No fatalities

Emergency landing near Big Prairie results in severe damage (NC435H)

Big Prairie, United States of AmericaFlight

On September 3, 1938, a Ford 5 (registration NC435H) operated by Johnson Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Big Prairie, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot attempted an emergency landing near Big Prairie due to unspecified issues. The aircraft struck trees upon touchdown, tearing off the left wing and injuring all occupants.

What happened

The flight was forced to attempt an emergency landing in the vicinity of Big Prairie. The specific reasons necessitating this action were not identified in the available records. During the landing sequence, the three-engine aircraft made contact with trees. This impact resulted in significant structural failure, specifically causing the left wing to be torn from the airframe. All occupants sustained injuries during the event, and the airplane was declared damaged beyond repair.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific contributing factors or a formal conclusion regarding why the emergency landing was required. The primary mechanical consequence noted was the loss of the left wing due to the collision with vegetation.