Double Tragedy in the USA

[dodgy-alan 1,587]

Sad news indeed. 

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/22318/two-vintage-warbirds-crashed-in-separate-incidents-on-eve-of-oshkosh-air-show

 

[allardjd 1,853]

I've seen the video of the DC-3/C-47 crash several times.  I believe he may have had the control lock in.  I never saw any deflection of any of the control surfaces in the video - not rudder, not elevator nor ailerons - not even ailerons after liftoff as it rolled first a little right, then left.  Countering that roll with ailerons would be second nature to anyone flying and I can't see any evidence of it happening.  

 

It appears he never got the tail up, so the angle of attack was higher than for a normal takeoff and the AC lifted off at a lower than normal airspeed.  

 

I can't see anything that indicates any engine issues, but can't rule it out either.

 

As crashes go, it was more of a ground loop than a crash though he was briefly airborne.  Thankfully everyone survived.  I think the AC would have been repairable if it hadn't burned.

 

Haven't seen any other info as to cause but a control lock left installed looks to me to fit what I see in the video.

 

John

[allardjd 1,853]

The NTSB preliminary report is out...

 

https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20180721X41413

 

No evidence of control locks and the tailwheel was locked, as it's supposed to be.

 

Transfer of control from co-pilot to pilot early in the take off run due to heading swings.  Co-pilot was somewhat inexperienced and only had received his type rating in the DC-3 a month before.  

 

John