Date:	Monday 20 February 1956
Time:	08:11
Type:	Vickers 744 Viscount
Owner/operator:	Capital Airlines
Registration:	N7404
MSN:	90
Year of manufacture:	1955
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 42
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW) -   United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Detroit-Willow Run Airport, MI (YIP/KYIP)
Destination airport:	Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW/KMDW)
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The Capital Airlines Viscount took off from Detroit-Willow Run Airport at 07:00 CST for a flight to Chicago-Midway. The flight had been uneventful when the aircraft approached Chicago, making a right hand turn to finals for a landing on runway 31R. When over the boundary of the airport the captain reduced power and called for 47deg flaps. As the first officer moved the flap control to 47deg, he felt the aircraft decelerate and settle. Glancing at the instrument panel, he noticed 3 of the 4 17-degree pitch lights were illuminated. These lights illuminate when the propeller blades are at a 17deg pitch or below; 21 degrees is normally the minimum in-flight blade angle. Knowing this was an abnormal situation he chose to apply power. Advancing power caused the propellers to immediately seek the lowest possible angle. When the throttles were 3/4 fully forward the aircraft sank quickly, touching down on the east taxiway, 414 feet short of the runway threshold. The aircraft skidded onto the runway on its belly coming to rest 1626 feet past the point of first touchdown.
It appeared that at least two microswitches had failed, permitting the energizing of the 21-degree pitch lock solenoid. This made it possible for the stops to be withdrawn during the approach. As the crew didn't see the 21-degree pitch lock solenoid warning light, the emergency switch preventing the propellers from going into ground fine pitch range while in flight, was not actuated.
The hull was used to build Vickers 757 Viscount c/n 301 which entered service with Trans Canada Air Lines May 1957.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "A malfunctioning of the propeller control switches which culminated in an abrupt loss of lift."

ICAO Accident Digest No.8, Circular 54-AN/49 (51-55)

photo (c) Pat Bukiri; Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW); 20 February 1956

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