Accident Douglas DC-6A N34954,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 334541
 

Date:Friday 1 February 1957
Time:18:02
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC6 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Douglas DC-6A
Owner/operator:Northeast Airlines
Registration: N34954
MSN: 44678/543
Year of manufacture:1955
Total airframe hrs:8317 hours
Engine model:Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB17
Fatalities:Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 101
Aircraft damage: Destroyed, written off
Category:Accident
Location:Rikers Island, NY -   United States of America
Phase: Initial climb
Nature:Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA/KLGA)
Destination airport:Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA)
Investigating agency: CAB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
Northeast Flight 823 to Miami (MIA) was scheduled to depart from New York-La Guardia (LGA) at 14:45. Snowfall delayed the departure.
Carrying 95 passengers and 6 crewmembers, the gross weight of the aircraft was 98575 pounds, 265 pounds below maximum weight. The crew started the takeoff roll on runway 04 at 18:01. Except for some sliding of the nose wheel at low speed, the takeoff roll was normal. A positive rate of climb was established and the gear was retracted, flaps raised and METO power set. The crew went on instruments immediately after gear retraction and the captain monitored airspeed, rate of climb and direction. the aircraft was to climb on runway heading, but started turning to the left. This was not noticed by the crew. While over Rikers Island on a 285deg heading, the DC-6 first struck small trees. The left wingtip touched the ground; the right wingtip 150 feet beyond. The plane then skidded 1500 feet. Impact occurred about 60 seconds after the start of takeoff.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the captain to: 1) properly observe and interpret his flight instruments, and 2) maintain control of his aircraft."

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: CAB
Report number: final report
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

ICAO Accident Digest No.9, Circular 56-AN/51 (45-57)

Location

Revision history:

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