Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 4 April 1961
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Eastern Provincial Airways
Registration Number: CF-JNR
Location: Saint Pierre Airport (FSP) –
ÿ St. Pierre and Miquelon
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 27
Component Affected: Left undercarriage leg, left wingtip, right undercarriage leg, right propeller.Left undercarriage leg, left wingtip, right undercarriage leg, right propeller.
Category: Accident
A DC-3 aircraft experienced a catastrophic collapse during takeoff from St. Pierre, resulting in a significant loss of aircraft and structural components. The left undercarriage leg collapsed, causing the plane to roll significantly and subsequently impact the runway.A DC-3 aircraft experienced a catastrophic collapse during takeoff from St. Pierre, resulting in a significant loss of aircraft and structural components. The left undercarriage leg collapsed, causing the plane to roll significantly and subsequently impact the runway.
Description
The left undercarriage leg of the DC-3 collapsed during the takeoff run from St. Pierre. The plane rolled left and became airborne half way down the runway, at a speed just above stalling speed. The left wingtip struck the runway boundary marker and the takeoff was abandoned. The aircraft rolled through a ditch, causing the right undercarriage leg and right propeller to be torn off.
Primary Cause
Unexpected aerodynamic instability during takeoff, likely exacerbated by a combination of factors including a sudden change in airflow and potentially a structural weakness in the left undercarriage.Unexpected aerodynamic instability during takeoff, likely exacerbated by a combination of factors including a sudden change in airflow and potentially a structural weakness in the left undercarriage.Share on: