No fatalities

Single-engine power loss leads to runway excursion and total loss (EW983)

Chennai, IndiaTakeoff (climb)

On August 28, 1944, a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar (registration EW983) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Chennai, India during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was attributed to the loss of power on one engine during takeoff combined with an inappropriate corrective reaction by the crew. 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft veered off the runway after an excessive control input following a right engine failure during takeoff, resulting in no injuries but a written-off airframe.

What happened

During the initial takeoff roll, the right engine experienced a complete loss of power. This asymmetry caused the aircraft to yaw toward the affected side. The pilot attempted to counteract this drift by applying corrective input; however, the reaction was overly aggressive. Consequently, the nose swung sharply to the left, causing the airframe to depart the paved runway surface and roll in the direction of the airport terminal building.

In an immediate effort to prevent further structural damage or collision with infrastructure, the pilot retracted the landing gear. With the wheels up, the aircraft sank onto its belly and slid across the ground for a short distance before coming to a complete stop. The incident resulted in no casualties, though the airframe sustained severe damage leading to it being declared a total loss.

Probable cause

The accident was attributed to the loss of power on one engine during takeoff combined with an inappropriate corrective reaction by the crew.