Narrative:
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."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 12 May 1959 |
| Time: | 15:20 |
| Type: |  Lockheed L-049E-46 Constellation |
| Operator: | Capital Airlines |
| Registration: | N2735A |
| MSN: | 1978 |
| First flight: | |
| Total airframe hrs: | 29589 |
| Engines: | 4 Wright R-3350 (972TC18DA3) |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 38 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 44 |
| Aircraft damage: | 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:
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."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Runway excursion
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).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh Airport, PA to Charleston-Kanawha County Airport, WV as the crow flies is 261 km (163 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
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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