Narrative:
A Volpar Turboliner II, a stretched turbine conversion of a Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, crashed during the approach to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Maryland. The pilot was killed.
The airplane operated on a cargo flight from Dayton, Ohio.
Prior to departure, the pilot supervised the loading of the airplane. The plane was loaded to a gross weight of 11,979 lb with the cg 2.7 inches behind the aft limit. At the destination, the flight was vectored for an ILS runway 10 approach. About 3 miles from the runway, the pilot was told to make a missed approach due to inadequate separation from traffic. The pilot acknowledged, but soon thereafter, radar contact with the plane was lost. Witnesses saw the plane descend from a low cloud layer before it crashed. There was evidence the plane impacted in a flat attitude with little forward movement. Four cargo straps were found loose with no sign of tensile overload; 3 others and a restraining board were found loose as if they had not been used. No preimpact mechanical problem was found.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: "Failure of the pilot to properly secure the cargo, which allowed a shift in the center of gravity during a missed approach maneuver and resulted in subsequent loss of aircraft control and flying speed. A factor related to the accident was failure of the pilot to assure the airplane was loaded within its proper weight and balance limitations."
Cargo shift
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 10 December 1992 |
| Time: | 15:35 |
| Type: |  Volpar Turboliner II |
| Operator: | Connie Kalitta Services |
| Registration: | N7770B |
| MSN: | AF-320 |
| First flight: | |
| Total airframe hrs: | 26436 |
| Engines: | 2 Garrett TPE331-1-101 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Elkridge, MD ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Dayton Airport, OH (DAY/KDAY), United States of America |
| Baltimore/Washington International Airport, MD (BWI/KBWI), United States of America |
A Volpar Turboliner II, a stretched turbine conversion of a Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, crashed during the approach to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Maryland. The pilot was killed.
The airplane operated on a cargo flight from Dayton, Ohio.
Prior to departure, the pilot supervised the loading of the airplane. The plane was loaded to a gross weight of 11,979 lb with the cg 2.7 inches behind the aft limit. At the destination, the flight was vectored for an ILS runway 10 approach. About 3 miles from the runway, the pilot was told to make a missed approach due to inadequate separation from traffic. The pilot acknowledged, but soon thereafter, radar contact with the plane was lost. Witnesses saw the plane descend from a low cloud layer before it crashed. There was evidence the plane impacted in a flat attitude with little forward movement. Four cargo straps were found loose with no sign of tensile overload; 3 others and a restraining board were found loose as if they had not been used. No preimpact mechanical problem was found.
Probable Cause:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: "Failure of the pilot to properly secure the cargo, which allowed a shift in the center of gravity during a missed approach maneuver and resulted in subsequent loss of aircraft control and flying speed. A factor related to the accident was failure of the pilot to assure the airplane was loaded within its proper weight and balance limitations."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Centre of Gravity outside limits Cargo shift
Loss of control
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
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 Dayton Airport, OH to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, MD as the crow flies is 648 km (405 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Dayton Airport, OH to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, MD as the crow flies is 648 km (405 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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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