Narrative:
The flight departed Tulsa at 18:10 CST and routine position reports were made until over Dayton, Ohio, at 12:00. Over Dayton the aircraft entered icing conditions at the cruise altitude of 9000 feet. The crew requested permission twice to descend to a lower altitude to evade the icing conditions, but these requests were turned down. Around 12:35 the pilot reported "Difficulty maintaining altitude and airspeed request lower altitude." At 12:37 Columbus CAA cleared the flight to descend to 8,000 feet msl. At approximately 12:40 witnesses observed the aircraft below the overcast; it was on a westerly heading and was descending although it appeared to be in a normal attitude. Several components were seen to separate from the aircraft before it struck the ground in a steep angle.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the accumulation of enough ice to result in loss of control and the subsequent shedding of vertical surfaces from the tail group of the aircraft."
Wing failure
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 29 December 1955 |
| Time: | 12:40 |
| Type: |  Lockheed 18-56-23 Lodestar |
| Operator: | Gulf Oil Corporation |
| Registration: | N33366 |
| MSN: | 18-2387 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Engines: | 2 Wright R-1820-72 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 7,5 km (4.7 mls) NW of Londonderry, OH ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Tulsa International Airport, OK (TUL/KTUL), United States of America |
| Pittsburgh International Airport, PA (PIT/KPIT), United States of America |
The flight departed Tulsa at 18:10 CST and routine position reports were made until over Dayton, Ohio, at 12:00. Over Dayton the aircraft entered icing conditions at the cruise altitude of 9000 feet. The crew requested permission twice to descend to a lower altitude to evade the icing conditions, but these requests were turned down. Around 12:35 the pilot reported "Difficulty maintaining altitude and airspeed request lower altitude." At 12:37 Columbus CAA cleared the flight to descend to 8,000 feet msl. At approximately 12:40 witnesses observed the aircraft below the overcast; it was on a westerly heading and was descending although it appeared to be in a normal attitude. Several components were seen to separate from the aircraft before it struck the ground in a steep angle.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the accumulation of enough ice to result in loss of control and the subsequent shedding of vertical surfaces from the tail group of the aircraft."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
IcingWing failure
Loss of control
Sources:
» CAB File No. 2-0061Photos
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 Tulsa International Airport, OK to Pittsburgh International Airport, PA as the crow flies is 1434 km (896 miles).
Distance from Tulsa International Airport, OK to Pittsburgh International Airport, PA as the crow flies is 1434 km (896 miles).
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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