Martha's Vineyard Navy Plane Crash | New England Aviation History

Martha’s Vineyard – March 5, 1946

January 21, 2019

Martha’s Vineyard – March 5, 1946

F8F Bearcat
U. S. Navy Photo

On March 5, 1946, a flight of F8F-1 Bearcats left Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island bound for Martha’s Vineyard Naval Air Station in Massachusetts. The purpose of the flight was to practice mock carrier take-offs and landings. As one of the aircraft, (Bu. No. 94827), was making a landing, it went off the runway and into soft dirt where it flipped on its back trapping the pilot. The pilot was extricated with non-life-threatening injuries, and the aircraft suffered substantial damage.

The aircraft was assigned to VF-18 at Quonset Point.

Source:

U. S. Navy accident report dated March 5, 1946.

Quonset Point, R. I. – June 22, 1944

January 5, 2019

Quonset Point, Rhode Island – June 22, 1944

TBF-1 Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo

On June 22, 1944, a TBF-1 Avenger, (Bu. No. 06152), was taking off from Quonset Point Naval Air Station when the engine suddenly lost power. The aircraft came down at the end of the runway with it wheels retracted. It went off the end of the runway skidding through soft dirt and then over a seawall. The aircraft required a major overhaul but the three-man crew was not hurt. The accident was blamed on mechanical failure.

The aircraft was assigned to VT-48.

As a point of fact, this same TBF Avenger, (Bu. No. 06152), had been involved in a previous accident. On January 13, 1944, while landing at Martha’s Vineyard Naval Air Station during strong wind gusts, the aircraft went off the runway and was damaged, but the crew was not injured. At that time the aircraft was assigned to VT-7.

Sources:

U. S. Navy accident report #44-15764 dated June 22, 1944

U. S. Navy accident report #44-10853 dated January 13, 1944

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: Martha's Vineyard History, Martha's Vineyard Naval Air Station Accident, Martha's Vineyard Navy Plane Crash, Navy Plane Crash Rhode Island, New England WWII Plane Crash, Quonset Point Accident, Quonset Point Crash, Quonset Point History, Quonset Point Naval Air Station Crash, Quonset Point Naval Air Station History, Rhode Island Navy Plane Crash, Rhode Island WWII Plane Crash, TBF-1 Avenger Bu. No. 06152, VT-48 History

Vineyard Haven, MA. – July 31, 1926

May 17, 2018

Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts – July 31, 1926

At 2:15 p.m. on Friday, July 30, 1926, a U.S. Navy, Loeing OL-4, (Bu. No. A7061), a three seat amphibian bi-plane, left Washington, D.C., bound for Chatham, Massachusetts. There were three men aboard: The pilot, Lieutenant H. F. Councell, of Hickory, North Carolina, the mechanic, C. T. Gibbens, of Norman Park, Georgia, and Captain E. S. Land, who was to make a survey of some vacant buildings at the naval base in Chatham.

The plane landed twice on Friday. The second time was at far Rockaway, New York, to make repairs to the radiator. There the men spent the night, and after the repairs were made, resumed their trip on Saturday, July 31st, at about 1 p.m. As they neared the New England coast they encountered fog, and were forced to land near an island called Noman’s Land, which is off the southwest coast of Martha’s Vineyard. After conferring with each other, it was decided to head for Vineyard Haven; a village in the town of Tisbury on Martha’s Vineyard. After landing safely at Vineyard Haven, the men went to the Havenside Inn.

After a meal, it was decided that Lieutenant Councell and Mechanic Gibbens should fly to Newport, Rhode Island, and obtain more fuel. Meanwhile, Captain Land would remain behind and be picked up the following morning.

The plane took off about 4:30 that afternoon with the two men aboard, and began to circle while at the same time climbing steeply. Those watching on the ground stated that as it entered a cloud the engine suddenly stopped, and the airplane came diving out of the sky and crashed into the harbor with such force that the tail snapped off. Both men were killed instantly.

The aircraft was recovered and brought to shore, but it was well beyond any repair.

The bodies of Lieutenant Councell and Mechanic Gibbens were placed aboard the navy tug, Triton to be taken to Newport, Rhode Island, but the tug developed engine trouble in-route so the destroyer Preston was sent to continue with the task.

Source: Vineyard Gazette, “Two Dive To death At Vineyard Haven”, August 6, 1926, page 1. (photo of aircraft.)

Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: Bu. No. A7061, C. T. Gibbens Navy Mechanic, Captain E. S. Land U.S. Navy, Lieutenant H. F. Councell Navy Pilot, Loening OL-4 Bu. No. A7061, Martha's Vineyard Navy Plane Crash, Martha's Vineyard Plane Crash, Tisbury Massachusetts History, Tisbury Massachusetts Plane Crash, Vineyard Haven History, Vineyard Haven Plane Crash