Incident Overview

Date: Friday 20 November 1964
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando
Owner/operator: Zantop Air Transport, lsf Aaxico Airlines
Registration Number: N3971B
Location: Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI (DTW) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: WingsWings
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A Curtiss C-46 aircraft experienced a significant loss of lift during takeoff due to ice accumulation on the wings. The aircraft was forced to land after losing altitude and sliding, with a substantial layer of ice remaining on the wings.A Curtiss C-46 aircraft experienced a significant loss of lift during takeoff due to ice accumulation on the wings. The aircraft was forced to land after losing altitude and sliding, with a substantial layer of ice remaining on the wings.

Description

The Curtiss C-46 was loaded to about 20 pounds under the maximum allowable gross weight of 48000 pounds for the cargo flight to Wilmington. Weather was 2300 feet overcast, visibility 10 miles in light snow, temperature 26deg F. and wind 250deg at 4 knots. About 2-3 inches of snow were swept from the wings and the underlying layer of rough crusted ice was de-iced using an 8 to 1 mixture of ethyline glycol. At 06:08 the plane took off from runway 21L and climbed to 200 feet following a longer than usual takeoff run. When power was reduced, the plane started vibrating and altitude was lost. The aircraft contacted the ground again 2050 feet past the end of the runway and slid for 448 feet before coming to rest in an upright position. It appeared that a layer of about 3 mm ice was still on the wings. PROBABLE CAUSE: “A loss of lift during takeoff, resulting from airframe icing caused by inadequate de-icing and pre-flight inspection.”

Primary Cause

Loss of lift during takeoff, resulting from airframe icing caused by inadequate de-icing and pre-flight inspection.Loss of lift during takeoff, resulting from airframe icing caused by inadequate de-icing and pre-flight inspection.

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