# Accident 19960620014559A: Doug DC3A, Conroe, TX, June 20, 1996 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 20, 1996, 14:08 local time - Place: Conroe, TX - Airport: Montgomery County Airport - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 30.3793° N, 95.3795° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3793&lon=-95.3795&mi=10 - Aircraft: N23WT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23WT-1999-01-04) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Douglas DC3A (registry code 3021433, https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3a) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUG DC3A - Reported engine: PWA R183092 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 16,500 total, 707 in this make and model, 230 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96FA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96FA262) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960620014559A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. CRASHED ON TAKEOFF IN THE FRONT YARD OF A HOUSE, BURNED. (.4)DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB THE COPILOT WHO WAS MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS CALLED FOR METO (MAXIMUM EXCEPT TAKEOFF) POWER. AFTER THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND SET METO POWER, THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PIC TOOK THE CONTROLS FROM THE COPILOT AND CALLED FOR HIM TO FEATHER THE LEFT PROPELLER. THE COPILOT DID NOT HEAR THE CALL TO FEATHER THE LEFT PROPELLER. MAINTAINING AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF 90 KNOTS AND WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO TREES AND IMPACTED A RURAL RESIDENTIAL PAVED STREET. THE COCKPIT AREA AND MAIN FUSELAGE WERE CONSUMED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE THROTTLE QUADRANT REVEALED THE PROPELLER CONTROL LEVERS WERE FORWARD, THE MIXTURE CONTROL LEVERS WERE AUTORICH, THE THROTTLE FOR THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS FORWARD, AND THE THROTTLE FOR THE LEFT ENGINE WAS AT IDLE. ACCORDING TO A FAA OPERATIONS INSPECTOR MAINTAINING 90 KNOTS WITH THE PROPELLER NOT FEATHERED WOULD RESULT IN THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING. THE PILOT AND COPILOT HAD NOT COMPLETED A PROFICIENCY CHECK OR FLIGHT CHECK FOR THE DC3 TYPE AIRCRAFT WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 24 MONTHS. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENGINE DID NOT DIS CLOSE ANY PREEXISTING ANOMALIES. (-23) WEATHER WAS VMC FOR THIS CFR 91 ONLY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. AS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN CLIMBING OUT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY AIRPORT (CXO) THE LEFT ENGINE FAILED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW LEFT. THE PILOT FLYING APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT (INSTRUCTOR) TOOK THE AIRCRAFT AND ROLLED THE WINGS LEVEL WHILE LOWERING THE NOSE AND BEGAN ENGINE FAILURE CHECKLIST BUT WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE IT PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES 3960 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 14, CONTINUED 337 FEET IMPACTING THE GROUND IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. AIRCRAFT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT. THE TWO PILOTS AND ONE PASSENGER EXITED THE FLAMING WRECKAGE THROUGH A REAR RIGHT FUSELAGE DOOR. INJURIES WERE MINOR TO ALL 3. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW96FA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96FA262), Jun 20, 1996: Douglas DC3A (N23WT), Cut And Shoot, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The flight instructor's failure to use the single engine best angle of climb airspeed resulting in a loss of control of the aircraft. Factors were the loss of power to the left engine for… ## Other reports on N23WT (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19880106010699I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880106010699I), Jan 6, 1988: Doug DC3A (N23WT), Brownsville, TX, Substantial damage. Crew mismanaged the landing gear system causing the left main gear to collapse during engine start. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.