ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-3C N3433Y Spokane International Airport, WA (GEG)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Friday 18 March 1994
Time:01:56
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC3 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas DC-3C
Operator:Salair
Registration: N3433Y
MSN: 43089
First flight: 1943
Total airframe hrs:37190
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92
Crew:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:1 km (0.6 mls) SW of Spokane International Airport, WA (GEG) (   United States of America)
Phase: Initial climb (ICL)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:Spokane International Airport, WA (GEG/KGEG), United States of America
Destination airport:Portland International Airport, OR (PDX/KPDX), United States of America
Flightnumber:2991
Narrative:
On February 21, 1994, the right engine of N3433Y experienced a misfire and loss of power while on final approach to Spokane, WA. The airplane was grounded for maintenance and the right engine was removed and replaced with an overhauled engine from Precision Airmotive. Precision Airmotive reported that the overhaul was completed and approved for service on December 20, 1993 and preserved for short term storage. Prior to the overhaul the engine had been on the shelf in long term storage.
At the time of the accident, the operator reported that the engine had accumulated a total time of 15 hours since the overhaul.
On March 18, 01:53 hours, the captain reported to the Spokane controller that the flight was ready for takeoff on runway 21. The controller instructed the flight to, after takeoff, fly a heading of 215 degrees to Portland, and it was cleared for takeoff. Shortly after takeoff the crew were forced to shut down the right engine because of a failure. They tried to return to the airport but the plane collided with the terrain in an open level field located 3,450 feet from the end of runway 21 and 900 feet to the right of runway centerline. The airplane was lying on its belly, with the main landing gear retracted. The entire fuselage and cargo, cockpit, and inboard section of both wings was consumed by fire.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain airspeed. Factors to the accident were: cylinder fatigue, dark night and stall encountered."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 259 days (9 months)
Accident number: SEA94FA085
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Loss of control

Sources:
» Air Safety Week 25 April 1994 (p. 10)
» Flight International 20-26 July 94
» ICAO Adrep Summary 2/94 (#17)
» NTSB


Photos

photo of Douglas-DC-3C-N3433Y
accident date: 18-03-1994
type: Douglas DC-3C
registration: N3433Y
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Spokane International Airport, WA to Portland International Airport, OR as the crow flies is 445 km (278 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-3

  • ca 13.000 built
  • 4530th loss
  • 1798th fatal accident
  • 1501st worst accident (at the time)
  • 1516th worst accident (currently)
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