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Mercer Airlines, Inc., Douglas DC-6/YC-112A, N901MA Near Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California, February 8, 1976.

NTISUBB10476017

Publication Date	1976
Page Count	44
Abstract	At 1044 P.s.t. February 8, 1976, Mercer Airlines Flight 901 crashed while attempting an emergency landing on runway 34L at the Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California. The No. 3 engine had separated from the aircraft during takeoff from runway 15 at the Hollywood-Burbank Airport, Burbank, California; the No. 2 engine failed while en route from Burbank to Van Nuys. The aircraft crashed on a golf course about 1 mile short of the threshold of runway 34L at Van Nuys. Of the six persons on board the aircraft, three flightcrew members were killed; two flight attendants and a nonrevenue company employee were injured slightly. One person on the ground was injured slightly. During a postaccident fire, ten firemen were burned; three, seriously. The aircraft was destroyed. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the degraded performance of the aircraft after two engines failed. The dual failure was precipitated by the in-flight failure of the No. 1 blade of the No. 3 propeller assembly. The failure of the propeller blade resulted from a fatigue crack which originated in the leading edge under the deicer boot. The crack had not been detected during an improperly performed overhaul.
Keywords	Aviation accidents Accident investigations Passenger aircraft Collision research Crash landing Fires Casualties Aircraft engines Failure Aviation safety Maintenance DC-6 aircraft
Source Agency	National Transportation Safety Board
NTIS Subject Category	51B - Aeronautics 85A - Air Transportation 85D - Transportation Safety
Corporate Authors	National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, D.C. Bureau of Aviation Safety.
Supplemental Notes	See also NTISUB/B/104-76/016.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Aircraft Accident rept.
NTIS Issue Number	197701

Mercer Airlines, Inc., Douglas DC-6/YC-112A, N901MA Near Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California, February 8, 1976.

Mercer Airlines, Inc., Douglas DC-6/YC-112A, N901MA Near Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California, February 8, 1976.
NTISUBB10476017

Publication Date	1976
Page Count	44
Abstract	At 1044 P.s.t. February 8, 1976, Mercer Airlines Flight 901 crashed while attempting an emergency landing on runway 34L at the Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California. The No. 3 engine had separated from the aircraft during takeoff from runway 15 at the Hollywood-Burbank Airport, Burbank, California; the No. 2 engine failed while en route from Burbank to Van Nuys. The aircraft crashed on a golf course about 1 mile short of the threshold of runway 34L at Van Nuys. Of the six persons on board the aircraft, three flightcrew members were killed; two flight attendants and a nonrevenue company employee were injured slightly. One person on the ground was injured slightly. During a postaccident fire, ten firemen were burned; three, seriously. The aircraft was destroyed. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the degraded performance of the aircraft after two engines failed. The dual failure was precipitated by the in-flight failure of the No. 1 blade of the No. 3 propeller assembly. The failure of the propeller blade resulted from a fatigue crack which originated in the leading edge under the deicer boot. The crack had not been detected during an improperly performed overhaul.
Keywords	Aviation accidents Accident investigations Passenger aircraft Collision research Crash landing Fires Casualties Aircraft engines Failure Aviation safety Maintenance DC-6 aircraft
Source Agency	National Transportation Safety Board
NTIS Subject Category	51B - Aeronautics 85A - Air Transportation 85D - Transportation Safety
Corporate Authors	National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, D.C. Bureau of Aviation Safety.
Supplemental Notes	See also NTISUB/B/104-76/016.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Aircraft Accident rept.
NTIS Issue Number	197701