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416th Bombardment Group (L) Aircraft Accident Report 45-1-23-523 January 23, 1945, Tuesday
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Aircraft Accident Report 45-1-23-523 January 23, 1945, Tuesday
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(Note: Depending on Internet speed, this report may take some time to download and display.) (AAR images from AAIR - Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research.) Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 41-39234 (Douglas A-26B-20-DL Invader) 9th AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 671st Bomb Sq Mission # 192; Box: I; Flight: 1; Position: 2; A/C Fuselage Code: 5C-P Reason: Landing Accident (LAC) Damage: Major damage (3) Point Of Departure: A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France Location: Station A-55
Notes: Pilot's Mission: Combat Nature of Accident: Landing accident Cause of Accident: Pilot error in technique, gross overload of aircraft, and weather. Narrative: After taking off for an operational mission in aircraft A-26B-20, ACSN 41-39234, Lt. Gary was unable to retract his left landing gear. Repeated attempts failed to retract the gear. Because the weather was extremely poor and was closing in, Lt. Gary was advised to land. Because his aircraft was overloaded approximately siz thousand pounds above maximum allowable landing weight he was advised to use extreme caution in landing. Weather conditions prevented his jettisoning his bomb load on the bombing range before landing. In attempting to maintain a balance between a safe flying speed with that load and a safe landing speed with which he could stop the aircraft with that load, Lt. Gary underestimated the stalling speed and dropped the aircraft in from approximately ten feet. The force of the landing caused failure of the brace assembly, nose wheel side, and broke the left axle from the main strut assembly adjacent to the inboard bearing collar. Description: The landing gear of the plane flown by Lt J.C. Gary would not retract after the take-off. When he attempted to land the plane, the gear collapsed with a full load of bombs and ammunition in the plane. However, both he and his gunner, Staff Sergeant R.W. Cheuvront, escaped injury when the bombs did not explode. (416th BG History 1945) Handwritten on Loading List: Retd Early, Crashed on landing See Mission # 192 for additional details |
