On August 7, 1974, a Beechcraft D18 (registration N35CB) operated by Bard Air Freight was involved in an aviation accident near Detroit-City (Coleman A. Young), United States of America during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to properly prepare for flight led to the premature retraction of the landing gear before the aircraft reached rotation speed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A twin-engine aircraft caught fire after losing control during the takeoff roll at a Detroit airport, resulting in the destruction of the plane.
What happened
During the initial stages of takeoff at Detroit-City-Coleman A. Young Airport, a twin engine airplane experienced a loss of control while on the runway. The aircraft began to slide across the ground during its takeoff roll, eventually overrunning the paved surface. Upon exiting the runway, the plane came to a stop and was consumed by fire. The incident resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft, though the pilot managed to exit the wreckage with minor injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was inadequate preflight preparation by the pilot. Specifically, it was discovered that the landing gear had been retracted too early in the takeoff sequence, prior to the aircraft reaching rotation speed. Evidence from the wreckage showed that the gear selector was positioned in the up position during the excursion.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly prepare for flight led to the premature retraction of the landing gear before the aircraft reached rotation speed.