Narrative:
Both engines stopped, en route between Charleston and Savannah. Attempts to restart the engines failed, so the crew prepared for an emergency landing in a marsh. The co-pilot went into the passenger cabin to see that the passengers were secured by safety belts. After helping four or five passengers he felt the airplane turning steeply, and he attempted to return to the cockpit. By the time he reached the radio compartment passageway between the passenger cabin and the cockpit he was forced to the floor by centrifugal force. The aircraft stalled and crashed, breaking in two. Investigation revealed that, most probably, one fuel tank was used to operate both engines until its contents were drained, and that the pilot then placed the cross-feed valve in the on position before changing the position of either of the fuel selector valves.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the lack of fuel management which caused engine failure and resulted in a forced landing during which control was lost of the aircraft."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 7 January 1948 |
| Time: | 07:45 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47A-20-DK (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Coastal Air Lines |
| Registration: | NC60331 |
| MSN: | 12968 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2409 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 25 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 18 / Occupants: 27 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 16 km (10 mls) NNE of Savannah, GA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC (RDU/KRDU), United States of America |
| Miami (unknown airport), FL, United States of America |
Both engines stopped, en route between Charleston and Savannah. Attempts to restart the engines failed, so the crew prepared for an emergency landing in a marsh. The co-pilot went into the passenger cabin to see that the passengers were secured by safety belts. After helping four or five passengers he felt the airplane turning steeply, and he attempted to return to the cockpit. By the time he reached the radio compartment passageway between the passenger cabin and the cockpit he was forced to the floor by centrifugal force. The aircraft stalled and crashed, breaking in two. Investigation revealed that, most probably, one fuel tank was used to operate both engines until its contents were drained, and that the pilot then placed the cross-feed valve in the on position before changing the position of either of the fuel selector valves.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the lack of fuel management which caused engine failure and resulted in a forced landing during which control was lost of the aircraft."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» CAB File No. 1-001Photos
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
- 2581st loss
- 837th fatal accident
- 120th worst accident (at the time)
- 286th worst accident (currently)
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