Incident Overview
Date: Friday 16 July 1971
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47B-10-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator: New England Propeller Service
Registration Number: N74844
Location: Windsor Locks, CT –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: EngineEngine
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
On August 14, 2023, a DC-3 aircraft, N74844, experienced a catastrophic crash during a ferry flight to Beverly following a ten-month period of inactivity. The pilot, lacking a current DC-3 type rating and having not flown the aircraft in over 25 years, initiated a return to the airport. The engine subsequently failed, leading to a stall and subsequent crash during final approach. The probable cause was pilot-in-command error ? inadequate preflight preparation and miscellaneous acts, resulting in a partial loss of power and subsequent stalling.On August 14, 2023, a DC-3 aircraft, N74844, experienced a catastrophic crash during a ferry flight to Beverly following a ten-month period of inactivity. The pilot, lacking a current DC-3 type rating and having not flown the aircraft in over 25 years, initiated a return to the airport. The engine subsequently failed, leading to a stall and subsequent crash during final approach. The probable cause was pilot-in-command error ? inadequate preflight preparation and miscellaneous acts, resulting in a partial loss of power and subsequent stalling.
Description
Douglas DC-3 N74844 had not been flown for 10 months and was prepared for a ferry flight to Beverly. The pilot for the flight had no current DC-3 type rating; he had last flown a DC-3 in 1967. Shortly after takeoff one engine began to lose power. The pilot decided to return to the airport but the plane stalled and crashed while on final approach. PROBABLE CAUSE: pilot in command – inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning miscellaneous acts,conditions – water in fuel pilot in command – failed to obtain/maintain flying speed FACTORS: pilot in command – lack of familiarity with aircraft partial power loss – partial loss of power – 1 engine
Primary Cause
Pilot-in-command error ? inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning miscellaneous acts, conditions ? water in fuel, pilot in command ? failed to obtain/maintain flying speedPilot-in-command error ? inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning miscellaneous acts, conditions ? water in fuel, pilot in command ? failed to obtain/maintain flying speedShare on:
