On September 19, 1931, a Ford 5 (registration NX9652) operated by Ford Motor Company was involved in an aviation accident near Dearborn, United States of America in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Both wings detached in flight due to overload from excessive aerodynamic forces during a high-speed maneuver. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An XB-906 prototype lost both wings during a high-speed maneuver near the airport, resulting in an uncontrolled descent and fatal crash for the two crew members.
What happened
The incident involved the first XB-906 prototype, an aircraft based on the Ford 5 design and intended for the US Army. The crew was conducting a local test flight in the vicinity of the airport when the accident occurred. During the maneuvering phase, the pilot completed a steep turn at high speed. Immediately following this action, both wings were torn off the airframe. The loss of lift caused the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent. It struck the ground near the runway and burst into flames upon impact. Both individuals on board were killed in the crash.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the structural failure was the primary event leading to the loss of control. The wings detached from the fuselage while the aircraft was airborne. This separation is attributed to the airframe being subjected to excessive aerodynamic forces during the high-speed turn, which likely exceeded the structural limits of the wing attachments.
Probable cause
Both wings detached in flight due to overload from excessive aerodynamic forces during a high-speed maneuver.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…