Douglas DC-3 N13JA
24 August 1991 · Apple Creek, Ohio, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 24 August 1991 at about 18:08 local time, a Douglas DC-3 registered N13JA was involved in an accident near Apple Creek, Ohio, United States. 27 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:08
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Apple Creek, Ohio, United States
- Nearest airport
- Stoltzfus Airfield (OH22)
- Coordinates
- 40.7493, -81.8400
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3
- Registration
- N13JA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC91LA220
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT(S), AND IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM/FUEL SELECTOR. THE LOCATION OF TREES WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
JUST AFTER THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE FOR A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLT, ITS LEFT ENG LOST PWR. THE ACFT YAWED TO THE LEFT & THE LEFT PROP WAS FEATHERED. THE ACFT'S FLT PATH ANGLED TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY & CROSSED OVER TREES TO THE LEFT OF THE DEP END OF THE RWY. DUE TO A LOSS OF SPEED, THE CAPT REALIZED THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLR A 2ND ROW OF TREES, SO HE REDUCED PWR IN THE RGT ENG & MADE A WHEELS UP LNDG IN A CORN FLD. DRG THE LNDG, THE ACFT WAS DMGD. THE LEFT ENG WAS CHECKED AFTER THE ACDNT & IT PRODUCED TAKEOFF PWR. PERFORMANCE CHARTS SHOWED THAT A TAKEOFF DISTANCE OF 3551' WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50' OBSTACLE. THIS DISTANCE WAS PREDICATED ON A HARD SURFACE; NO CORRECTION FACTOR WAS SUPPLIED FOR A TURF RWY. THE GRASS RWY WAS 3600' LONG. RPRTDLY, THE TAKEOFF WAS STARTED WITH 3500' OF RUNWAY REMAINING. THE PLTS WERE USING THE REAR TANKS FOR TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE FLT MANUAL, TAKEOFFS & CLIMBS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE USING THE LEFT & RGT FRONT CENTER WING TANKS, RESPECTIVELY. THE FRONT TANKS HAD ONLY ABOUT 5 GAL OF FUEL REMAINING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Douglas DC-3 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 May 1990 | Douglas DC-3 | Capon Bridge, West Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Jan 1989 | Douglas DC-3 | Laredo, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 1989 | Douglas DC-3 | Isla Verde | Borinquen Air | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 1995 | Douglas DC-3 | Independence, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Dec 1995 | Douglas DC-3 | Nassau, Bahamas | Florida Air Cargo Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Sep 1996 | Douglas DC-3 | Holland, Netherlands | Dutch Dakota Association | Unknown | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1991 | Learjet LR25B-XR | Columbus, Ohio, United States | New Creations, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172 | Millville, Ohio, United States | GO Leasing Company | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Pomeroy, Ohio, United States | Charles K. Gard | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1991 | Cessna A185F | Vernon, Ohio, United States | George H. Siegel | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Cessna 182 | Xenia, Ohio, United States | Skydive Green County | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft B90 | Waynesville, Ohio, United States | West Tennessee Skydivers | Serious injuries | - |