Plymouth, CT. – May 31, 1946

Plymouth, Connecticut – May 31, 1946

     On May 31, 1946, a Curtiss aircraft with a man and woman aboard was in the process of taking off from Mount Tobe Airport in Plymouth.  When the aircraft had reached an altitude of only 30 feet it suddenly veered off course and crashed into several trees and was wrecked.  The engine buried itself into the ground, the landing gear broke away, and the left wing was broken at a right angle.   

       The 37-year-old pilot suffered scrapes and bruises and his 24-year-old passenger sustained a broken nose.   Both were taken to Waterbury Hospital for treatment.  

       Source:

     The Waterbury Democrat, “Plane Crash Not Serious For Couple”, June 1, 1946, pg. 1.

 

Plymouth, CT. – June 15, 1946

Plymouth, Connecticut – June 15, 1946

     On the afternoon of June 15, 1946, an 18-year-old pilot and his 17-year-old passenger, both of Terryville, Ct., were flying in a rented airplane over the area of the Mount Tobe Airport in Plymouth, when the plane crashed killing both occupants.  At the time of the accident, the pilot was putting the aircraft through a series of “wing over” maneuvers at a low altitude.   

      The county coroner’s investigation report read in part: “As he (the pilot) reached the extreme northeasterly corner of the field at an altitude of about 250 feet, he put the plane into a steep bank to the left as though to come around and land in a southwesterly direction.  The plane banked part way around, the nose went up into a stall, and the plane fell off on the left wing into a spin.  After two complete revolutions in the spin, he crashed at the northeasterly corner of the field, killing both occupants”.        

     The type of aircraft involved in the accident is unknown. 

     Source:

     The Waterbury Democrat, “Coroner Blames Pilot For Crash At Mount Tobe Which Killed Two”, July 25, 1946, pg. 16

Plymouth, CT. – August 27, 1940

Plymouth, Connecticut – August 27, 1940 

     On the afternoon of August 27, 1940, a student pilot and his instructor, were making practice take-offs and landings at Mount Tobe Airport.  (The type of aircraft is unknown.)  As the student was making his third take-off the motor suddenly stalled while at an altitude of seventy-five feet.  The plane came down onto the runway, bounced once, then nosed in.  The 27-year-iod instructor suffered bruises, while the 24-year-old student suffered a cut on his forehead that required three stitches to close.  Both were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital via police escort.  Damage to the airplane was estimated to be between $200 and $300.    

     Source:

     The Waterbury Democrat, “Pilot, Student Hurt In Aeroplane Crash”, August 28, 1940, pg. 7

Plymouth, CT. – November 18, 1944

Plymouth, Connecticut – November 18, 1944   

C-47 Aircraft – U.S. Air Force Photo

     On November 18, 1944, a U. S. Army C-47 Air Transport Command airplane was making a landing at Mount Tobe Airport in Plymouth when the plane went off the runway and was badly damaged.  There were no reported injuries.  The aircraft was later hauled back onto the runway by a “crash truck” sent from Bradley Field in Windsor Locks.  It was reported that repairs would take about a week before the plane could take off again.  No further details are known. 

     Source:

     The Waterbury Democrat, “Air Transport Plane Damaged At Mt. Tobe”, November 21, 1944, pg. 3 

Plymouth, CT. – November 25, 1979

Plymouth, Connecticut – November 25, 1979

     On November 25, 1979, a glider with two men aboard was towed from Waterbury Airport up to an altitude of 6,000 feet before it was cut loose.  The flight was going well until the glider was suddenly caught in a downdraft and began to rapidly loose altitude before leveling off at 2,000 feet.  With the unexpected loss of altitude, the glider was now lower than anticipated, and could not make it to its designated landing area.  Sighting an open field of the Terryville Fairgrounds, the pilot aimed for it.  (Terryville is a village within the town of Plymouth.)   Just as the glider was about to land, a large bird suddenly flew from a tree and struck one of the wings causing the aircraft to pivot and cartwheel into the ground.  The aircraft suffered damage, but neither pilot or passenger were hurt.  

     Source:

     Providence Evening Bulletin, “Glider Crashes After Striking Bird; 2 Men Unhurt”, November 26, 1979, page A-7

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