Flight Details
Training flight H-3 was scheduled by Capital Airlines' flight training department. The crew consisted of Captain Carl R. Burke, an instructor, and two copilots, Henry A. Podgurski and Robert K. Thomas. This was the second of six flights intended to provide instruction for upgrading the copilots to captain. The flight was dispatched under visual flight rules to operate in an area northwest, north, and northeast of Washington, D.C., which was used by Capital as its local practice area for training.
The aircraft was fully serviced with 820 gallons of fuel. Its gross takeoff weight was less than the maximum allowable, and the center of gravity was within allowable limits. The weather was clear and was not considered a factor.
Sequence of Events
Takeoff occurred at 0625. At 0631, the flight advised the company by radio of the trip number, time of takeoff, fuel aboard, and flight duration. There were no other radio contacts with the flight. At approximately 0745, the aircraft, registered as N88835, was observed in the vicinity of Clarksburg, Maryland, by many people who saw it during several turns of flight and in its plunge to the ground.
Probable Cause and Findings
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was loss of airspeed while executing maneuvers during a training flight, resulting in a stall followed immediately by a spin from an altitude too low to effect recovery.
The following findings were reported:
- No malfunctioning of the aircraft, engines, or control systems was evident from the examination of the wreckage.
- The pilots were executing a "canyon approach" maneuver at an altitude approximately 2,500 feet above the terrain (3,000 feet MSL).
- During the abandon-approach phase of this maneuver, the aircraft was inadvertently stalled, from which it entered a spin and crashed.
- Although rotation had stopped before impact occurred, there was insufficient altitude to effect a recovery.