No fatalities

Stall and Crash Shortly After Takeoff at Teterboro Airport Injures Two Pilots (N64423)

Teterboro, United States of AmericaTakeoff (climb)

On September 26, 1968, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration N64423) operated by Ford Motor Company was involved in an aviation accident near Teterboro, United States of America during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was probably caused by an inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning on part of the crew. Contributing factors were the cargo shifting during initial climb to the rear, modifying the center of gravity, and the cargo being improperly secured. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end shortly after takeoff from Teterboro Airport, destroying the aircraft and injuring both pilots. The probable cause was inadequate preflight preparation and cargo shift.

Accident Summary

Immediately following its departure from Teterboro Airport, the aircraft experienced a stall while climbing. The stall led to a loss of control, and the airplane crashed in the vicinity of the runway end. The accident resulted in the complete destruction of the aircraft. The two pilots on board were injured.

Investigation Findings

An investigation into the accident was conducted. According to the official findings, the probable cause of the accident was an inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning by the crew. The investigation also identified contributing factors. Specifically, during the initial climb, the cargo on board shifted to the rear of the aircraft. This shift modified the aircraft's center of gravity. Furthermore, the cargo had been improperly secured. These conditions contributed to the stall and subsequent crash.

Probable Cause

The probable cause of the accident was the crew's inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning, with contributing factors being the shifting of improperly secured cargo to the rear during climb, which altered the center of gravity.