Crash of a Douglas VC-54D-10-DC in Roi-Namur

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1977 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72650
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Roi-Namur - Kwajalein
MSN:
10755
YOM:
1945
Location:
Roi-Namur
All Marshall Islands
Country:
Marshall Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a short positioning flight from Roi-Namur Airport (north part of the Kwajalein atoll) to the main airport of Kwajalein located on the south part of the same atoll. During the takeoff roll on runway 04, the captain decided to abort for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest into the sea. The left wing was broken in two and the aircraft was later removed from water but declared as damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the 16 occupants.

Special thanks to US Army Louis D. Sutton, PIC on the following US Army C-54 that should takeoff immediately after the accident one, for his testimony.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 Skymaster off Roi-Namur: 26 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1950 at 0520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
56496
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Honolulu – Roi-Namur – Manille
MSN:
10624
YOM:
1945
Location:
Roi-Namur
All Marshall Islands
Country:
Marshall Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
Three minutes after its takeoff from runway 04 at Roi-Namur-Dyess Airport, while in initial climb by night, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea some 2,5 km off shore. The aircraft sank by few hundred yards and all 26 occupants were killed. Only few debris were found.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, investigators pinpointed the following findings:
- The captain was distracted while the first officer was looking for different radio frequencies,
- Apparent failure of some instruments,
- A sudden power loss on two engines on the same side of the plane, #1 & 2 or # 3 & 4,
- Engagement of the autopilot system by a person not entitled to do so, apparently by a person other than the two pilots,
- A lateral loss of control as a result of the malfunction of flaps that have been deployed in an asymmetric position,
- Technical issue on the primary control system,
- A structural failure that probably occurred on the extremity of both wings and on the tail simultaneously.
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