# NTSB DCA78AA001: Douglas DC-3, N51071, Evansville, IN, December 13, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 13, 1977
- Place: Evansville, IN · EVANSVILLE, IN
- Location: 37.9748° N, 87.5558° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Evansville, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9748&lon=-87.5558&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 29 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 6, 1978
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79688
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA78AA001
- Board report AAR7810 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7810.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA78AA001-79688

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4093  77/12/13   EVANSVILLE,IN       DOUGLAS DC-3        CR-  3  0  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1922                    N51071              PX- 26  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            42, 9100 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            4600 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - EVANSVILLE RGNL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          INDIANAPOLIS,IN             NASHVILLE,TN                 EVANSVILLE,IN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - GUST LOCKS ENGAGED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RUDDER,R AIL CTL LOCKS INSTALLED.REAR CG AFT OF OPTIMUM RANGE BUT FORWARD OF REARMOST LIMIT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51071](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51071-2011-04-21), registration cancelled 2011-04-21, S/N 4837, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-3
- Registry model: [Douglas DC3C-S1C3G](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3c-s1c3g) (registry code 3021458) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1830 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-series) (registry code 52020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Evansville Rgnl

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19771213042839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771213042839A), Dec 13, 1977: Doug DC3CS1C3G, Evansville, IN, Destroyed, 25 fatal. Rudder,r ail ctl locks installed. Rear CG aft of optimum range but forward of rearmost limit.

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.

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