Zone

Crash of a Douglas C-47B in Burnet

Date & Time: Jul 21, 2018 at 0915 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N47HL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Burnet – Sedalia – Oshkosh
MSN:
15758/27203
YOM:
1945
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12500
Captain / Total hours on type:
2500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
17
Circumstances:
According to the copilot, before takeoff, he and the pilot had briefed that the copilot would conduct the takeoff for the planned cross-country flight and be the pilot flying and that the pilot would be the pilot monitoring. The accident flight was the copilot's first takeoff in the accident airplane with it at or near its maximum gross weight. The pilot reported that he taxied the airplane onto the runway and locked the tailwheel in place and that the copilot then took over the controls. About 13 seconds after the start of the takeoff roll, the airplane veered slightly right, and the copilot counteracted with left rudder input. The airplane then swerved left, and shortly after the pilot took control of the airplane. The airplane briefly became airborne; the pilot stated that he knew the airplane was slow as he tried to ease it back over to the runway and set it back down. Subsequently, he felt the shudder “of a stall,” and the airplane rolled left and impacted the ground, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. After the airplane came to a stop, a postimpact fire ensued. All the airplane occupants egressed through the aft left door. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the flight controls or tailwheel. Both outboard portions of the of the aluminum shear pin within the tailwheel strut assembly were sheared off, consistent with side load forces on the tailwheel during the impact sequence. The copilot obtained his pilot-in-command type rating and his checkout for the accident airplane about 2 months and 2 weeks before the accident, respectively. The copilot had conducted two flights in the accident airplane with a unit instructor before the accident. The instructor reported that, during these flights, he noted that the copilot had directional control issues; made "lazy inputs, similar to those for small airplanes"; tended to go to the right first; and seemed to overcorrect to the left by leaving control inputs in for too long. He added that, after the checkout was completed, the copilot could take off and land without assistance; however, he had some concern about the his reaction time to a divergence of heading on the ground. Given the evidence, it is likely the copilot failed to maintain directional control during the initial takeoff roll. It is also likely that, if the pilot, who had more experience in the airplane, had monitored the copilot's takeoff more closely and taken remedial action sooner, he may have been able to correct the loss of directional control before the airplane became briefly airborne and subsequently experienced an aerodynamic stall.
Probable cause:
The copilot's failure to maintain directional control during the initial takeoff roll and the pilot's failure to adequately monitor the copilot during the takeoff and his delayed remedial action, which resulted in the airplane briefly becoming airborne and subsequently experiencing an aerodynamic stall.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 Marquise in Alamogordo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1992 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N108SC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Alamogordo - Burnet
MSN:
545
YOM:
1971
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
10072
Captain / Total hours on type:
1095.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4251
Circumstances:
The flight had departed the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport after a fuel stop. The pilot had earlier indicated to ATC that he was unfamiliar with the area. Prior to departure at 2321 the pilot was informed that departure radar was out of service. The flight departed with a VFR departure. At 2324 the pilot was advised that radar was back in service, and confirmed that the aircraft was climbing thru 5,300 feet. Discussion ensued between the pilot and controller concerning terrain clearance. At 2324 the pilot indicated he was turning left due to not being sure if a hill was in his path. The airplane impacted a mountain at 6,100 feet msl, 1,500 feet below the summit. The minimum vectoring altitude in the area was 11,000 feet. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The failure of the pilot to exercise adequate VFR departure terrain avoidance procedures, and the failure of the controller to issue a safety alert to the pilot. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the pilot's lack of familiarity with the geographic area, the dark night, and the mountainous terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando near Burnet: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1945 at 2205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-77721
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bergstrom - Bergstrom
MSN:
33117
YOM:
1945
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Bergstrom AFB at 2031LT for a local night training mission. Enroute, the twin engine aircraft crashed on hilly terrain at an altitude of 1,500 feet, some 8 miles northwest of Burnet. The wreckage was found four days later and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ross A. Capparelli,
2nd Lt Herbert D. Fleming,
2nd Lt Willard E. Jacobson,
T/Sgt Francis J. Pombert.