Akron-Canton

While turning from downwind to base leg, the aircraft was observed descending rapidly in a steep bank. Witnesses reported smoke was trailing from the aircraft. The aircraft crashed in an industrial area. An exam of the right engine revealed that the exhaust-to-turbo adapter, pn 641829, had fractured and separated. The fracture was a result of thermal fatigue and it had propagated across more than 95% of the area before final separation had occurred. Since an exam of the cowling and both engines showed no streaking heat or smoke patterns, the reported 'smoke' was attributed to exhaust gas. While there was a loss of power in the right engine, no other aircraft malfunctions were found that would have caused loss of control. All six occupants were killed.

About 1607 e.d.t., on August 2, 1979, a Cessna Citation piloted by Mr. Thurman L. Munson crashed short of runway 19 at the Akron-Canton Airport near Canton, Ohio. The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings during a local flight with two passengers aboard. The aircraft first touched down in a relatively level, clear area about 870 feet short of the runway. The aircraft slid through a small clump of trees, hit a large stump, and came to rest on a road adjacent to the airport boundary fence. Fire erupted immediately after the aircraft came to rest. The two passengers escaped from the wreckage; the pilot was killed. Thurman Lee Munson, aged 32, an American Major League Baseball catcher, was killed.

The crew started the approach to Akron-Canton Airport by night and marginal weather conditions. The approach speed was too high and the airplane was also too high and the glide so the crew landed 2,400 feet to far down the runway 01. After touchdown on a wet runway, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. All 26 occupants were evacuated, 15 of them were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

After touchdown at Akron-Canton Airport, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and went down an 23 feet embankment before coming to rest 400 feet further. A passenger was seriously injured while all other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was written off.

On approach to runway 36 at Akron-Canton Airport, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems with the undercarriage. In accordance with ATC, he completed a low pass over the runway and passed just in front of the control tower before making a turn to the left to join the approach circuit. On short final, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in flames about 300 yards short of runway threshold. All six occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

The aircraft departed from the North Philadelphia Airport, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 1846, November 4, 1949, for Cleveland. A flight plan was then filed with Philadelphia ATC which specified that the flight proceed from Philadelphia to Allentown according to Visual Flight Rules, and from Allentown to Cleveland according to Instrument Flight Rules at a cruising altitude of 4,000 feet Mansfield, Ohio, was designated as the alternate airport. At the time of takeoff, the aircraft carried 3,000 pounds of fuel and 4,878 pounds of cargo, Total aircraft weight was 24,800 pounds which was within the allowable limit, and the load was so distributed that the aircraft's center of gravity was within the certificated limits. The flight was routine until it reported over Youngstown, Ohio, at 2100, at which time a new flight plan was filed with Cleveland ATC because the Cleveland weather was below the authorized landing minimums and also because freezing rain was forecast at the time of the flight's arrival. The destination was changed to Akron, and Toledo Ohio, was designated as the alternate. At 2114 the flight reported to the Akron-Canton Tower estimating arrival over the Akron Range Station at 2117 at 4,500 feet and the tower issued approach clearance. At 2118 the flight reported over the Akron Range Station Five minutes later, at 2123, the flight reported outbound at 2,500 feet over the outer marker, 4 3 miles south of Runway 36. The tower, at 2128, transmitted to the flight the 2125 Akron-Canton weather as follows. At 2132, the flight reported inbound at 2,500 feet over the outer marker and was cleared to land on Runway 36. This was the last radio contact with the flight Approximately two minutes later the aircraft crashed south of the airport. The wreckage was found 3,250 feet south of the runway 36 threshold and 880 feet east of the center line. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
James R. Harrington, pilot,
John E. Franklin, copilot,
Robert S. Yarano, crew chief.

After takeoff from Pittsburgh-Bettis Field Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 1,500 feet, the engine failed. In fog, the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a residential area. The aircraft was destroyed and ground damages were important. However, nobody was injured and the pilot Melvin 'Mel' Christopher Garlow was unhurt.