Date & Time:
Feb 11, 1942 at 1555 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23340
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Windsor Locks - Windsor Locks
MSN:
414-6157
YOM:
1941
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
6
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Windsor Locks-Bradley Airport on an aerial photography on behalf of the 1st Mapping Squadron. While cruising at an altitude of 28,000 feet over the area of Windsor Locks, the airplane suffered a catastrophic failure, apparently lost its tail, entered a dive and crashed near East Granby, west of the airport. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (1st Mapping Squadron):
1st Lt Melvin W. Schoephoester, pilot,
2nd Lt Walter C. Boyle,
S/Sgt Michael M. Kaufman,
Sgt Gordon Johnson,
Sgt Thomas F. Quinn,
Sgt John T. Howey Jr.
Crew (1st Mapping Squadron):
1st Lt Melvin W. Schoephoester, pilot,
2nd Lt Walter C. Boyle,
S/Sgt Michael M. Kaufman,
Sgt Gordon Johnson,
Sgt Thomas F. Quinn,
Sgt John T. Howey Jr.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined because the airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces. Nevertheless, it is possible that the accident was caused by a failure of the automatic pilot system. The following elements were identified:
- Both engine switches were cut, the throttles to the right engine were completely closed, while the throttles to the left engine were completely open, and the fuel selector valve for the right engine was turned off;
- The right propeller appeared to have been feathered, and experts concluded that it was feathered at the time of impact;
- The committee has found no evidence to indicate failure of the wings, it is more likely that the tail break away in flight.
- Both engine switches were cut, the throttles to the right engine were completely closed, while the throttles to the left engine were completely open, and the fuel selector valve for the right engine was turned off;
- The right propeller appeared to have been feathered, and experts concluded that it was feathered at the time of impact;
- The committee has found no evidence to indicate failure of the wings, it is more likely that the tail break away in flight.
