3 fatalities

1974-06-24: Gulfstream GII (N720Q) — IBM - International Business Machines — Kline, United States of America

Kline, United States of AmericaFlight

On June 24, 1974, a Gulfstream GII (registration N720Q) operated by IBM - International Business Machines was involved in an aviation accident near Kline, United States of America in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Uncontrolled descent following the failure of the wing spoiler system. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781231404Data APIEditorial standards

A training flight from Savannah-Intl Airport crashed in a marshy field over South Carolina after the wing spoiler system failed, killing all three crew members.

Incident Overview

A training flight departed Savannah-Intl Airport and proceeded to cruising altitude over South Carolina. While en route, the aircraft went out of control and entered a dive, completing a 360-degree turn before crashing in a marshy field. The three crew members on board were killed.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the probable cause to be an uncontrolled descent following the failure of the wing spoiler system.

Contributing Factors

Investigators identified the following contributing factors: unwanted extension of ground and flight spoilers, possibly due to a short circuit in the extended control kit, and failure of the left ground spoiler actuator in flight.