Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 12 May 1970
Aircraft Type: Aero Spacelines 377MGT Mini Guppy Turbine
Owner/operator: Aero Spacelines
Registration Number: N111AS
Location: Edwards AFB, CA (EDW) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Aircraft fuselageAircraft fuselage
Category: Accident
Aero Spacelines 377MGT, a converted Boeing Stratocruiser, experienced a catastrophic accident during takeoff. The aircraft was performing a sixth takeoff sequence following a scheduled shutdown of engine number one, flying at approximately 109 knots IAS with a 200-degree wind. A rapid and uncontrolled rotation occurred, resulting in a left wingtip contact with the ground, followed by a severe yaw and fuselage impact, leading to the destruction of the flight deck.Aero Spacelines 377MGT, a converted Boeing Stratocruiser, experienced a catastrophic accident during takeoff. The aircraft was performing a sixth takeoff sequence following a scheduled shutdown of engine number one, flying at approximately 109 knots IAS with a 200-degree wind. A rapid and uncontrolled rotation occurred, resulting in a left wingtip contact with the ground, followed by a severe yaw and fuselage impact, leading to the destruction of the flight deck.

Description

The Aero Spacelines 377MGT was a converted Boeing Stratocruiser. Prototype N111AS first flew on March 13, 1970. In the following period flight testing was carried out, a.o. at Edwards AFB. The accident occurred during the sixth takeoff of Flight Number 12 following the scheduled shutdown of the engine number one at about 109 knots IAS. The takeoff was being made on runway 22 and the wind was from approximately 200 degrees at about 10 knots. Rotation occured at about 114 knots and several seconds after rotation, according to one witness, the aircraft turned and rolled to the left, settling as it did so. The left wingtip subsequently contacted the ground, causing a severe yaw. The forward fuselage struck the ground, causing the flight deck to be destroyed. PROBABLEÿCAUSE(S): miscellaneousÿacts,conditionsÿ-ÿsimulatedÿconditions misc-ctlÿlossÿatÿcriticalÿtime-causeÿundetermined

Source of Information

http://www.allaboutguppys.comhttp://www.allaboutguppys.com

Primary Cause

Miscellaneous acts, conditions-simulated conditions, critical time cause undeterminedMiscellaneous acts, conditions-simulated conditions, critical time cause undetermined

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