History of Flight
On October 2, 2019, about 0953 eastern daylight time, a Boeing B-17G, registration N93012, was destroyed when it impacted terrain short of runway 6 at Bradley International Airport (BDL), Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The commercial pilot, airline transport pilot, and five passengers sustained fatal injuries; the crew chief/flight engineer and four passengers sustained serious injuries; and one passenger and one person on the ground sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the Collings Foundation as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local commercial sightseeing flight.
The accident airplane was a vintage former US military bomber on a tour offering public excursions for a living history flight experience. Before departure, the loadmaster assisted in adding 160 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation fuel. The pilot had difficulty starting the Nos. 3 and 4 engines due to moisture in the magnetos from previous rain; the loadmaster dried them with compressed nitrogen, after which engines started normally. A pre-takeoff magneto check at 1,700 rpm appeared normal.
The flight departed runway 6 about 0947. During initial climb, landing gear was retracted. At 0949:19, a pilot radioed they wished to return, reporting a “rough mag” on the No. 4 engine. The controller cleared them for runway 6. The loadmaster later reported that the No. 4 engine was losing power and was shut down. The airplane extended landing gear and entered the downwind leg. Airspeed remained at or below 100 mph. At 0951:08, landing clearance was acknowledged; altitude was about 400 ft. The airplane descended through 300 ft on base leg, then turned final at 150 ft, about 0.4 nautical mile from the runway threshold.
Witnesses and video showed the airplane struck approach lights in a right-wing-down attitude about 1,000 ft before the runway. It contacted ground about 500 ft before runway 6, then veered right, colliding with vehicles and a deicing fluid tank, coming to rest east of the runway. A postcrash fire ensued.
Aircraft Information
The Boeing B-17G held a limited airworthiness certificate issued in 1994. It had 15 seats, including original and aftermarket installations. The pilot and copilot had four-point restraints but reportedly did not use shoulder harnesses; the loadmaster had no dedicated seat. The airplane underwent a continuous airworthiness inspection program with 25-hour progressive inspections. The most recent annual inspection was on January 16, 2019; the most recent 25-hour inspection on September 23, 2019, included the No. 4 engine.
Wreckage Examination
Wreckage examination revealed control continuity for elevator and rudder; left-wing flap and aileron remained attached. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions was found in the airframe. The No. 4 engine had separated from the right wing and was partially embedded in a building; its propeller was in the feathered position. Teardown of the No. 4 engine showed no abnormal combustion, but the left magneto grounding tab was in contact with the housing, shorting it to ground. The right magneto had worn points and weak spark. The No. 3 engine exhibited detonation on some cylinders and worn spark plugs. Fuel samples showed no contamination.
Survival Aspects
The loadmaster provided a passenger briefing, though some survivors reported it did not cover seat belts or exits. After the crash, a passenger opened the aft right door, and three persons exited that way. The loadmaster and two passengers exited through the upper turret. Eleven occupants received serious burn injuries; two who evacuated quickly avoided burns but sustained other injuries.
Performance Study
The NTSB aircraft performance study noted that extending landing gear at about 400 ft increased descent angle and power required. The airplane’s airspeed of 100 mph or below was less than the calculated 120 mph needed for the shallowest descent angle. The study found that if the airplane had been flown at 120 mph with gear retracted until final approach, it likely would have reached the runway.