Madras | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from runway 27 at Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, while climbing, the captain contacted ATC and declared an emergency after the right engine exploded and caught fire. The crew was cleared to return for an approach to runway 09 and initiated a circuit. On final approach, at a height of 300 feet, the airplane entered a nose down angle of 45° then crashed in a huge explosion about one km short of runway 09. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 95 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the 10th stage of the compressor disc, probably after a blade failed due to fatigue cracks. Debris sectioned fuel and hydraulic lines, causing the fluid to leak in the engine and to ignite while in contact with high temperature elements. The fire quickly spread as the crew failed to shut off the fuel supply system.

Crash of a Boeing 307 Stratoliner near Madras

Date & Time: May 10, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 307 Stratoliner

Operator:

Quaker City Airways

Registration:

N75385

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2002

YOM:

1940

Location:

Madras

Oregon

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Parked since few months on a regional airport, the aircraft was recently purchased by a new owner who wanted to know the exact consumption of oil and fuel. A test flight was scheduled with two test pilots. To be able to perform a longer flight, additional fuel tanks were installed in the cabin. While cruising at a relative low altitude, the crew informed ATC that a fire erupted in the cabin and elected to make an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in flames in a field located 15 miles from Madras and came to rest. While both pilots were able to evacuate with no injury, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Additional fuel tanks were installed in the cabin to perform the test flight but it was determined that these fuels tanks were not sealed and were leaking. The technicians who installed the fuel tanks on board were aware of the fact that these tanks were leaking, but since they had not been able to find the source of the leaks, they decided to install them despite a major risk of fire. In flight, some fuel leaked from a tank and ignited while in contact with an incandescent element whose nature remains unknown. In such conditions, the crew was unable to continue the test flight and an emergency landing was therefore necessary.