On September 20, 1965, a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation (registration N9719C) operated by American Flyers Airline was involved in an aviation accident near Ardmore, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft experienced hydroplaning on a wet runway, preventing it from stopping before the end of the runway. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft operating under a special ferry permit overran the runway at Ardmore Airport during landing, resulting in significant damage but no fatalities.
What happened
During a night operation conducted under a special ferry permit, an aircraft (operating with one engine non-functional) was being repositioned to Ardmore Airport. Upon landing on a runway surface that was wet from recent heavy rainfall, the flight crew encountered significant challenges in decelerating the plane within the available runway length. The aircraft subsequently overran the paved surface and came to a stop in a nearby ditch.
Despite the impact, all three crew members were able to evacuate the wreckage without injury. While there were no fatalities, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements related to the environmental conditions and flight execution. The primary factor was hydroplaning on the saturated runway surface. Several secondary factors were noted during the analysis:
An approach that was inadequately planned
Improper use or failure to deploy flaps
Inability of the engine thrust to provide effective reverse thrust
Low cloud ceilings and heavy rain accumulation
Reduced visibility caused by a contaminated windshield
Probable cause
The aircraft experienced hydroplaning on a wet runway, preventing it from stopping before the end of the runway.