Lockheed Electra Crash | New England Aviation History

Logan Airport, MA – October 4, 1960

August 1, 2016

Logan Airport

Boston, Massachusetts – October 4, 1960

Vintage Post Card View Of Boston’s Logan Airport

The aircraft involved in this accident was a four-engine Lockheed Electra L-188, registration N5533.

At 5:40 p.m., on October 4, 1960, Eastern Airlines Flight 375 was departing Boston’s Logan International Airport on runway 9 with 67 passengers and a crew of 5 aboard. Just seconds after becoming airborne off the runway, a flock of starlings flew into its path and some were sucked into three of the four engines. The aircraft then yawed to the left and decelerated to stall speed as it continued forward towards the harbor at the end of the runway. Once over the water the left wing dropped while the nose pitched upwards and the aircraft dropped almost vertically into the water from and altitude of about 150 feet.

Only 10 of the 72 persons aboard survived the crash. Two of the survivors were members of the crew, and nine of the ten survivors suffered serious injuries.

The accident was witnessed by numerous witnesses on the ground, two of whom happened to have cameras and took pictures while the plane was still airborne. The photos were given to investigators.

Source:

Civil Aeronautics Board Aircraft Accident Report, file #1-0043, adopted July 26, 1962, released July 31, 1962

East Hartford, CT – August 15, 1939

June 28, 2016

Hartford, Connecticut – August 15, 1939

On August 15, 1939, a Lockheed Electra owned by a prominent New York advertising executive was flown from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, to Rentschler Field, in East Hartford, Connecticut to have the engines inspected. After the inspection, the aircraft took off at 4:15 p.m. to go back to New York.

There were five people aboard, a crew of two, and three passengers.

The pilot, Wynn Bradford of Flushing, N.Y.

The co-pilot, Eli Abramson, of Hempstead, N.Y.

Michael Madrazo, of Corona, N. Y.

Joseph Kransky, of Jamaica, N.Y.

George Daulfkirsch of East Elmhurst, N.Y.

Just after the plane cleared the border fence at the end of the runway, the left wing dipped, hit the ground, and spun the plane which crashed. All five aboard were thrown clear of the wreckage. Michael Madrazo, and Joseph Kransky were killed. The pilot and co-pilot were transported in critical condition to a nearby hospital. George Daulfkirsch was also hospitalized, but with lesser injuries. The fuselage was destroyed by fire.

Source:

Lewiston Daily Sun, “Two Killed, Three Hurt In Hartford Plane Crash”, August 16, 1939