Narrative:
Colonial Flight 3 departed Montreal, Canada, for a flight to New York via Burlington, VT. It departed Montreal at 11:12 and headed for Burlington, At 11:35 the crew reported to Colonial radio at Burlington that they were over the Grand Isle Fan Marker, approximately 25 miles northwest of Burlington. Colonial radio acknowledged the report and transmitted the latest local weather ceiling 800 feet, visibility 1 mile in heavy rain.
Flight 3 had been informed that the surface wind was west, variable to northwest, 5 mph, and due to a heavy rain occurring east of the airport the pilot elected to use runway 1. The pilot made a sharp descent toward the field. Because of an airspeed which was higher than normal, it remained airborne for several hundred feet. The airplane touched down slightly more than half way down the runway and in a tail-high attitude. There was no apparent deceleration and as it continued toward the far end of the runway, power was applied in an attempt to take off. The airplane became airborne but there was not sufficient distance remaining and It crashed into trees just north of the airport. Power to both engines was reduced just prior to impact. All the passengers were evacuated without difficulty.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot's action in landing too fast and too far down the wet runway following a high approach."
Runway excursion
» CAB File No. 1-0097
accident date: 20-09-1948
type: Douglas DC-3-178
registration: NC17335
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Monday 20 September 1948 |
| Time: | 11:41 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-3-178 |
| Operator: | Colonial Airlines |
| Registration: | NC17335 |
| MSN: | 1921 |
| First flight: | 1937 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 34238 |
| Engines: | 2 Wright R-1820-G102 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 14 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 17 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Burlington International Airport, VT (BTV) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Montreal (unknown airport), QC, Canada |
| Burlington International Airport, VT (BTV/KBTV), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 3 |
Colonial Flight 3 departed Montreal, Canada, for a flight to New York via Burlington, VT. It departed Montreal at 11:12 and headed for Burlington, At 11:35 the crew reported to Colonial radio at Burlington that they were over the Grand Isle Fan Marker, approximately 25 miles northwest of Burlington. Colonial radio acknowledged the report and transmitted the latest local weather ceiling 800 feet, visibility 1 mile in heavy rain.
Flight 3 had been informed that the surface wind was west, variable to northwest, 5 mph, and due to a heavy rain occurring east of the airport the pilot elected to use runway 1. The pilot made a sharp descent toward the field. Because of an airspeed which was higher than normal, it remained airborne for several hundred feet. The airplane touched down slightly more than half way down the runway and in a tail-high attitude. There was no apparent deceleration and as it continued toward the far end of the runway, power was applied in an attempt to take off. The airplane became airborne but there was not sufficient distance remaining and It crashed into trees just north of the airport. Power to both engines was reduced just prior to impact. All the passengers were evacuated without difficulty.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot's action in landing too fast and too far down the wet runway following a high approach."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
High speed landingRunway excursion
Sources:
» Air Britain Casualty compendium (pt. 47)» CAB File No. 1-0097
Photos
accident date: 20-09-1948
type: Douglas DC-3-178
registration: NC17335
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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