BuNo: 53118 Accident Report
Date: March 16, 1947
Location: Approx 30 Mi NW NAS-Master Field
Pilot: WACHOB, Normal Ralph Ens. USNR0 Org. Reserve VA-81E
UNIT to which AIRCRAFR was Assigned: NAS- Miami Florida CNARESTA
Pilot Instrument Rating: Restr.
Total Hrs: 523.2
Total Hrs this model: 234.2
Total Hrs last 3 months: 34.9
Hrs this model last 3 months: 27.4
Injury to Pilot: FATAL
Aircraft Model & No: TBM-3E #53118
Did Fire follow impact: No
Was Parachute Used: No
Damage: A
Damage Description: STRIKE
Gen nature: B
Specific Type Accident: 7 - Vertigo in low visibility
Cause Analysis: H, M-2, M-3,M-6, M-7
Classification of Accident Causes: Pilot Error: Judgment or tech. Error of other personnel.
Purpose: Navigational Flight Serial No 3-47
Weather at time of Accident: Contact
Type of Clearance: Contact
Maneuver or Alt of maneuver: Unknown
Angle of Impact est: 35- 40 degrees 0 feet
Analysis: Lt. Cdr. Harry M. Darden was authorized to take a light of 3 TBM’s on a navigational flight to Tampa Florida. The flight composed of three Avengers. The flight leader was Lt. Cdr. Harry Darden, A-3 USNR (Org.Reserve)/ The number (2) plane in the formation was piloted by Lt. William H Appleby, Jr. A-3 USNR. The flight took off from NAS Miami at 1044 with Ens. Wachob immediately joining up in the number two position. Upon departure from the control area number three plane was trailing several hundred yards behind. After proceeding on a course of 315 degrees true for approx. 10 minutes and climbing to 5,000 feet the number 2 plane lost sight contact with the other two planes and returned to base, as attested to in Lt. Appleby’s statements, weather conditions an pertinent facts and information concerning the flight that: (1) Lt. Cdr. Darden did not maintain strict compliance with Contact Flight rules in that he proceeded over an over-case and entered heavy rain. (2) Lt. Cdr. Darden did not maintain proper military flight discipline in that he allowed his flight to straggle and become separated in adverse weather conditions. (3) Ens. Wachob separated himself from the flight leader and that upon being separated, became disoriented or experienced vertigo resulting in the crash. The specific cause remains undetermined.
Spec Equip: The shoulder harness was effective in that it was used; However, the seat was torn from the plane on the impact with the ground.
Loc Rec: Pa Pettibone as well as existing directives are constantly brought to the attention of pilots concerning the restrictions attendant with a C.F.R. clearance. This will continue.
Orders: Local Flight Rules: A ceiling of 1,000 feet and a forward visibility of three miles is prescribed as the minimum requirements for the contact flight at to point of departure, along the route, and at the destination.
Avia Circ. Lt. 137-46: Reference all Circular Letters regarding violations of contact flight rules.
Safety Bul. No. 10-45 para. (g) States that wingman who become separated from their leaders in the overcast, too often were not able to re-orient themselves immediately through instruments, and crashed out of control.
BuAer Manual Art. 6-204: States that air traffic rules established by the Civil Aeronautics Board are binding to Naval Personnel.
Civil Aeronautics Regulation Part 60.110 (a): States weather minimum for contact flight.
CO: All pilots have been impressed with the fact regulations concerning adverse weather must be strictly observed. Due to the limited amount of flying inactive Reserve Pilots do, it is mandatory that flight discipline be frequently brought to their attention.
Aircraft Accident Card form: D, R,
Location: Approx 30 Mi NW NAS-Master Field
Pilot: WACHOB, Normal Ralph Ens. USNR0 Org. Reserve VA-81E
UNIT to which AIRCRAFR was Assigned: NAS- Miami Florida CNARESTA
Pilot Instrument Rating: Restr.
Total Hrs: 523.2
Total Hrs this model: 234.2
Total Hrs last 3 months: 34.9
Hrs this model last 3 months: 27.4
Injury to Pilot: FATAL
Aircraft Model & No: TBM-3E #53118
Did Fire follow impact: No
Was Parachute Used: No
Damage: A
Damage Description: STRIKE
Gen nature: B
Specific Type Accident: 7 - Vertigo in low visibility
Cause Analysis: H, M-2, M-3,M-6, M-7
Classification of Accident Causes: Pilot Error: Judgment or tech. Error of other personnel.
Purpose: Navigational Flight Serial No 3-47
Weather at time of Accident: Contact
Type of Clearance: Contact
Maneuver or Alt of maneuver: Unknown
Angle of Impact est: 35- 40 degrees 0 feet
Analysis: Lt. Cdr. Harry M. Darden was authorized to take a light of 3 TBM’s on a navigational flight to Tampa Florida. The flight composed of three Avengers. The flight leader was Lt. Cdr. Harry Darden, A-3 USNR (Org.Reserve)/ The number (2) plane in the formation was piloted by Lt. William H Appleby, Jr. A-3 USNR. The flight took off from NAS Miami at 1044 with Ens. Wachob immediately joining up in the number two position. Upon departure from the control area number three plane was trailing several hundred yards behind. After proceeding on a course of 315 degrees true for approx. 10 minutes and climbing to 5,000 feet the number 2 plane lost sight contact with the other two planes and returned to base, as attested to in Lt. Appleby’s statements, weather conditions an pertinent facts and information concerning the flight that: (1) Lt. Cdr. Darden did not maintain strict compliance with Contact Flight rules in that he proceeded over an over-case and entered heavy rain. (2) Lt. Cdr. Darden did not maintain proper military flight discipline in that he allowed his flight to straggle and become separated in adverse weather conditions. (3) Ens. Wachob separated himself from the flight leader and that upon being separated, became disoriented or experienced vertigo resulting in the crash. The specific cause remains undetermined.
Spec Equip: The shoulder harness was effective in that it was used; However, the seat was torn from the plane on the impact with the ground.
Loc Rec: Pa Pettibone as well as existing directives are constantly brought to the attention of pilots concerning the restrictions attendant with a C.F.R. clearance. This will continue.
Orders: Local Flight Rules: A ceiling of 1,000 feet and a forward visibility of three miles is prescribed as the minimum requirements for the contact flight at to point of departure, along the route, and at the destination.
Avia Circ. Lt. 137-46: Reference all Circular Letters regarding violations of contact flight rules.
Safety Bul. No. 10-45 para. (g) States that wingman who become separated from their leaders in the overcast, too often were not able to re-orient themselves immediately through instruments, and crashed out of control.
BuAer Manual Art. 6-204: States that air traffic rules established by the Civil Aeronautics Board are binding to Naval Personnel.
Civil Aeronautics Regulation Part 60.110 (a): States weather minimum for contact flight.
CO: All pilots have been impressed with the fact regulations concerning adverse weather must be strictly observed. Due to the limited amount of flying inactive Reserve Pilots do, it is mandatory that flight discipline be frequently brought to their attention.
Aircraft Accident Card form: D, R,
Accident Report
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