What happened
On the morning of the incident, a Seaboard & Western training flight, operating LN-800, commenced its takeoff roll on runway 31R at New York International Airport. As the Vickers aircraft reached an airspeed of 117 knots, it successfully became airborne. However, shortly after reaching an altitude of roughly 25 feet, the crew encountered significant difficulties maintaining control of the plane.
The aircraft suddenly drifted to the left, causing the left wing to drop by an angle of 20 to 30 degrees. This movement resulted in the wing making contact with the runway surface, leading to a total loss of directional stability. The aircraft subsequently skidded westward across the airfield, eventually colliding with a stationary Trans Canada Air Lines Vickers 724 Viscount located in a temporary terminal area.
The accident resulted in five injuries among the crew members on board the training flight. The parked Viscount was unoccupied at the time of the impact and sustained no casualties.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary reason for the loss of control was an unintended propeller reversal that occurred at a low altitude immediately following takeoff. Additionally, it was noted that improper overhaul methods used by the manufacturer of the propeller served as a contributing factor to the mechanical failure.