Accident description
Last updated: 24 May 2013
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | 12 MAY 1959 |
| Time: | 15:20 EST |
| Type: | Lockheed L-049E-46 Constellation |
| Operator: | Capital Airlines |
| Registration: | N2735A |
| C/n / msn: | 1978 |
| First flight: | |
| Total airframe hrs: | 29589 |
| Engines: | 4 Wright R-3350BA-3 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 38 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 44 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Charleston-Kanawha County Airport, WV (CRW) (United States of America)
 |
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh Airport, PA (PIT/KPIT), United States of America |
| Charleston-Kanawha County Airport, WV (CRW/KCRW), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 983 |
Capital flight 983 touched down on the Charleston runway 32. The captain found braking to be ineffective and chose to groundloop the aircraft. During this manoeuvre the Constellation skidded and slid down a steep embankment. The aircraft caught fire.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's action of landing the aircraft too fast on the wet runway under conditions conducive to aquaplaning, making early deceleration impossible. An additional factor was the poor co-ordination of the crew throughout the approach and landing." Events:
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 62-AN/57 (124-126)
Photos
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 Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh Airport, PA to Charleston-Kanawha County Airport, WV as the crow flies is 261 km (163 miles).
Distance from Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh Airport, PA to Charleston-Kanawha County Airport, WV as the crow flies is 261 km (163 miles).
