No fatalities

1979-04-03: Beechcraft E18 (N1234G) — Burlington Air Express — Chicago-O'Hare, United States of America

Chicago-O'Hare, United States of AmericaTakeoff (climb)

On April 3, 1979, a Beechcraft E18 (registration N1234G) operated by Burlington Air Express was involved in an aviation accident near Chicago-O'Hare, United States of America during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft crashed due to vortex turbulence during the initial climb combined with a failure to follow standard operating procedures. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781225410Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine aircraft stalled and caught fire immediately after liftoff while en route to Indianapolis, resulting in one injury.

What happened

During the initial climb phase of a flight bound for Indianapolis, a twin engine airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. The incident occurred at the moment of liftoff, causing the aircraft to descend rapidly and impact the ground. Upon impact, the airframe caught fire.

At the time of the accident, there was only one person on board the aircraft. The pilot sustained injuries during the crash sequence. No other occupants were present in the cabin during the departure.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified that the aircraft entered an uncontrolled collision with the ground during its ascent. This loss of control was attributed to vortex turbulence encountered during the climb. Additionally, it was determined that the pilot did not adhere to established and approved flight procedures during the departure phase.

Probable cause

The aircraft crashed due to vortex turbulence during the initial climb combined with a failure to follow standard operating procedures.