1968 — Mar 13, Mead Paper Co. landing crash, icy runway, Wood Co. AP, Parkersburg WV–6

–6 AP. “6 die as plane goes off strip at Parkersburg.” Charleston Daily Mail, WV. 3-13-1968, p1.
–6 Aviation Safety Network. M Air Inc. crash, Parkersburg-Wood Co. Airport, WV, 13 Mar 1968.
–6 National Transportation Safety Board. “NTSB Identification: DIA68A0037.”

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database:
“Date: Wednesday 13 March 1968
“Time: 07:42
“Type: Dassault Falco 20C
“Operator: M Air Inc.
“Registration: N1847
“MSN: 47
….
“Crew: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
“Passengers: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 4
“Total: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
….
“Location: Parkersburg-Wood County Airport, WV (PKB)…
….
“Phase: Approach (APR)
“Nature: Executive
“Departure airport: Dayton Airport, OH…
“Destination airport: Parkersburg-Wood County Airport, WV…
“Narrative: Hit dirt bank during a touch-and-go. The runway was covered with ice and
slush.
“Probable Cause: pilot in command – delayed in initiating go-around
pilot in command – misjudged distance
“Factor(s) airports/airways/facilities – airport conditions: ice/slush on runway

National Transportation Safety Board:
“NTSB Identification: DIA68A0037.”
….
“Type of Accident: Collided with: dirt bank
“Phase of Operation: Landing: Go-around
“Probable Cause (s): Pilot in Command – Delayed in initiating go-around
Pilot in Command – Misjudged Distance
“Factor (s): Airports/Airways/Facilities – Airport Conditions: Ice/slush on runway.
Fire after impact
“Remarks Plt made touch and go LNDG to check braking action. Allowed insufficient RNWY to execute go around.
“Full narrative is not available.

Newspaper

March 13, AP: “By The Associated Press
“A twin-engined corporate jet plane overshot a runway at the Wood County Airport near Parkersburg early today, killing all six persons aboard, The Federal Aviation Administration reported. Al bodies were burned beyond recognition when the craft burst into flames after skidding about 1,500 feet beyond the end of the runway. The plane was owned by the Mead Paper Co. of Dayton, Ohio. The victims, three pilots and two mechanics employed by Mead, were identified as:

Richard H. Anderson, 50, Xenia, Ohio.
Thomas D. Leone, 48, Tipp City Ohio.
Martin S. Orris, 43, Dayton
George P. Perkins, 44, Dayton.
Albert Sotrument, 47, Vandalia.
Robert J. Scanlon, 32, Middletown

“The victims apparently flew to Parkersburg to repair a company DC3 plane, which had landed there earlier and was disabled.

“A Parkersburg fireman said the plane appeared to have struck a clump of trees at the end of the runway before crashing into a ravine. ‘Everything seemed normal, he (the pilot) made a standard approach to th field,’ said Ted McCarthy, a FAA employee on duty at the time of the accident. ‘I saw him touch down on the runway,’ McCarthy added. ‘Next thing I saw was a burst of flame and smoke and I told Charlie, my co-worker, ‘my God, he crashed down there.’ ‘I heard the pilot scream into the microphone, ‘I’m going in…I’m going in,’ McCarthy said.

“FAA watch chief James Durham said the plane, a nine-passenger French-made Dassault Mystere, shot into a ravine and burned after plunging over the end of a 5,100 -foot runway. Durham said weather conditions at the airport shortly before the 7:42 a.m. accident included very light snow, clouds at 1,800 feet and seven miles visibility.

“The Federal Aviation Administration said the accident occurred when the jet failed to gain flying speed after touching down on an ice-coated runway. An FAA spokesman on duty at the time of the crash said the pilot was notified of a thin layer of ice and snow on the runway, ‘but rejected sanding of the surface.’ He said the pilot indicated he would ‘give it a try.’ The FAA spokesman said the sleek 59—mile-an-hour jet had rolled along the first two-thirds of the runway ‘before the pilot flicked on his afterburners for takeoff.’

“The plane was valued at about $1 million, a company spokesman said, and was the only jet owned by the company.

“The Parkersburg Fire Department sent units to the airport which is located eight miles north of Parkersburg. It has a elevation of 859 feet.” (Associated Press. “6 Die as Plane Goes Off Strip at Parkersburg.” Charleston Daily Mail, WV. 3-13-1968, p.1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “6 Die as Plane Goes Off Strip at Parkersburg.” Charleston Daily Mail, WV. 3-13-1968, p.1. Accessed 7-16-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/charleston-daily-mail-mar-13-1968-p-1/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database. M Air Inc. crash, Parkersburg-Wood County Airport, WV, 13 March 1968. Accessed 7-16-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19680313-0

National Transportation Safety Board. “NTSB Identification: DIA68A0037.” Accessed 7-16-2023 at: https://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/brief.aspx?ev_id=13608&key=0