ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 120327
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| Date: | Thursday 29 June 1944 |
| Time: | 12:05 |
| Type: |  Vultee BT-13A Valiant |
| Owner/operator: | B-26 FGS USAAF |
| Registration: | 41-22090 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Near Randado, Texas (133 Degrees/42 miles from Laredo AAF) -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Harlingen AAF, TX |
| Laredo AAF, TX | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
This BT-13A, being operated by the B-26 Flexible Gunnery School, took off from Harlingen AAF piloted by a WASP pilot and carrying an officer passenger.
The flight was normal until only about 15 minutes from its destination when the plane, flying at about 1,500 feet, began a gentle co-ordinated descending turn to the left.
This turn continued until the aircraft struck the ground on a ranch near the town of Randado, turning over and bursting into flames.
The passenger, Major R.B. Stringfellow was thrown clear and survived with serious injuries. The pilot was unable to exit the cockpit and died in the fire.
Major Stringfellow reported that the engine seemed to be running normally until the crash, and that the pilot gave him no indication over the intercom that anything was amiss. He only became aware that something was wrong moments before the impact.
The examination of the wrecked plane revealed a fault with one of the tailwheel steering cables, but this was thought to have no bearing on the mishap.
It would appear that this accident was caused by pilot incapacitation, probably caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Bonnie Jean (Alloway) Welz, Women Airforces Service Pilots.
R.I.P.
Sources:
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.asp
https://www.wwii-women-pilots.org/WASP_KIA/bjwelz.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-Mar-2011 20:15 | angels one five | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 27-Mar-2011 02:05 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative] |
| 04-Sep-2011 11:01 | Uli Elch | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 08-Sep-2011 08:05 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 13-Aug-2012 02:05 | Anon. | Updated [Time, Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 15-Aug-2013 07:19 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 14-Mar-2014 09:25 | angels one five | Updated [Time, Registration, Location, Narrative] |
| 13-Feb-2020 17:27 | Iwosh | Updated [Operator, Location, Operator] |
| 21-Feb-2020 23:33 | angels one five | Updated [Narrative] |
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