turners Fall Airport in Montague. The plane belonged to the Westover Aero Club of Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The pilot was a student taking [ ] The post Montague, MA. – August 11, 1965 first appeared on New…
Mashpee, Massachusetts August 15, 1965 On August 15, 1965, two adults and a child were flying in a single-engine airplane over the Mashpee area when they encountered thick fog. According to witnesses, the plane was seen flying back and forth at an altitude of about 75 feet over the New Seabury golf [ ] The post Mashpee, MA. – August 15, 1965 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Lenox, Massachusetts August 6, 1965 On August 6, 1965, a lone 41-year-old pilot was flying a single-engine plane over the Lenox area when he was forced to make an emergency landing. According to witnesses, the plane appeared to be making a safe landing when it suddenly dipped and crashed into a small [ ] The post Lenox, MA. – August 6, 1965 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Mendon, Vermont September 20, 1965 On the morning of September 20, 1965, four educators took off in a single-engine four-seat airplane from Bennington Airport for a 125 mile flight to Montpelier. While in route, they encountered thick fog and crashed into the side of Mendon Mountain in Mendon. All aboard perished. [ ] The post Mendon, VT. – September 20, 1965 first appeared on New England Aviation…
Newport, New Hampshire July 15, 1963 On July 15, 1963, a lone 45-year-old man was piloting a small aircraft over the Newport area. He owned a summer cottage on Lake Sunapee and had some friends staying with him. Shortly before 6 p.m. he buzzed the cottage, which was a pre-arranged signal for [ ] The post Newport, N. H. – July 15, 1963 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Weare, New Hampshire June 13, 1965 On June 13, 1965, two men and a 13-year-old youth took off from Keene, New Hamshire, in a Piper Cruiser, bound for York Beach, Maine. (The youth was the son of the pilot.) During the flight they encountered severe weather and crashed in a wooded area [ ] The post Weare, N.H. – June 13, 1965 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Warwick, Rhode Island May 18, 1964 On the evening of May 18, 1964, a student pilot in a single-engine plane was on a solo flight. As he was approaching to land he crashed on a grassy hill area behind the state highway garage on Lincoln Avenue. The plane flipped onto its back [ ] The post Warwick, R. I. – May 18, 1964 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Bath, Maine May 20, 1963 On the night of May 20, 1963, a family of three was aboard a small airplane heading from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to Portland, Maine, when they encountered a severe thunderstorm over the Bath area. (Wind speeds were reported to be 66 miles-per-hour.) The plane [ ] The post Bath, ME. – May 20, 1963 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Hingham, Massachusetts December 16, 1963 At 9:30 a.m. on December 15, 1963, a twin-engine navy S-2 Tracker aircraft with two men aboard took off from the South Weymouth Naval Air station for a routine training flight. At about 10:40 a.m. the pilot radioed that the aircraft was loosing power. As [ ] The post Hingham, MA. – December 15, 1963 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Atlantic Ocean December 13, 1963 At 9:45 a.m. a flight of two Air Force F-101 fighter jets took off from the Suffolk County Air Force Base on Long Island, New York, for an intercept-training mission over the ocean. About fifteen minutes later one of the aircraft, (Ser. No. 56-0327), developed [ ] The post Atlantic Ocean – December 13, 1963 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Atlantic Ocean September 18, 1962 On September 18, 1962, a flight of four F- 101 Air Force fighter jets took off from the Suffolk County Air Force Base on Long Island, New York, for a routine training flight over the ocean. The flight leader was Colonel Roy E. Ferguson, 45, of [ ] The post Atlantic Ocean – September 18, 1962 first appeared on New England Aviation History .
Suffield, Connecticut September 6, 1964 On September 6, 1964, a husband and wife from East Greenwich, Rhode Island, took off from Agawam, Massachusetts, bound for Provincetown, Massachusetts, in their newly-purchased 1950 four-seat Avion airplane. According to a witness, as the plane was passing over the town of Suffield, it was flying very [ ] The post Suffield, CT. – September 6, 1964 first…