Investigation Summary
The accident occurred during a multi-leg flight from Pittsburgh to Newark. During the takeoff roll from Runway 09 at Williamsport, the right engine suffered a mechanical failure involving the front row master rod and link rods. Tower personnel observed smoke and alerted the crew, who confirmed they were feathering the engine and attempting to return to the airport. At the time of the accident, the First Officer was occupying the left seat and flying the aircraft, while the Captain occupied the right seat. The aircraft remained in a shallow climb with a nose-high attitude and failed to gain significant altitude. The investigation determined the aircraft was traveling at a calculated airspeed of 98 knots at impact, derived from propeller slash marks and engine RPM. This was below the recommended single-engine climb speed (V2). The crew's failure to maintain proper airspeed and climb procedures resulted in the aircraft striking the crest of a ridge approximately 600 feet above the airport elevation.
Final Conclusions
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) determined the probable cause was the failure of the crew to implement proper procedures for an engine failure on takeoff. Specifically, the crew failed to maintain the necessary airspeed for a single-engine climb, leading to a loss of performance that prevented the aircraft from clearing the terrain. The engine failure itself was caused by the failure of the front row master rod and associated link rods, though the specific mechanism of the rod failure could not be determined due to impact damage.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Allen J. Lauber, age 36.
First Officer
James P. McClure, age 33.
Systems & Failure Modes
Pratt & Whitney R2800 CB 3 Engines
The aircraft's powerplants; the right engine suffered a structural failure of the master rod assembly during takeoff.
Hamilton Standard Model 43E60 Propellers
The right propeller was successfully feathered by the crew following the engine failure.
Interesting Facts
- 01All 40 occupants survived the crash and subsequent fire.
- 02The aircraft was a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan (serial number 125), originally built as a CV-340 and converted to 440 standards.
- 03The right engine failure was caused by a master rod and link rod failure.
- 04Calculated airspeed at impact was 98 knots based on propeller slash marks.
- 05The aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder, as it was not required at the time.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Crew Training and Emergency Procedures
Source ↗The investigation highlighted the critical importance of adhering to established single-engine climb speeds and procedures. Allegheny Airlines and the industry reinforced training regarding the 'nose-high' trap where pilots may inadvertently trade airspeed for altitude, leading to performance degradation below minimum control speeds.