No fatalities

Aircraft Upset During Landing in Severe Weather (NC13786)

Pittsburgh-Allegheny County, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On April 3, 1940, a Douglas DC-2 (registration NC13786) operated by Transcontinental & Western Air - TWA was involved in an aviation accident near Pittsburgh-Allegheny County, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft lost control immediately after touchdown during a thunderstorm, resulting in an upset and total destruction of the airframe. The sole occupant evacuated safely without injury.

What happened

The flight concluded with an approach conducted under adverse meteorological conditions. The environment was characterized by active thunderstorms, significant turbulence, strong winds, and heavy rainfall. Following touchdown, the aircraft experienced a loss of control. This event caused the airframe to overturn, coming to rest upside down on the ground. The structural integrity of the machine was compromised, leading to its total destruction. Despite the severity of the crash, the single occupant managed to evacuate the wreckage safely.

Findings

The incident occurred during the landing phase while operating in poor weather. The combination of thunderstorm activity and strong winds created a challenging environment for the approach and subsequent rollout. The loss of control immediately after touchdown resulted in the aircraft overturning. No fatalities or injuries were reported, as the sole occupant escaped unharmed.