Narrative:
Douglas C-54 41-37271 was scheduled to fly over Wright Field at 2000 feet altitude. A dummy combat tank equipped with parachutes was slung under the fuselage. The crew were planning to release the tank over the field. A twin engine USAAF Lockheed C-40A Electra plane (38-546, c/n 1263) was flying in formation so the occupants were able to photograph the tank dropping. After the tank was released, the C-40 made a quick turn to the left, striking the C-54 wing tip. It severed 19 feet of the C-54's wing.
The C-40 entered a spin and crashed near the runway. The C-54 continued for 500-750 feet, allowing two passengers to bail out with parachutes. The airplane then dropped off on the right wing and crashed in a vertical dive near Wright Brothers Hill.
Loss of control
» Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research (AAIR)
» Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945, Vol. 2: July 1943-July 1944 / Anthony J. Mireles
accident date: 09-07-1943
type: Douglas C-54 (DC-4)
registration: 41-37271
| Status: | |
| Date: | Friday 9 July 1943 |
| Time: | 13:27 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-54-DO (DC-4) |
| Operator: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
| Registration: | 41-37271 |
| MSN: | 3057 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 5 |
| Collision casualties: | Fatalities: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Dayton-Wright Patterson AFB, OH (FFO) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Maneuvering (MNV) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Dayton-Wright Patterson AFB, OH (FFO/KFFO), United States of America |
| Dayton-Wright Patterson AFB, OH (FFO/KFFO), United States of America |
Douglas C-54 41-37271 was scheduled to fly over Wright Field at 2000 feet altitude. A dummy combat tank equipped with parachutes was slung under the fuselage. The crew were planning to release the tank over the field. A twin engine USAAF Lockheed C-40A Electra plane (38-546, c/n 1263) was flying in formation so the occupants were able to photograph the tank dropping. After the tank was released, the C-40 made a quick turn to the left, striking the C-54 wing tip. It severed 19 feet of the C-54's wing.
The C-40 entered a spin and crashed near the runway. The C-54 continued for 500-750 feet, allowing two passengers to bail out with parachutes. The airplane then dropped off on the right wing and crashed in a vertical dive near Wright Brothers Hill.
Classification:
Mid air collisionLoss of control
Sources:
» 8 Die in air crash (Lima News, 1943-07-10)» Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research (AAIR)
» Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945, Vol. 2: July 1943-July 1944 / Anthony J. Mireles
Photos
accident date: 09-07-1943
type: Douglas C-54 (DC-4)
registration: 41-37271
Map
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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