Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 11 May 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-35-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 42-23866
Location: Fayetteville-Pope AAF, NC (POB) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 11
Component Affected: Tail wheel of the C-47 aircraft.Tail wheel of the C-47 aircraft.
Category: Accident
A C-47 aircraft carrying paratroopers executed a takeoff roll out of Pope Field. Due to an unlocked tail wheel, the aircraft swerved, resulting in a takeoff off the runway. It stalled at a height of 150 feet and subsequently fell to the left, impacting trees and subsequently catching fire.A C-47 aircraft carrying paratroopers executed a takeoff roll out of Pope Field. Due to an unlocked tail wheel, the aircraft swerved, resulting in a takeoff off the runway. It stalled at a height of 150 feet and subsequently fell to the left, impacting trees and subsequently catching fire.
Description
Twelve C-47 aircraft were involved in a paratroop drop mission out of Pope Field. The C-47 in question was number eight for takeoff. The airplane swerved left and right during the takeoff roll, presumably due to an unlocked tail wheel. It went off the runway but the pilot managed to get airborne. It stalled at a height of 150 feet and fell off to the left. The right wing struck trees. The airplane then cartwheeled into terrain and caught fire.
Primary Cause
Unlocked tail wheel during takeoff.Unlocked tail wheel during takeoff.Share on:
