Lockheed 18-56 N6371C
3 October 2004 · Midland, Texas, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 3 October 2004 at about 21:20 local time, a Lockheed 18-56 registered N6371C, operated by Commemorative Air Force, was involved in an accident near Midland, Texas, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Midland, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Midland International Airport (MAF)
- Coordinates
- 31.9333, -102.2047
- Aircraft
- Lockheed 18-56
- Registration
- N6371C
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Commemorative Air Force
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Midland → Boulder
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW05LA003
People
5 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. Contributing factors were the choice of runway used and the prevailing tailwind.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The 18,000- hour pilot was cleared for takeoff in the vintage twin-engine tail wheel equipped airplane on a 9,501- foot by 50- foot runway. The pilot was aware that there was a tailwind from approximatly 160 degrees at 10 knots. Shortly after starting the takeoff roll, the airplane swerved to the right. The pilot was able to correct back to the centerline utilizing rudder control. The airplane then swerved to the left, and full right rudder was applied but the swerve could not be corrected. By the time the airplane reached the left edge of the runway, the airplane had not reached its calculated V2 speed of 110 knots. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, went airborne and shortly thereafter, the right wing dropped and contacted the ground. The airplane then spun 180 degrees, impacted the ground, slid backward, and came to rest upright. A post-crash fire consumed the aft fuselage and left wing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Lockheed 18 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Aug 1986 | Lockheed 18-56 (HOWARD 250) | Texarkana, Arkansas, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 17 Mar 1984 | Lockheed 18-56 | Oneonta, New York, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 11 Jan 1983 | Lockheed 18-56 | Madison, Georgia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Oct 1982 | Lockheed 18 | Kosciusko, Mississippi, United States | Vintage Sales Corporation | Fatal | 3 |
| 5 Jan 1980 | Lockheed 18 | Palmyra Island, Other-U.s.territories&Posses. | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1979 | Lockheed 18 | Brunswick, Georgia, United States | Wiregrass AVN | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2004 | Lockheed 1329-23E | Houston, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 2004 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Dalhart, Texas, United States | Kenneth Green | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 2004 | Bell 407 | Pyote, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 3 Aug 2004 | Piper PA-60-601P | Lakeway, Texas, United States | Curtis Treadwell | Fatal | 6 |
| 9 Sep 2004 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Rachel, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Dec 2004 | Mooney M20F | Fabens, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |