Douglas DC3C-S1C3G N70003
11 August 1984 · Memphis, Tennessee, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 11 August 1984 at about 06:01 local time, a Douglas DC3C-S1C3G registered N70003, operated by Aviation Enterprises, Inc., was involved in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 06:01
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Memphis, Tennessee, United States
- Nearest airport
- Memphis International
- Coordinates
- 35.1002, -90.0008
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC3C-S1C3G
- Registration
- N70003
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Aviation Enterprises, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Memphis → Chicago
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- ATL84FA251
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
MOMENTS AFTER THE DC-3 TOOK OFF, THE TWR CTLR NOTED THE L ENG WAS TORCHING & ASKED THE FLT IF IT WAS 'HAVING A PROBLEM.'THE CREW REPLIED 'AFFIRMATIVE,' THEN THE CTLR CLRD THE FLT TO LND ON ANY RWY. THE ACFT BEGAN TURNING LEFT AT THE END OF THE RWY & CONTD TURNING AT LOW ALT UNTIL IT STRUCK UTILITY POLES & CRASHED THRU A WAREHOUSE ROOF ABOUT 2 MI FM THE ARPT.A WITNESS RPRTD THE ACFT WAS AT AN ALT OF APRX 100 TO 150 FT AGL, THE L PROP WAS FEATHERED & THE R ENG WAS AT FULL PWR. AN EXAM OF THE L ENG DISCLOSED THE #14 CYLINDER WAS MISSING A SPARK PLUG FM THE FRONT SPARK PLUG HOLE. THE SPARK PLUG LEAD & 'B' NUT WERE ATTACHED TO THE IGNITION HARNESS, BUT NO PLUG WAS ATTACHED TO THE LEAD. THE SPARK PLUG HOLE & B-NUT THREADS WERE UNDAMAGED. A WHITE DEPOSIT WAS FND INSIDE THE CYLINDER SPARK PLUG THREADS & OUTSIDE THE CYLINDER, ADJACENT TO THE HOLE. THE DEPOSIT WAS IDENTIFIED TO CONTAIN HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF LEAD & BROMINE, MOST LIKELY FORMED FROM EXHAUST GASES & FUEL DURING CYLINDER OPERATION. A COMPANY MECHANIC RPRTDLY WORKED ON THE PLUGS ON THE PREVIOUS DAY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Douglas DC3C accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Oct 1984 | Douglas DC3C | El Paso, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Dec 1979 | Douglas DC3C | St Thomas, Virgin Islands, United States | Aero Virgin IS | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1989 | Douglas DC3C-S13CG | Waterman, Illinois, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 27 Jun 1979 | Douglas DC3C | Bettles, Alaska, United States | Frontier Flyin | No injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 1974 | Douglas DC3C | Imperial, California, United States | Interplast, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jan 1994 | Douglas DC3C | Anderson, Indiana, United States | Miami Valley Aviation | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Dec 1984 | Piper PA-30 | Sparta, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1984 | Cessna T210N | Williamsport, Tennessee, United States | John D. Thomas | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1984 | Beechcraft C23 | Gainesboro, Tennessee, United States | Stevens Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jul 1984 | Piper PA-28-180 | Morrison, Tennessee, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Aug 1984 | Cessna 152 II | Clarksville, Tennessee, United States | Volunteer Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 1984 | Piper PA-31-350 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |