Vanderbilt Cup Races

This one was easy to find. Oct. 15, 1958, in Babylon. The plane was a C123 military transport. It ran out of fuel trying to land at Zahn’s Airport, and crashed on the Southern State Parkway, hitting three cars before stopping in flames. One man died of head injuries, and five people suffered minor injuries. The car is a ‘53 or ‘54 Pontiac.

The date was October 15th 1958.  A Fairchild C-123B-6FA Provider plane had left Dobbins air force base from Georgia and was set to land at Mitchel field.  It attempted an emergency landing at Zahn’s airport in north amityville but it came down on the southern state parkway in north babylon after it ran out of fuel.  It skidded several hundred feet and even slid through an underpass.  The aircraft had a 119 ft wingspan and passed through a 50 ft wide underpass, shearing off both outer wings, the port engine and vertical fin.  It collided with 3 cars, killing one driver and injured six others.  The car looks like it was a 1953-55 Pontiac Chieftain.

That’s a 1953 Pontiac and a Fairchild C-123B-6-FA Provider after an encounter on the Southern State Parkway near Zahn’s Airport in North Amityville on October 15, 1958. The plane was heading for Mitchel Field from Georgia, ran out of fuel, and was trying for an emergency landing at Zahn’s but didn’t make that either. The plane hit two other vehicles also. One motorist, Harold J. Schneider, was the only fatality but three USAF men on the plane and two other civilians were injured.

October 15, 1958, Southern State Parkway, Lindenhurst/North Babylon
Insufficient fuel after being in a holding pattern.  The official Air Force investigation resulted with the pilot, 29 year old First Lt. Gary Moulson being blamed. 
Harold J. Schneider of West Islip was driving on the parkway and was killed when the plan crashed.  Damages of $55,000 were awarded to his wife and $7,500 to his daughter.  Three Air Force personnel two other female motorists were injured. 
The plane was an Air Force cargo plane - a Fairchild C-123B-6-FA Provider.
Guessing the car was a Rambler or a Nash.

Date: 15-OCT-1958
Time: night
Type: Fairchild C-123B-6-FA Provider
Owner/operator: United States Air Force (USAF)
Registration: 54-0614
MSN: 20063
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7
Other fatalities: 1
Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: North Babylon, LI, NY -  United States of America
Phase: Approach
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Robins AFB, GA
Destination airport: Mitchel Field, LI, NY
Confidence Rating:  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative: Emergency landing on Southern State Parkway at night after ran out of fuel. Collided with three cars, killing one driver. Six others injured.
from the aviation-safety.net website

date: 10/15/1958. location: Southern State Parkway near Zahn’s Airport in No. Amityville.
Cause: Ran out of Fuel
Injured 5 (or 6 depending on source)
Fatality 1-male motorist
Plane: Fairchild C123B-6-FA Provider
Car: 1954 Pontiac

I think the vehicle is a late model 1940 or early 1950 Pontiac

10/15/58.  C-123 troop carrier.  Southern State Parkway.  The plane was enroute to Mitchel Field and had tried to make an emergency landing at a small airfield nearby.  One motorist fatality, six others injured.  The pilot survived as seen in the photo.

This plane crash happened on October 15, 1958. It crashed onto the Southern State Parkway while falling 1/2 mile short of an emergency landing at Zahn’s Airport in North Amityville. The USAF Fairchild C-123-6 was heading to Mitchel Field when it ran out of fuel. One fatality and five with minor injuries. Amazing that this plane went through an underpass which sheered off most of the 119’ wingspan and tail fin.

1 10/16/1958 Southern State Parkway

2 Plane ran out of fuel

3 driver of car died

4 USAF C123 and Pontica

Howard, I remember that crash. I happened in the late 1950’s and the plane crashed on one of the Parkways. I think it was on the way to Mitchel Field. I spoke to the pilot and he said he was out of fuel looking for “Vanderbilt Motor Parkway” to land on because he knew it was abandoned and somewhere in the area.

From William Blessing:

The info i found was that on October 15,1958 a C-123B-6-FA ran out of gas and crashed on the Southern State Parkway while attempting to land at Zahn’s Airport in Amityville. There was a person killed and 5 injured. I believe the car involved is a Pontiac maybe a 1950-1951.
Regard,Walter Blessing

First thing I noticed was how broad the plane is, cargo carrier. Unless someone already has, I’ll look up the pilot. He was grounded obviously, but maybe formally charged to some degree.

Brian, the pilot was 1st Lt. Gary Moulson who was blamed for the crash.  Not sure what formal charges were brought against him.  Let us know what you find.
Here are additional articles from Newsday about the crash.  The first being about the widow suing the govt. for $1million.  As shown in my documentation above, she only received $55,000 and her daughter $7,500.  Other article shows a map of the crash.

Here’s a link to a video about the crash. (from britishpathe.com)

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVAEZFU31H2EHP6QHD1TGLODOBL4-USA-PLANE-CRASH-LONG-ISLAND/query/usa+plane+crash

The accident occurred practically at the foot of Republic’s runway. Not that it matters since they didn’t make either, but I wonder why they directed the plane towards Zahn’s, which is a little further away.

Thank you Art for the UK video link.

Didn’t find much on Gary, but he did pass away in 2021. His Find a Grave listing (public records) is attached below. Also left a couple of maps showing the location of the crash. Pretty certain he tried to land in Republic. No doubt he lived with regrets.

Thanks Brian!

The Pontiac was For Sale. Was the price discounted after the accident?

What happened was sad, and perhaps stupid, but I had to laugh a little at the For Sale sign in the car window.

My dad was charged, but then it was dropped. He later was a pilot for Capitol International Airways until they went bankrupt and then he flew with United until he had to retire. He loved flying. Pictue is from 1969 with his cessna 195.

Nice photo of you and your dad, Cynthia : )

Cynthia, thanks so much for the comment and photo. Much appreciated!

why didnt they try for Republic airport ??

Thank u for all that contributed to this story. I had heard about it & saw the pictures but, always wondered about the people impacted. What a thorough job!