Incident Overview
Date: Friday 28 October 1949
Aircraft Type: Grumman G-73 Mallard
Owner/operator: Superior Oil Corp.
Registration Number: NC2956
Location: London Heathrow Airport (LHR) –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 7
Component Affected: Aircraft undercarriageAircraft undercarriage
Category: Accident
A night takeoff from London Airport resulted in a catastrophic crash of an aircraft. The aircraft lost altitude and swerved to the left, causing significant damage to the undercarriage. The aircraft continued across the airport for a considerable distance before burning.A night takeoff from London Airport resulted in a catastrophic crash of an aircraft. The aircraft lost altitude and swerved to the left, causing significant damage to the undercarriage. The aircraft continued across the airport for a considerable distance before burning.
Description
While making a night takeoff from London Airport the aircraft reached a height of between 30 and 50 feet and then swerved to the left approximately 40 degrees to the line of takeoff. Height was lost and the undercarriage struck the grass 150 yards from the edge of the runway. The aircraft continued across the airport a few feet above the ground for a further 450 yards and the crashed and burst into flames.
Primary Cause
Loss of altitude during takeoff, combined with a swerving maneuver leading to a significant loss of altitude and subsequent impact with the ground.Loss of altitude during takeoff, combined with a swerving maneuver leading to a significant loss of altitude and subsequent impact with the ground.Share on:
