Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 13 February 1960
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando
Owner/operator: Associated Air Transport
Registration Number: N46Q
Location: Wrightstown-McGuire AFB, NJ (WRI) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 57
Component Affected: Aircraft system (specifically, the flight control system and power management system)Aircraft system (specifically, the flight control system and power management system)
Category: Accident
A Curtiss aircraft, en route from Louisville to McGuire AFB, experienced icing conditions in the Elkins-Charleston area. Due to the icing, the crew initiated power adjustments, resulting in a stall and subsequent crash-landing 1200 feet short of the runway threshold. The incident was likely caused by inadequate flight planning and fuel management.A Curtiss aircraft, en route from Louisville to McGuire AFB, experienced icing conditions in the Elkins-Charleston area. Due to the icing, the crew initiated power adjustments, resulting in a stall and subsequent crash-landing 1200 feet short of the runway threshold. The incident was likely caused by inadequate flight planning and fuel management.

Description

The Curtiss was being used for a civil air movement of military personnel from Louisville to McGuire AFB. En route, in the Elkins-Charleston area light to moderate icing occurred. This required the use of wing de-icers and propeller anti-icers. Shortly after passing Baltimore the same weather conditions were encountered which required a power setting of 2400rpm and 38″ manifold pressure. The plane lost altitude, which forced the crew to apply METO power setting of 2600rpm and 45″ manifold pressure. During the final (GCA) approach to McGuire AFB the plane stalled and crash-landed 1200 feet short of the runway threshold. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Crew failed to maintain an accurate log of the flight as pertains to flight planning/fuel consumption/fuel requirements.”

Primary Cause

Crew failed to maintain an accurate log of flight as pertains to flight planning/fuel consumption/fuel requirements.Crew failed to maintain an accurate log of flight as pertains to flight planning/fuel consumption/fuel requirements.

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