Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 20 November 1955
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-124A Globemaster II
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 51-149
Location: Iwo Jima Air Base (IWO) – ÿ Japan
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11
Component Affected: The nr.1 engine propeller system.The nr.1 engine propeller system.
Category: Accident
A Douglas C-124A Globemaster II transport plane crashed on Runway 07 at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan, after carrying a significant cargo load. The aircraft experienced a violent bank to the left, resulting in a catastrophic impact with the ground. The left wing pod made initial contact, causing significant damage and subsequent fire.A Douglas C-124A Globemaster II transport plane crashed on Runway 07 at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan, after carrying a significant cargo load. The aircraft experienced a violent bank to the left, resulting in a catastrophic impact with the ground. The left wing pod made initial contact, causing significant damage and subsequent fire.

Description

A Douglas C-124A Globemaster II transport plane operated on a routine mission from Tachikawa Air Base, Japan to Iwo Jima Air Base and back. The flight to Iwo Jima was uneventful. After 24,892 lb of cargo had been loaded on the plane, the crew received clearance to take off from runway 07. Runway 07 was a 9800 feet long asphalt runway. The airplane lifted off the ground at 3500 feet from the approach end of the runway. The undercarriage was retracted and the airplane reached 100 feet at 6600 feet down the runway. At this time the aircraft was observed making a violent bank to the left with a change in engine sound. The left wing pod made initial contact with the ground, tearing itself from the aircraft. The aircraft continued in a left turn and dived into the ground 6950 feet from the approach end and 296 feet left of the runway. The aircraft was consumed by fire. One passenger surived the crash, but died of his injuries on December 6, 1955. It is believed an electrical short in the nr.1 engine propeller system caused the reverse circuit to be energized forcing the blades past the low limit electrical stop to the maximum reverse blade angle against the mechanical stop.

Primary Cause

Reverse circuit in the nr.1 engine propeller system caused by an electrical short, leading to excessive blade angle and damage to the aircraft.Reverse circuit in the nr.1 engine propeller system caused by an electrical short, leading to excessive blade angle and damage to the aircraft.

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