Page:CAB Accident Report, Allegheny Airlines Flight 604.pdf/1

 SA-385

ADOPTED: August 30, 1966

ALLEGHENY AIRLINES, INC.

CONVAIR 340/440, N8415H

MONTOURSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA

JULY 23, 1965

SYNOPSIS

Allegheny Airlines, Inc., Flight 604, a Convair 340/440, N8415H, crashed 5 miles east-northeast of the Williamsport-Lycoming County Airport, Montoursville, Pennsyl- yania, on July 23, 1965. The 36 passengers, 3 crewmembers, and 1 jumpseat rider survived but received varying degrees of injuries. The flight, regularly scheduled from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Newark, New Jersey, with intermediate stops at Dubois. Phillipsburg, Williamsport, and Wilkesuflarre, Pennsylvania, departed Runway 9 at 1503 e.d.t. Shortly after takeoff smoke and fire were observed coming from the right engine and at approximately 1505:30 the captain advised "Six oh four is coming back in, we've got the right engine feathered." The crash occurred moments later on_the crest of a ridge approximately 600 feet above the airport elevation. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. The failure of the right engine is attributed to the failure of the front. row master rod and all the associated link rods. Damage to the rod ends precluded any determination of the cause of the master rod failure.

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the crew to implement proper procedures for an engine failure on takeoff.

1. INVESTIGATION

1.1 History of the Flight

Allegheny Airlines, Inc., Convair 340/440, N8415H, operating as scheduled passen- ger Flight 604, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Newark, New Jersey, with intermediate steps at Dubois, Phillipsburg, Williamsport, and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, departed Runway 9 at the Williamsport—Lycoming County Airport at 1503 in accordance With Visual Flight Rules. Within 2.5 miles of the airport, personnel in the tower observed smoke trailing from the right engine, and the local controller attempted to contact the flight. At 1505:30 the following transmission was received, "Six oh four is coming back in, we've got the right engine feathered." This was acknowledged, and when asked to advise which runway they desired, the reply was "Okay." The flight did not respond to any further transmissions.

The reports of witnesses on the ground indicate that the flight remained south of the extended centerline of Runway 9 for approximately 2.5 miles, and that the aircraft