Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 9 October 1949
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-90-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 43-16062
Location: Isachsen Airstrip, NU –
ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10
Component Affected: Wings and stabilizerWings and stabilizer
Category: Accident
A C-47 ski-equipped aircraft attempted takeoff from a snow-covered airstrip, encountering difficulties due to a severe night frost and compromised aircraft components. The pilot attempted to take off despite the conditions, resulting in a series of events including a wing dip, gear contact, and subsequent slide to a tail-high position in a riverbank.A C-47 ski-equipped aircraft attempted takeoff from a snow-covered airstrip, encountering difficulties due to a severe night frost and compromised aircraft components. The pilot attempted to take off despite the conditions, resulting in a series of events including a wing dip, gear contact, and subsequent slide to a tail-high position in a riverbank.
Description
The ski-equipped C-47 attempted to depart from a 4200 feet long airstrip which was covered with five inches of snow. The crew had checked out the location to see if a C-54 could land there for resupply operations. During the night frost had accumulated on the aircraft. The windshield was cleared, but the wings and stabilizer were not. At a weight of 28850 pounds, 850 pounds over the allowable gross weight, the pilot tried to take off. After becoming airborne the right wing dipped. The pilot recovered, but the main gear then touched the ground. The wheels and skis then hit a river bank. The C-47 bounced and came down on the right wing, sliding to a stop in a tail high position. The wreckage was still on the same location by 2007.
Source of Information
http://www.oldwings.nlhttp://www.oldwings.nlPrimary Cause
Severe weather conditions, specifically a prolonged night frost and compromised aircraft components (specifically wings and stabilizer), caused the incident.Severe weather conditions, specifically a prolonged night frost and compromised aircraft components (specifically wings and stabilizer), caused the incident.Share on:
