Zone

Crash of a Convair CV-340-38 in Elma

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1978 at 0145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N4807C
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint Louis - Minneapolis
MSN:
84
YOM:
1953
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9000
Captain / Total hours on type:
5500.00
Circumstances:
En route from Saint Louis to Minneapolis, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the right engine caught fire. The copilot declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Elma Airport. Shortly later, the right engine detached. The crew completed an emergency descent but made a forced landing off airport on land. All four occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight due to master and connecting rods failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Fire in engine,
- Oil exhaustion - engine lubrication system,
- Separation in flight,
- Complete engine failure,
- Force landing off airport on land,
- Engine separated from aircraft in flight due to fire damage.
Final Report: