Apache Airlines, Inc., DeHavilland Model 104-7AXC, N4922V, crashed near Coolidge, Arizona, on May 6, 1971, at approximately 1315 m.s.t., while en route from Tucson to Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft was observed to enter a shallow dive which steepened as the aircraft approached the ground. The right wing separated from the fuselage just prior to ground impact. The aircraft disintegrated upon impact and all 10 passengers and the two crewmembers were fatally injured. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the inflight failure and subsequent separation of the right wing. This failure was the result of a fatigue fracture in the lower main root joint fitting which propagated from an area of corrosion and fretting damage which, in turn, was probably caused by design deficiencies. (Author)
Aircraft Accident Report - Apache Airlines, Inc., DeHavilland DH-104-7AXC, N4922V, Coolidge, Arizona, May 6, 1971
1972
15 pages
Report
No indication
English