Akron | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During takeoff, the aircraft rolled abruptly to the right after lift-off. Subsequently, the right wingtip struck the surface, then the aircraft cartwheeled and crashed. The fuselage was destroyed by a post-crash fire. An exam of the engines revealed that the right engine supercharger intermediate drive gear shaft had become worn and one of its gear teeth had failed from fatigue. There was evidence that an out-of-mesh condition occurred, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff. Also, the aircraft was estimated to be 679 lbs over its max certified gross weight. Density alt was calculated to be about 2,000 feet. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The fatigue failure of the supercharger intermediate drive gear shaft (gear tooth), which resulted in a partial loss of power, and the pilot's initiation of lift-off before reaching VMC airspeed. Factors related to the accident were: the worn intermediate drive gear shaft, the pilot's operation of the aircraft above its maximum certified gross weight limit, and the high density altitude.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Hagerstown

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1986 at 0324 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Operator:

Central Air Charter

Registration:

N116CA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Akron - Mount Vernon

MSN:

500-1133-75

YOM:

1961

Location:

Hagerstown

Indiana

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3150

Captain / Total hours on type:

200.00

Aircraft flight hours:

11034

Circumstances:

The pilot was on the fourth leg of a night cargo flight cruising at approximately 500 feet agl enroute to Mt Vernon, IL, when the aircraft struck some trees and subsequently collided with the ground. The engines and propellers were both torn down and tested and no evidence of malfunction was discovered. The pilot stated he did not recall the crash sequence at all. The pilot was wearing a 'walkman' radio at the time of the accident. He stated it was to help keep him awake, because he had fallen asleep at times in the past while flying night cargo.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: cruise
Findings
1. Object - tree(s)
2. (c) altitude - not maintained - pilot in command
3. Fatigue (flight schedule) - pilot in command
4. (f) light condition - night
5. (c) judgment - poor - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of an Aero Commander 560E in Michigan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Operator:

Registration:

N3823C

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Detroit – Akron

MSN:

560-746

YOM:

1959

Location:

Michigan

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3100

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Circumstances:

En route from Detroit to Akron, Ohio, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere between both cities, maybe in Michigan. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the 4 occupants was found.

Probable cause:

Undetermined. Aircraft damage and injury index presumed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-49-DO near Galax: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1947 at 0138 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-49 (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

NC88872

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Detroit – Cleveland – Akron – Winston-Salem

MSN:

3274

YOM:

1941

Flight number:

EA665

Location:

Galax

Virginia

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3511

Captain / Total hours on type:

1939.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1560

Copilot / Total hours on type:

326

Aircraft flight hours:

7680

Circumstances:

While cruising at the altitude of 2,500 feet in bad weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Galax. A passenger was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in attempting a let-down without having positively determined the position of the aircraft. A contributing factor was the erroneous navigation of the pilot which on at least two occasions led him to believe that he was farther south than he actually was.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild Pilgrim 100A in Brighton: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild Pilgrim 100A

Operator:

Registration:

NC708Y

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cleveland – Akron

MSN:

6604

YOM:

1931

Location:

Brighton

Ohio

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Cleveland in poor weather conditions. Few minutes after takeoff, he got lost and attempted to return to Cleveland. He reduced his altitude and elected to make an emergency landing when a wing struck a knoll and the plane crashed. Two passengers were seriously injured while three other occupants were killed. Few hours later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.