What happened
A Douglas DC-3 was conducting a ferry flight from Windsor Locks-Bradley Airport to Beverly for scheduled maintenance when the incident occurred. During the initial climb phase following departure, the aircraft experienced a loss of power in one of its engines. In response to the mechanical failure, air traffic control authorized the crew to perform an emergency landing back at the departure airport.
While attempting the approach, the aircraft struck the ground several dozen yards before reaching the runway threshold. The impact caused the plane to catch fire upon coming to a rest. Despite the significant damage to the airframe, which was deemed beyond repair, all three occupants managed to exit the wreckage without sustaining any injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to the aircraft's condition and the crew's preparation. The investigation revealed that water contamination in the fuel contributed to the engine failure. Additionally, it was noted that the aircraft had been out of service for approximately ten months prior to this flight.
Operational factors also played a role in the crash landing. The crew failed to maintain the necessary flying speed during the emergency approach. Furthermore, the pilot lacked recent experience with this specific model, having not operated a DC-3 since 1967, and was not properly rated for the aircraft type. These issues were collectively attributed to insufficient preflight preparation.