Page:Aircraft Accident Report for 1972 Sacramento Canadair Sabre accident.pdf/13

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There were no flight recorders installed, and none was required.

1.12

The aircraft skid marks began approximately 40 feet from the end of Runway 30 and continued 453 feet over a sod overrun and a 25-foot-wide perimeter roadway. At this point the aircraft became airborne again, crashed through a chain link fence and a fire hydrant, and skidded across a 112-foot-wide divided highway. The aircraft came to rest approximately 800 feet from the end of the runway, less than 25 feet to the left of the extended runway centerline.

Both wings separated from the aircraft fuselage. The right wing separated at the wing/center section attach fitting. This forging was fractured longitudinally through the ribs, but all attach bolts were tight and in place. The aileron and flap were still attached. The left wing and center section were still intact as one assembly. The left aileron and flap had separated from the wing.

The right wing leading edge was crushed back to the front spar in two places, near the wing root and 2 feet inboard from the tip. The Pitot mast was separated at the leading edge, and the Pitot head was missing. Wood splinters were jammed into one end of the mast. The Pitot and static lines were intact and unobstructed from the wingtip to the inboard end of the wing. The Pitot and static lines in the fuselage were destroyed.

The fuselage forward of the cockpit bulkhead was destroyed. The forward cockpit bulkhead and instrument panel was bent forward and down approximately 30". The fuselage skin on both sides was buckled, burned, and melted in several places, from the cockpit aft to the area of the speed brakes. The lower fuselage skin was gone, Both speed brakes were in the open position. The aft fuselage section was attached, but the skin and tailpipe were buckled, with three deep wrinkles just aft of the speed brakes. The lower aft end of the fuselage and tailpipe were both dented and buckled upward. The vertical stabilizer and both horizontal stabilizers were damaged but intact. The rudder and left elevator remained attached, but the right elevator was separated.

All three landing gear assemblies separated from the aircraft. The main landing gear tires were inflated and showed no flat spots. The wheels and brakes rotated freely. The brake discs showed no signs of overheat, and the pads were undamaged. The nosewheel tire was deflated. The rim was dented on both sides and slightly spread.