Mohawk Airlines Flight 112
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (July 2013) |
 A Martin 4-0-4 similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | July 2, 1963 |
| Summary | Pilot error, bad weather as a contributing factor |
| Site | Rochester-Monroe Airport, Rochester, New York, United States 43°07′24″N 77°40′32″W / 43.12333°N 77.67556°W |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Martin 4-0-4 |
| Operator | Mohawk Airlines, Inc. |
| Registration | N449A |
| Flight origin | Rochester-Monroe Airport, Rochester, New York |
| Last stopover | Newark International Airport, Newark, New Jersey |
| Passengers | 40 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Injuries | 36 |
| Survivors | 36 |
Mohawk Airlines Flight 112 was a scheduled passenger flight from Rochester-Monroe Airport in Rochester, New York to Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. On July 2, 1963, the aircraft operating the flight, a Martin 4-0-4 with a total of 15,970 operational hours, crashed during takeoff. The accident killed 7 people (2 crewmen and 5 passengers) and injured 36.
Flight 112 attempted to take off on Rochester's runway 28 into a heavy thunderstorm. The co-pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft, and it fell to earth two minutes after takeoff. The plane struck the ground left wing-first. It then cartwheeled wing-over-wing and caught fire.
The co-pilot was flying the plane from the left seat in violation of company policy. Both pilots working together were unable to control the plane, as the wind had shifted from a headwind to a tailwind.
The Civil Aeronautics Board found the cause of the accident to be the pilot's decision to take off in bad weather, and cited the weather itself as a contributing factor.
References
[edit]- Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network
- 420 F.2d 115 136 U.S.App.D.C. 273 Joan S. NEFF, Administratrix of the Estate of John W. Neff v.UNITED STATES of America, Appellant. No. 22262. United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit. (Archive)