Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 11 March 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-75-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 42-100877
Location: Axford, Ramsbury –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: C-47A transport planeC-47A transport plane
Category: Accident
A Horsa glider (LG891) detached from its tow plane during a routing glider tow training mission near Ramsbury, resulting in its landing in a large ploughed field. A Douglas C-47A transport plane attempted to retrieve the glider, but was unable to clear an electric power line, stalling before impacting the ground in the River Kennet. The glider pilot released the glider, and it landed safely in another field.A Horsa glider (LG891) detached from its tow plane during a routing glider tow training mission near Ramsbury, resulting in its landing in a large ploughed field. A Douglas C-47A transport plane attempted to retrieve the glider, but was unable to clear an electric power line, stalling before impacting the ground in the River Kennet. The glider pilot released the glider, and it landed safely in another field.
Description
During a routing glider tow training mission near Ramsbury, a Horsa glider (LG891) became detached from its tow plane and landed in a large ploughed field just north of the small village of Axford. A Douglas C-47A transport plane, 42-100877, flew to the field in order to retrieve the glider. Takeoff was attempted with a 17 knots tailwind. Although the C-47 became airborne, it was not able to clear an electric power line. The plane then stalled before pitching into the ground, coming to a rest in the River Kennet. The glider pilot cut loose and landed safely in another field.
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
Electrical power line obstructionElectrical power line obstructionShare on:
