Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress accident at Gander, Canada, 3 Aug 1944 (44-6344)
On August 3, 1944, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (registration 44-6344) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Gander, Canada during takeoff. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The subsequent investigation could not find the cause of the accident, but believed that it was due to an engine stall. The aircraft had had some maintenance done on its flight indicator, but the investigation found that this was not a factor in the crash. 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.
Probable cause
The subsequent investigation could not find the cause of the accident, but believed that it was due to an engine stall. The aircraft had had some maintenance done on its flight indicator, but the investigation found that this was not a factor in the crash.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The aircraft made a normal takeoff from runway 23 (235 degrees) en route to the Azores, rose in a steep climb to 200 to 400 feet in a light rain, when the aircraft’s left wing began to drop as if the aircraft were going to make a diving turn. Witnesses described the dip in the wing as resembling a stall. The aircraft descended at a 30 to 40 degree angle, and disappeared from view behind the trees. It crashed left wing first and exploded immediately in a 200 to 300 foot high flare. All ten crew members were killed. Crew: 2nd Lt Saul J. Oppenheimer, pilot, 2nd Lt Chester C. Wampler, copilot, F/O Malcolm H. Hild, navigator, 2nd Lt David L. Harrog, bombardier, Sgt Warren G. Faulconer, Cpl Gordon T. Lawson Jr., Cpl William Ruggeri, Cpl Keith M. Shelley, Cpl Maurice E. Leathers, Cpl Forrest G. Taylor. Source & photo: http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2017/01/25/usaaf-b-17-44-6344/
Probable cause (official findings): The subsequent investigation could not find the cause of the accident, but believed that it was due to an engine stall. The aircraft had had some maintenance done on its flight indicator, but the investigation found that this was not a factor in the crash.