ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed L-188A Electra N9707C Dawson, TX
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Friday 3 May 1968
Time:16:48
Type:Silhouette image of generic L188 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Lockheed L-188A Electra
Operator:Braniff International Airways
Registration: N9707C
MSN: 1099
First flight: 1959-10-13 (8 years 7 months)
Total airframe hrs:20958
Engines: 4 Allison 501-D13A
Crew:Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Passengers:Fatalities: 80 / Occupants: 80
Total:Fatalities: 85 / Occupants: 85
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:1,6 km (1 mls) E of Dawson, TX (   United States of America)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Houston-William P. Hobby Airport, TX (HOU/KHOU), United States of America
Destination airport:Dallas-Love Field, TX (DAL/KDAL), United States of America
Flightnumber: 352
Narrative:
Braniff Flight 352 departed Houston (HOU) at 16:11 for a flight to Dallas (DAL) and climbed to FL200. Some 25 minutes into the flight, the L-188A Electra was approaching an area of severe thunderstorm activity. The crew requested a descent to FL150 and a deviation to the west. ARTCC then advised the crew that other aircraft were deviating to the east. The Electra crew still thought it looked all right on the west and were cleared to descend to FL140 and deviate to the west. At 16:44 the flight was further cleared to descend to 5000 feet. At 16:47 the aircraft had apparently encountered an area of bad weather, including hail, and requested (and were cleared for) a 180deg turn. Subsequent to the initiation of a right turn, the aircraft was upset. During the upset, N9707C rolled to the right to a bank angle in excess of 90deg and pitched nose down to approximately 40 degrees. A roll recovery maneuver was initiated and the aircraft experienced forces of 4,35 g. Part of the right wing failed and the aircraft broke up at an altitude of 6750 feet and crashed in flames a little later.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The stressing of the aircraft structure beyond its ultimate strength during an attempted recovery from an unusual attitude induced by turbulence associated with a thunderstorm. The operation in the turbulence resulted from a decision to penetrate an area of known severe weather."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 2 months
Accident number: NTSB/AAR-69-03
Download report: Final report

Classification:
Turbulence
Wing failure
Loss of control

Follow-up / safety actions
The FAA issued an Airworthiness Directive, effective November 6, 1968, requiring all known US operators of Lockheed Model 188A and 188C airplanes to inspect the No. 1 wing plank at engine nacelles 2 and 3 for cracks, and to repair those cracks found as necessary.

Following this accident large segments of the aviation industry started reviewing, amending, and updating safety and training programs and operational procedures regarding storm avoidance.

FAA issued 1 Airworthiness Directive

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Photos

photo of Lockheed-L-188A-Electra-N9707C
accident date: 03-05-1968
type: Lockheed L-188A Electra
registration: N9707C
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Houston-William P. Hobby Airport, TX to Dallas-Love Field, TX as the crow flies is 384 km (240 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Lockheed L-188

  • 222 built
  • 12th loss
  • 9th fatal accident
  • The worst accident (at the time)
  • 4th worst accident (currently)
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 United States of America
  • 4th worst accident (at the time)
  • 23rd worst accident (currently)
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