Narrative:
United Flight 129 departed Cleveland at 18:07 for Chicago, Illinois, with stops scheduled at Fort Wayne and South Bend. At 18:47, the flight reported over Toledo and estimated its arrival Fort Wayne at 19:32. At 19:20 the flight reported it was approaching Fort Wayne, reported again when nineteen miles northeast of Baer Field and was advised at runway 22 was the runway in use and that the wind was five to ten miles per hour from the southwest. Due to thunderstorm activity in the area, the wind at the airport shifted to west-northwest and increased in velocity from 5-10 miles per hour to 40 mph. The tower notified the crew and runway 27 was suggested. When the aircraft was east of the airport the wind increased to 60-65 miles per hour with gusts to 85 miles per hour and a heavy rainfall began, accompanied by lightning and severe static. The flight was quickly advised of the weather change but, due to the sudden decrease in visibility. The approach was aborted. At 19:32 the DC-3 struck the ground in a near level attitude with the left wing slightly low. The plane broke up and the main wreckage came to rest in a wooded area several hundred feet distant from the point of initial impact.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The severe downdraft encountered which caused the aircraft to strike the ground in a near level attitude."
Loss of control
» ICAO Aircraft Accident Digest No.2, Circular 24-AN/21 (95-98)
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 28 April 1951 |
| Time: | 19:32 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-3A-197 |
| Operator: | United Airlines |
| Registration: | N16088 |
| MSN: | 1927 |
| First flight: | 1937 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 43550 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Fort Wayne, IN ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Cleveland (unknown airport), OH, United States of America |
| Fort Wayne Municipal Airport/Baer Field, IN (FWA/KFWA), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | UA129 |
United Flight 129 departed Cleveland at 18:07 for Chicago, Illinois, with stops scheduled at Fort Wayne and South Bend. At 18:47, the flight reported over Toledo and estimated its arrival Fort Wayne at 19:32. At 19:20 the flight reported it was approaching Fort Wayne, reported again when nineteen miles northeast of Baer Field and was advised at runway 22 was the runway in use and that the wind was five to ten miles per hour from the southwest. Due to thunderstorm activity in the area, the wind at the airport shifted to west-northwest and increased in velocity from 5-10 miles per hour to 40 mph. The tower notified the crew and runway 27 was suggested. When the aircraft was east of the airport the wind increased to 60-65 miles per hour with gusts to 85 miles per hour and a heavy rainfall began, accompanied by lightning and severe static. The flight was quickly advised of the weather change but, due to the sudden decrease in visibility. The approach was aborted. At 19:32 the DC-3 struck the ground in a near level attitude with the left wing slightly low. The plane broke up and the main wreckage came to rest in a wooded area several hundred feet distant from the point of initial impact.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The severe downdraft encountered which caused the aircraft to strike the ground in a near level attitude."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Windshear/downdraftLoss of control
Sources:
» CAB File No: 1-0024» ICAO Aircraft Accident Digest No.2, Circular 24-AN/21 (95-98)
Photos
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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