Capital Airlines Flight 67
Encyclopedia
Capital Airlines Flight 67 was domestic scheduled passenger flight
operated by Capital Airlines
that crashed on final approach to Freeland, Michigan
, USA, during a severe snowstorm on April 6, 1958. The flight was en route from Flint-Bishop Airport
to the Freeland-Tri City Airport when it crashed.(if links above fail to load report, visit http://dotlibrary.specialcollection.net and select "Historical Aircraft Accident Reports (1934-1965)", then retry report links) Flight 67 was the first of four fatal crashes in the space of two years involving Capital Airlines Vickers Viscount
s; the others were Capital Airlines Flight 300 (May 1958), Capital Airlines Flight 75
(May 1959) and Capital Airlines Flight 20
(January 1960).
Approach conditions towards Freeland were poor due to the weather; there was restricted visibility, and conditions were ripe for icing
. The plane's crew apparently attempted a steep turn to align the craft with the runway
. This caused the plane to stall, which was followed by a spin. The crew could not regain control, leading to the crash of the plane.
The official cause of the crash was listed as an undetected buildup of ice on the horizontal stabilizer which, coupled with airspeed and the design of the aircraft, caused it to lose control. Furthermore, the aircraft's stall warning device was inoperative.
A memorial
to the victims was unveiled in a local cemetery in 2001.
Flight number
A flight number, when combined with the name of the airline and the date, identifies a particular flight. This callsign should not be confused with the tail number of the aircraft, although both can be used as a call-sign as used in general aviation...
operated by Capital Airlines
Capital Airlines
Capital Airlines was an airline serving the eastern United States that merged into United Airlines in 1961. Its primary hubs were National Airport near Washington, DC, and Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh. In the 1950s it was the largest US domestic carrier after the Big Four . Its...
that crashed on final approach to Freeland, Michigan
Freeland, Michigan
Freeland is an unincorporated community in Tittabawassee Township, Saginaw County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also a census-designated place for statistical purposes and without any legal status as an incorporated municipality. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 5,147. The...
, USA, during a severe snowstorm on April 6, 1958. The flight was en route from Flint-Bishop Airport
Bishop International Airport
Bishop International Airport is an airport located in the city of Flint, Michigan. The third busiest airport in Michigan, it surpassed competitor MBS International Airport in terms of airline operations in 2002. In 2007, 1,072,420 passengers used Bishop Airport, followed by a slight drop to...
to the Freeland-Tri City Airport when it crashed.(if links above fail to load report, visit http://dotlibrary.specialcollection.net and select "Historical Aircraft Accident Reports (1934-1965)", then retry report links) Flight 67 was the first of four fatal crashes in the space of two years involving Capital Airlines Vickers Viscount
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
s; the others were Capital Airlines Flight 300 (May 1958), Capital Airlines Flight 75
Capital Airlines Flight 75
Capital Airlines Flight 75 was a domestic scheduled Capital Airlines flight operating between La Guardia Airport and Atlanta Airport. A Vickers Viscount flying the route crashed in Chase, Maryland, on May 12, 1959, with the loss of all onboard...
(May 1959) and Capital Airlines Flight 20
Capital Airlines Flight 20
Capital Airlines Flight 20 was a U.S. domestic scheduled passenger flight between Washington, D.C., and Norfolk, Virginia, run by Capital Airlines. A Vickers Viscount flying the route crashed into a farm in Charles City County, Virginia, on January 18, 1960. The flight originated at National...
(January 1960).
Approach conditions towards Freeland were poor due to the weather; there was restricted visibility, and conditions were ripe for icing
Atmospheric icing
Atmospheric icing occurs when water droplets in the atmosphere freeze on objects they contact. This can be extremely dangerous to aircraft, as the built-up ice changes the aerodynamics of the flight surfaces, which can increase the risk of a subsequent stalling of the airfoil...
. The plane's crew apparently attempted a steep turn to align the craft with the runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
. This caused the plane to stall, which was followed by a spin. The crew could not regain control, leading to the crash of the plane.
The official cause of the crash was listed as an undetected buildup of ice on the horizontal stabilizer which, coupled with airspeed and the design of the aircraft, caused it to lose control. Furthermore, the aircraft's stall warning device was inoperative.
A memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
to the victims was unveiled in a local cemetery in 2001.