Rare and unusual accident causes

[pelmet]

After hearing about the usual causes of accidents, some here have become frustrated by the same old causes.

But there are also the more unusual accidents that have been forgotten over time.

Feel free to post your own below. I have two here......

B-52 in 1967.....Aircraft climbed straight out on the runway heading and it appeared normal until it reached an altitude of approximately 3000 feet and a distance of 5 miles from the take-off position. At this time a steep nose-over maneuver was noticed and the aircraft continued down in a steep dive until it disappeared below the horizon. Three crewmen ejected and survived. The aircraft struck the ocean at a steep angle. Later analysis indicated that the life raft stowed behind the co-pilot inflated, pushing him into the control yoke.

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=74619

9 February 1943. Atlantic Ocean, Florida. At 0230 EWT, the crew of a Consolidated C-87 bailed out over the Atlantic Ocean approximately ten miles east of Hollywood, Florida, killing two crewmembers and injuring six others. The C-87 flew unoccupied for over 1,300 miles before crashing into El Viejo Mountain near Zaragoza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Assistant navigator 2Lt. Bernard A. Brannon and radio operator Pvt. Stanley Gutowsky were never found and were presumed lost at sea. Six other crewmembers suffered minor injuries after parachuting into the sea.

Investigation revealed that the airplane had taken off at 0101 EWT from Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida, on a ferry flight to an undisclosed overseas destination. The C-87 climbed normally after take off and the pilots leveled off at an altitude of 9,000 feet about 80 miles out to sea. The pilot reduced power and set the controls for cruise flight. Soon after leveling off and reducing power the pilot noticed that the airplane was not gaining enough airspeed. Moments later the rudders and elevators began vibrating violently. The airplane began losing altitude at a rate of 300 feet per minute. The pilots increased power to maintain altitude but were barely able to sustain level flight. The pilot then turned the airplane back toward the mainland and ordered the crew and passengers to jettison all luggage and cargo.

The pilot increased power and was able to maintain level flight but the vibration in the tail controls became so violent that it was difficult for the pilots to keep their hold on the control wheels or their feet on the rudder pedals. The pilots struggled with the airplane until they reached the area near Miami, Florida, but the C-87 soon became uncontrollable and began to lose altitude. The pilot, fearing that the violent vibrations would tear the C-87 apart in mid air, ordered all crewmembers and passengers to abandon ship. After all crewmembers had bailed out, the pilot set the automatic pilot and then exited the airplane. U.S. Coast Guard and civilian vessels operating in the area rescued six of the eight crew and passengers who had parachuted into the sea.

The C-87, its control anomolies apparently self corrected, flew un-occupied until it reached the area south of Zaragoza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, at 0630 local Mexican time. The C-87 apparently circled the area for two hours before crashing into the south side of El Viejo Mountain approximately 400 feet below the peak at 0830 local Mexican time. It was noted by investigators that the subject airplane had had previous problems with tail surface buffetting.

[bizjets101]

There is an accident in the NTSB database, from a few years ago, where a young couple where found dead in a single engine plane crash - I can't remember if it was a C172 - but both were naked and in the back seat!!!

I'll see if I can find it??

[Gogona]

but both were naked and in the back seat!!!

In Autopilot we trust?
Is there anything in the Darwin Awards database?

[Gogona]

Later analysis indicated that the life raft stowed behind the co-pilot inflated, pushing him into the control yoke.

Recently I heard the story about the fire extinguisher accidentally discharged by the passenger during the climb!
He just adjusted his seat to make himself comfortable and ended up in the bubble bath at only 2000' AGL. As well as the pilot, of course, who instantly got into "marginal IMC" inside the cockpit and was almost unable to see his instrument panel!
Thanks God, you will never find this story among the accident reports. These guys could open the windows, throw some foam out and return to the airport somewhat blindly, but safely
The moral of the story is obvious...

[MUSKEG]

And no one had a knife?

[Beefitarian]

And no one had a knife?

I wondered that also. Then again I usually don't.

[iflyforpie]

Or a sidearm? This is 'merica... we don't solve problems, we shoot them.

Major Kong would have shot it.

[GyvAir]

From NTSB Identification: MIA92FA051

"THE PRIVATE PILOT AND A PILOT RATED PASSENGER WERE GOING TO PRACTICE SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING FAIL IN A DIVE AND CRASH. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND BODIES REVEALED THAT BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE PARTIALLY CLOTHED AND THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT WAS IN THE FULL AFT RECLINING POSITION. NEITHER BODY SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SEATBELTS OR SHOULDER HARNESSES BEING WORN. EXAMINATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS' CLOTHING REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF RIPPING OR DISTRESS TO THE ZIPPERS AND BELTS.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO DIVERT HER ATTENTION TO OTHER ACTIVITIES NOT RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXCEEDING OF THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE LEADING TO A WING FAILURE. "

I also recall an incident in UK? where a couple in a 172 or similar were engaged in some rather noisy non-flight related activities, all the while blissfully unaware that the mic switch was stuck in the keyed position... I believe some sort of charges were laid.

[North Shore]

^ Well, something was laid

[pelmet]

You know what....that sucks.

[2R]

The auto-pilot on some airplanes disengages in turbulance or when the servos are worked to hard.
So,when the dogs get to howling,you better be prepared to grab the yoke,Baby

[Siddley Hawker]

http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-r ... 7q0032.asp

This one is worth reading more for the survival story than anything. They took off in front of us, they were on their way to Wabush and we were going to Montreal.

[Gogona]

http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-r ... 7q0032.asp
Two passengers, seated in the rear, survived the fall of about 3,500 feet.

The most incredible part...

[Siddley Hawker]

The most incredible part...

Yep. The guy who was injured had tried to undo his seat belt on the way down and the other fellow talked him out of it. He was also a real comedian. After they hit the ground the injured guy asked "Are we dead?" The comedian said "Well we didn't go to hell that's for sure."

[GyvAir]

An interesting compilation of unusual accidents:

http://planecrashinfo.com/unusual.htm

I like the story about the engaging of the gust lock in flight as a prank incident. That's certainly a good one for learning from the mistakes and foolishness of others.

[CamAero]

A guy I used to work for went roaring downhill on a muddy airstrip in his heavily loaded 206. By the time he realized it wasn't going to fly, he was headed for the bush. Airplane was completely demolished but he got out OK.

Turned out, his girlfriend's dog, while bouncing around during the taxi, had selected the flaps up..

[J31]

A pilot of a Super Cub could not get 12 foot 2 x 4's in the cab so he tied them length ways on top of the wing. After many 90 mph runs down a 5000 foot runway he still could not understand why it would not fly!

[GyvAir]

Must've been some frost on the 2x4s..

[supercub7]

B29 glassy water landing

http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/maritime/ex ... s/b29.html

[StudentPilot]

http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-r ... 7q0032.asp
Two passengers, seated in the rear, survived the fall of about 3,500 feet.

The most incredible part...

A very few aircrew in WWII fell a lot farther without anything to help them slow down.
http://www.greenharbor.com/fffolder/ffallers.html

Sometimes the human body is pretty amazing...

[GyvAir]

Along the free fall survival thread drift line, an interesting story although not actually free falling:

http://www.damninteresting.com/rider-on-the-storm/

[Gogona]

Well, Vesna Vulovic is still the champion

[bizjets101]

A-7 Corsair goes overboard off a USN carrier, the aircraft sinks, pilot waits for the carrier to pass overhead, then ejects - underwater - his survival story;

Click Here

[c185]

More free fall stories:
http://www.greenharbor.com/fffolder/ffallers.html