Douglas C-49 (DC-3) accident at Premier, United States of America, 1 Jul 1942 (42-56093)
On July 1, 1942, a Douglas C-49 (DC-3) (registration 42-56093) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Premier, United States of America in flight. 21 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: According to the Board of investigations, it appears the aircraft lost parts of wings and elevators when it dove into the ground, most probably due to forces exceeding their design and certification. 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
According to the Board of investigations, it appears the aircraft lost parts of wings and elevators when it dove into the ground, most probably due to forces exceeding their design and certification. For undetermined reasons, the captain decided to continue the flight to Florence following a missed landing at Cincinnati Airport. Due to a heavy landing, the wings' and elevators' structure was slightly damaged and moderate to severe turbulence in the region also contributed to the wings' and elevator' structural weakness. Poor discipline and judgment is also reproached to both pilots as they should complete the landing procedure at Cincinnati and perform an inspection of the aircraft, which was not performed. Eventually, accumulation of ice on carburetors associated to a certain torsion during the hard landing was considered as a contributory factor as the carburetors did not work properly during the last segment of the flight.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
While approaching Cincinnati-Lunken Field Airport in poor weather conditions, the crew made three attempts to land without success. During the fourth attempt, the aircraft speed was too high and it hit hard the runway surface. The captain increased engine power and decided to continue to Florence, South Carolina. Few minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions (thunderstorm and turbulence), the aircraft banked left and right and eventually went out of control. From a height of 250 metres, it lost successively part of its wings and elevators, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 21 occupants were killed. Crew: S/Sgt Salvatore T. Barone, S/Sgt Anthony W. Belcher, Pvt Elmer Jesse Campbell, Pvt Edward F. X. Carr, S/Sgt Russell A. Carter, S/Sgt Archie W. Champlin, S/Sgt Joseph S. Cholewa, S/Sgt Leo T. Colburn, S/Sgt Horace M. Dickson Jr., Pvt Elmo G. Edmonds, Pfc Lester S. Erickson, S/Sgt George R. Eversull, 2nd Lt Walter Roy Faught Jr., 2nd Lt Harry Ellsworth Haney, 2nd Lt Edwin Aaron Harness, Cpl Claudius William Haywood III, Pfc Denver W. Koeppe, Cpl Kermit S. Masters, S/Sgt Leon Anshelm Olin, Pvt Chester F. Peterowski, Cpl Bartola P. Purpura.
Probable cause (official findings): According to the Board of investigations, it appears the aircraft lost parts of wings and elevators when it dove into the ground, most probably due to forces exceeding their design and certification. For undetermined reasons, the captain decided to continue the flight to Florence following a missed landing at Cincinnati Airport. Due to a heavy landing, the wings' and elevators' structure was slightly damaged and moderate to severe turbulence in the region also contributed to the wings' and elevator' structural weakness. Poor discipline and judgment is also reproached to both pilots as they should complete the landing procedure at Cincinnati and perform an inspection of the aircraft, which was not performed. Eventually, accumulation of ice on carburetors associated to a certain torsion during the hard landing was considered as a contributory factor as the carburetors did not work properly during the last segment of the flight.