No fatalities

1967-01-24: Douglas DC-6 (N74841) — Saturn Airways — Oakland, United States of America

Oakland, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On January 24, 1967, a Douglas DC-6 (registration N74841) operated by Saturn Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Oakland, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot-in-command failed to maintain directional control due to improper operation of powerplant controls which caused an asymmetrical thrust reversal after landing. Crew unfamiliar with early warning reverse circuit. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781240394Data APIEditorial standards

During a local training mission, a pilot-in-command lost directional control after landing, leading to a runway excursion. All four crew members were uninjured, but the aircraft was destroyed.

Incident Overview

A training flight operating out of Oakland International Airport ended in a runway excursion when the pilot-in-command lost directional control after touchdown. The aircraft veered off the runway before coming to rest. While all four crew members were uninjured, the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.

Sequence of Events

The crew was completing a local training mission at Oakland International Airport. After the aircraft touched down, the pilot-in-command initiated the braking procedure. During this process, control was lost, and the airplane veered off the runway. The aircraft eventually came to rest off the paved surface.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation identified that the pilot-in-command failed to maintain directional control due to improper operation of powerplant controls. This resulted in an asymmetrical thrust reversal after landing. Additionally, the crew was unfamiliar with the early warning reverse circuit. The investigation also noted poor flight supervision on the part of the instructor.

Probable Cause

The probable cause of the incident was the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain directional control due to improper operation of powerplant controls, which caused an asymmetrical thrust reversal after landing. Contributing factors included the crew's unfamiliarity with the early warning reverse circuit and poor flight supervision by the instructor.