Narrative:
A Douglas DC-3, N51071, operated as a passenger charter flight to transport the University of Evansville basketball team and associated personnel from Evansville, Indiana, to Nashville, Tennessee. The aircraft departed runway 18 in instrument meteorological conditions. The plane crashed less than 1 minute 30 seconds after takeoff. All 29 persons aboard died in the crash.
The aircraft was operated by National Jet Services, which was doing business as Air Indiana.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "An attempted take-off with the rudder and right aileron control locks installed, in combination with a rearward centre of gravity, which resulted in the aircraft's rotating to a nose-high attitude immediately after take-off, and entering the region of reversed command from which the pilot was unable to recover. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the flight crew to ensure that the passenger baggage was loaded in accordance with the configuration contained on the load manifest. Their failure resulted in a rearward centre of gravity that was aft of the optimum range, but forward of the rearmost limit."
Locked rudders/ailerons/gustlock
Loss of control
accident date: 13-12-1977
type: Douglas C-53 (DC-3)
registration: N51071
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 13 December 1977 |
| Time: | 19:22 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-53 (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Air Indiana |
| Registration: | N51071 |
| MSN: | 4837 |
| First flight: | 1941 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 19777 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-94 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 26 / Occupants: 26 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 29 / Occupants: 29 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Evansville-Dress Regional Airport, IN (EVV) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Evansville-Dress Regional Airport, IN (EVV/KEVV), United States of America |
| Nashville Metropolitan Airport, TN (BNA/KBNA), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 216 |
A Douglas DC-3, N51071, operated as a passenger charter flight to transport the University of Evansville basketball team and associated personnel from Evansville, Indiana, to Nashville, Tennessee. The aircraft departed runway 18 in instrument meteorological conditions. The plane crashed less than 1 minute 30 seconds after takeoff. All 29 persons aboard died in the crash.
The aircraft was operated by National Jet Services, which was doing business as Air Indiana.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "An attempted take-off with the rudder and right aileron control locks installed, in combination with a rearward centre of gravity, which resulted in the aircraft's rotating to a nose-high attitude immediately after take-off, and entering the region of reversed command from which the pilot was unable to recover. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the flight crew to ensure that the passenger baggage was loaded in accordance with the configuration contained on the load manifest. Their failure resulted in a rearward centre of gravity that was aft of the optimum range, but forward of the rearmost limit."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Centre of Gravity outside limitsLocked rudders/ailerons/gustlock
Loss of control
Sources:
» Flight International 31 December 77(1893)Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 3 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
accident date: 13-12-1977
type: Douglas C-53 (DC-3)
registration: N51071
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 Evansville-Dress Regional Airport, IN to Nashville Metropolitan Airport, TN as the crow flies is 224 km (140 miles).
Distance from Evansville-Dress Regional Airport, IN to Nashville Metropolitan Airport, TN as the crow flies is 224 km (140 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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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 4301st loss
- 1696th fatal accident
- 53rd worst accident (at the time)
- 58th worst accident (currently)
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