Incident Overview

Date: Monday 19 October 1959
Aircraft Type: Boeing 707-227
Owner/operator: Boeing
Registration Number: N7071
Location: 16 km NE of Arlington, WA – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 8
Component Affected: No specific aircraft component was identified.No specific aircraft component was identified.
Investigating Agency: CABCAB
Category: Accident
A Boeing 707 N7071, operated by Braniff, experienced a catastrophic crash landing following a Dutch Roll training flight. The aircraft lost control, resulting in engine damage and a fire. The recovery attempt exceeded bank restrictions, leading to the torn-off engines. The incident occurred near a river, and the probable cause was identified as a structural failure due to an improper recovery attempt.A Boeing 707 N7071, operated by Braniff, experienced a catastrophic crash landing following a Dutch Roll training flight. The aircraft lost control, resulting in engine damage and a fire. The recovery attempt exceeded bank restrictions, leading to the torn-off engines. The incident occurred near a river, and the probable cause was identified as a structural failure due to an improper recovery attempt.

Description

The Boeing 707 N7071 was operating on a customer guarantee and acceptance training flight prior to delivery of the plane to Braniff. The plane was being flown by a Braniff captain and a Boeing testpilot as instructor. Other Braniff and Boeing personnel were on board as crew members and observers. A series of Dutch Rolls were performed; one of the rolls was executed beyond the maximum bank restrictions. Control was lost, but the aircraft recovered. During the recovery however, the no. 1, 2 and 4 engines were torn off. An intense fire burned away portions of the jet control near the no. 2 engine attachment area. An emergency descent was carried out and the plane crash-landed along river. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The structural failure induced during an improper recovery attempt from a Dutch Roll which exceeded the angle-of-bank limits prescribed by the company.”

Primary Cause

Structural failure induced during an improper recovery attempt from a Dutch Roll which exceeded the angle-of-bank limits prescribed by the company.Structural failure induced during an improper recovery attempt from a Dutch Roll which exceeded the angle-of-bank limits prescribed by the company.

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