Accident Overview
On a cargo flight from Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport to Toronto International Airport, a Douglas C-47A aircraft operated by Skycraft Air Transport as Flight 505 was destroyed when it crashed during final approach. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries. The flight carried six wire mesh baskets nearly filled with automobile roof bows. Before departure, the crew chief asked if the load should be tied down; the pilots responded that they would handle it.
Flight and Approach
Flight 505 departed Cleveland at 07:45 under visual flight rules. Upon nearing Toronto, the terminal controller provided heading adjustments to align the aircraft with the instrument landing system localizer for an almost straight-in approach to Runway 06R. The flight was then transferred to the arrival controller, who continued vectoring. During the approach, the arrival controller twice instructed Flight 505 to maintain best speed for spacing from other traffic. The crew initially reported they were flying at maximum speed, and later indicated they were at best speed because the aircraft was fairly heavy. The flight called the tower after passing the outer marker and received clearance to land.
Loss of Control
After crossing the runway threshold at an altitude of 100 to 150 feet, the aircraft's nose smoothly rose by 5 to 10 degrees, then dropped by a similar amount as if correcting the nose-high attitude. This pitch up and down motion was quickly followed by two pitch oscillations of increasing speed and magnitude. On the fourth oscillation, the nose continued to rise to 45 to 60 degrees, and the aircraft began to climb. Engine noise seemed to increase as the aircraft pitched up for the last time. At approximately 200 feet, at the apex of the climb, the left wing dropped and the aircraft yawed left about 90 degrees. The wings then leveled, and the aircraft fell into a field to the right of the runway. The time from the first oscillation to impact was estimated at about 10 seconds.
Post-Impact Fire
Upon impact, the right main landing gear ruptured a fuel tank, leading to a post-impact fuel fire that consumed the aircraft.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be that the aircraft's weight and center of gravity limits were exceeded, and the cargo was not secured. These factors led to a loss of control.