Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 22 June 1957
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-75-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Capital Airlines
Registration Number: N88835
Location: near Clarksburg, MD – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Aircraft systems (specifically airspeed, altitude, and control inputs)Aircraft systems (specifically airspeed, altitude, and control inputs)
Investigating Agency: CABCAB
Category: Accident
A flight experienced a significant training incident during a series of six flight exercises. The aircraft initiated a ‘canyon approach’ simulation, involving a rectangular approach, cockpit checks, gear down, full flaps, and a maximum climb. The student experienced a stall and subsequent spin due to altitude and airspeed issues, resulting in a crash landing on top of a vehicle.A flight experienced a significant training incident during a series of six flight exercises. The aircraft initiated a ‘canyon approach’ simulation, involving a rectangular approach, cockpit checks, gear down, full flaps, and a maximum climb. The student experienced a stall and subsequent spin due to altitude and airspeed issues, resulting in a crash landing on top of a vehicle.

Description

The flight took off at 06:25 for the second of a series of 6 training flights to upgrade 2 co-pilots to captain. Some 1 and 15 minutes after takeoff, the students were to make a ‘canyon approach’-simulation, which simulates the letting down to an airport surrounded by obstructions followed by an emergency pull-up. In this simulation the student flies a rectangular approach pattern followed by an in range cockpit check. The flaps are lowered one half and the speed reduced to 95 knots before selecting gear down and full flaps. With power off he descends 1000 feet, holding 95 knots. At 200 feet above simulated airport elevation (generally 3000 feet msl) he levels off, applies full power, orders gear and flaps up before starting a 85 knots maximum performance climb. At this point the instructor may, at his discretion cut an engine. The student then has to complete an emergency procedure and continue climbing at 85 knots for 300 feet. Speed is increased to 95 knots before making a 180deg standard turn. At some point during this simulation, the aircraft stalled and entered a spin. The aircraft crashed almost straight down through a group of trees, landing on top of an automobile. It was determined that the flaps were retracted and the gear down and locked at impact. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Loss of airspeed while executing manoeuvres during a training flight, resulting in a stall followed immediately by a spin from an altitude too low to effect recovery.”

Primary Cause

Loss of airspeed while executing maneuvers during a training flight, resulting in a stall followed immediately by a spin from an altitude too low to effect recovery.Loss of airspeed while executing maneuvers during a training flight, resulting in a stall followed immediately by a spin from an altitude too low to effect recovery.

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