Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 22 January 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-1-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 42-23302
Location: Richmond Central Airport, VA –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: TailTail
Category: Accident
A C-47A aircraft, departing Maxton AAB to Richmond AAB, diverted to Richmond Central Airport due to a closed base. Upon landing, it encountered mud and bogged down, resulting in a catastrophic loss of control and subsequent impact with the ground. The pilot’s actions, including turning off the runway, led to the fatal accident.A C-47A aircraft, departing Maxton AAB to Richmond AAB, diverted to Richmond Central Airport due to a closed base. Upon landing, it encountered mud and bogged down, resulting in a catastrophic loss of control and subsequent impact with the ground. The pilot’s actions, including turning off the runway, led to the fatal accident.
Description
The C-47A departed Maxton AAB on an instrument training flight to Richmond AAB. On arrival, the Air Base had been closed for traffic. The pilot decided to divert to the Richmond Central Airport. The landing was uneventful and the airplane taxied to the end of the runway. While turning off the runway, it ran into mud. Power was added, but the plane bogged down up to the wheel hubs. After adding more power, the tail lifted off. The airplane then nosed over and the propellers struck the ground at high rpm. The no.1 propeller separated and debris punctured the cockpit, killing the captain.
Source of Information
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.asphttp://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.aspPrimary Cause
Muddy conditions and improper runway use during a controlled landing.Muddy conditions and improper runway use during a controlled landing.Share on:
