ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation N6214C Tacoma-McChord AFB, WA (TCM)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Sunday 6 September 1953
Time:02:31
Type:Silhouette image of generic CONI model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:Northwest Orient Airlines
Registration: N6214C
MSN: 4014
First flight: 1952
Total airframe hrs:4509
Engines: 4 Wright R-3350 (975C18CB1)
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 26
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 32
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:Tacoma-McChord AFB, WA (TCM) (   United States of America)
Phase: Landing (LDG)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA (SEA/KSEA), United States of America
Destination airport:Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD/KORD), United States of America
Flightnumber:8
Narrative:
Northwest Super Constellation N6214C departed Seattle-Tacoma at 01:48 for a flight to Chicago. Shortly after takeoff the no. 3 prop oversped. The prop was feathered, but continued to rotate at 400rpm. While climbing through 5000 feet a severe loss of oil forced the crew to feather the no. 4 prop as well. It was decided to carry out an emergency landing at McChord AFB. Only the right hand main gear leg could be locked down prior to landing. This caused the plane to swerve off the runway, bursting into flames. All occupants were evacuated in time.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "A sequence of mechanical failures resulting in an emergency landing under adverse weather conditions with insufficient hydraulic pressure in the secondary system to extend fully the landing gear in the time available. A contributing factor was the design of the hydraulic system which did not permit use of the available pressure in the primary system for that purpose."

Accident investigation:

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Investigating agency: CAB
Status: Investigation completed
Accident number: final report
Download report: Final report

Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 39-AN/34 (109-112)


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Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA to Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL as the crow flies is 2742 km (1714 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

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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