Block Island, R. I. – July 22, 1957

November 26, 2022

Block Island, Rhode Island – July 22, 1957

     On July 21, 1957, four men took off from the Woonsocket Airport in a 1946 Stinson 150 bound for Block Island, where they intended to spend the day, have dinner, and then fly home.  At 1:05 a.m. on the morning of July 22, the men took off from Block Island Airport for the return trip.  Shortly after becoming airborne the plane suddenly crashed in a thick brushy area about three miles from the airport and burst into flames.  All aboard perished.     

     The men were from Cumberland, R. I., Blackstone, Ma., North Smithfield, R. I. and Milford, Ma.  All had been long time friends. 

     Visibility at the time of the accident was hindered by darkness and patches of thick fog.   

     The cause of the accident is unknown.  

     Sources:

     Woonsocket Call, “Four Men Killed In City Plane Crash On Block Island”, July 22, 1957, pg.1.

     Woonsocket Call, “Last Man To See Quartet Alive Tells Of Takeoff, Crash, Flames”, July 22, 1957, pg. 1.  

     Woonsocket Call, “Pilots Gather At Airport Here, Stunned By Block I. Tragedy”, July 22, 1957, pg. 2. 

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Civil Tagged With: , , , ,

Block Island, R. I. – June 28, 1987

February 19, 2021

Block Island, Rhode Island – June 28, 1987 

       At 1 p.m. on June 28, 1987, a single-engine aircraft with a lone pilot aboard took off from Block Island Airport in a Cessna Hawk bound for Westerly, R. I.  Just after take off the engine lost all power and the plane went down in a brushy area about a half-mile from the airport.  The pilot was not injured. 

     Source: Providence Journal, “No One Hurt In Block I. Plane Crash”, July 1, 1987, page A-11     

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Civil Tagged With: , ,

Off Block Island – November 14, 1941

March 11, 2020

Off Block Island – November 14, 1941

 

Curtiss Seagull
U.S. Navy Photo

     On November 14, 1941, the U.S. navy cruiser USS Augusta, (CA-31), was off the Rhode Island shore in the vicinity of Block Island.   Attached to the Augusta was a Curtiss SOC-3 Seagull aircraft used for observation purposes. 

     The navy report of this incident is brief, and does not state why the aircraft was airborne.  It only mentions that the aircraft made a landing in choppy seas near an oil slick.  Upon landing the left wing float was damaged and developed a leak which caused the aircraft to capsize.  Fortunately the pilot and his observer were rescued unharmed.    

     No further details were given. 

     Source: U. S. Navy accident report #3488, dated November 14, 1941

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Military Tagged With: , , , , ,

Block Island, R.I. – October 24, 1974

October 20, 2017

Block Island, Rhode Island – October 24, 1974

     On the afternoon of October 24, 1974, a Cessna 180 seaplane was attempting to land at Block Island’s Old Harbor when the left wing dipped and caught the water causing the plane to capsize about 300 feet from shore.  The lone pilot aboard was able to free himself from the submerged cockpit and was rescued a short time later by nearby boaters.

     Sources:

     (Providence) Evening Bulletin, “Seaplane Tips In Landing At Block Island”, October 25, 1974, page B-5

     Westerly Sun, (R.I.), “Seaplane Pilot Rescued”, October 25, 1974, page 2

Filed Under: Rhode Island - Civil Tagged With: , , ,
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