Last updated: 11 July 2020
| Status: | Preliminary - official |
| Date: | Wednesday 2 October 2019 |
| Time: | 09:53 |
| Type: |  Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress |
| Operator: | The Collings Foundation |
| Registration: | N93012 |
| C/n / msn: | 32216 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 11120 |
| Engines: | 4 Wright R-1820-97 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 10 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 13 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Windsor Locks-Bradley International Airport, CT (BDL) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Windsor Locks-Bradley International Airport, CT (BDL/KBDL), United States of America |
| Windsor Locks-Bradley International Airport, CT (BDL/KBDL), United States of America |
A Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, registration N93012, impacted an airport structure while attempting to return to Windsor Locks-Bradley International Airport, Connecticut, USA.
The aircraft was part of The Collings Foundation's Wings of Freedom Tour. Five historic WWII aircraft were on display at Bradley Airport and scenic flights were carried out. The B-17 carried a military livery as "42-31909" and named "Nine O Nine".
The local flight had received clearance for departure from runway 06 at 09:45 hours local time. After takeoff the aircraft made a right-hand turn. At 09:50 the aircraft contacted the Bradley Tower controller and reported an engine no.4 problem ("rough mag") and asked permission to land on runway 06. This was approved.
The controller then instructed the pilot to fly a right downwind leg for runway 6 and confirmed that the flight needed an immediate landing. He subsequently cancelled the approach of another airplane and advised the pilot to proceed however necessary to runway 6. The approach controller instructed the pilot to contact the tower controller, which he did.
The tower controller reported that the wind was calm and cleared the flight to land on runway 6. The pilot acknowledged the landing clearance; at that time, the airplane was about 300 ft agl on a midfield right downwind leg for runway 6. The tower controller asked about the airplane's progress to the runway and the pilot replied that they were "getting there" and on the right downwind leg. No further communications were received from the accident airplane. The airplane struck approach lights about 1000 ft prior to the runway, then contacted the ground about 500 ft prior to the runway before reaching runway 6. It then veered right off the runway before colliding with vehicles and a deicing fluid tank about 1100 ft right of the center of the runway threshold.
The wreckage came to rest upright and the majority of the cabin, cockpit, and right wing were consumed by postimpact fire.
An investigation of the wreckage showed that all three propeller blades on the no. 4 engine appeared in the feather position. The no.3 engine had one propeller blade that was near the feather position. The other two blades appeared in a position between low pitch and feather.
Accident investigation:
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Classification:
Runway excursion
Sources:
» courant.com» wfsb.com
» nbcnews.com
Photos
accident date: 02-10-2019
type: Boeing B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress
registration: N93012
accident date: 02-10-2019
type: Boeing B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress
registration: N93012
accident date: 02-10-2019
type: Boeing B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress
registration: N93012
accident date: 02-10-2019
type: Boeing B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress
registration: N93012
Video, social media
Map
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.
