Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 25 April 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-5-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 42-108842
Location: Membury USAAF Station 466 –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 14
Component Affected: Right wingRight wing
Category: Accident
A C-47A aircraft, departing from Membury USAAF Station 466, executed a slow right turn, increasing the bank angle to 45 degrees. This resulted in contact with the treetops, leading to loss of control and a crash.A C-47A aircraft, departing from Membury USAAF Station 466, executed a slow right turn, increasing the bank angle to 45 degrees. This resulted in contact with the treetops, leading to loss of control and a crash.
Description
The C-47A departed Membury USAAF Station 466 and climbed to 100 feet above treetops. A slow right turn increased to a 45 degree bank angle. The right wing then contacted tree tops causing a loss of control and subsequent crash. There was no mechanical failure and the accident was due to pilot error in the opinion of the Accident Investigating Committee.
Source of Information
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.asp, http://www.ramsburyatwar.com/crashsites.htmhttp://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.asp, http://www.ramsburyatwar.com/crashsites.htmPrimary Cause
Pilot errorPilot errorShare on:
