Dramatic DHC-4 Caribou takeoff with rudder and aileron locks fully engaged

What happens in this video ?

This modified version of the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou which had undergone conversion to turbine power was being tested on 27 August 1992. The gust-lock system had not been fully disengaged ahead of the flight. The rudder and aileron locks were also fully engaged. Once airborne, the aircraft was uncontrollable and crashed, killing all onboard.

Comments

Screddy Lee
Ian: please go back to watching twerk videos and leave the hard stuff to the rest of us. Here's the details: The aircraft was one of two Caribous (N400NC; other was N600NC, which still flies today) modified in this manner by NewCal aviation. The piston version had a gust lock interlock which prevented the throttles from being advanced until released; this interlock feature was defeated in the conversion and the gust locks operated independently from the power levers (which is turbine talk for "throttles"). As for the cameraman's response: if you think the guy should've been jumping and screaming like a butt-hurt chimp, perhaps you would've been the best guy for it in his place.
15th September, 2013
Adri
Ruhrpott

(Germany)
see that one: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19920827-1 -greyish "paint"/no tail-nr. = test flight, -"strange" behaviour of cameraman = actually not unusual behav. (believe me, im psychologist) -blacked windows = (?) check your monitor settings This is real, unfortunately meaning that this is really sad.
7th April, 2011
STEVE
Atlanta

(Usa)
Kevin and Ian are both ideots! May the pilot and crew rest in peace.
3rd April, 2011
Ian
Verbena

(United States)
One thing you may also notice as the aircraft flies by the camera position is that the cockpit windows are completely blacked out. Another noteworthy detail is the two-tone Black and Gray paint job; unusual for a civilian aircraft. The aircraft is also devoid of a civil regestration or a serial number. These details make this look more like an aircraft flying for the CIA rather than one undergoing a turboprop conversion at a company in the U.S. If this is a real accident, further explanation of these details is needed.
27th March, 2011
Ian
Verbena

(United States)
An airplane crashes just a few feet in front of you, and all you have to say is "I cannot believe it, its all over". Typically people who witness plane crashes show a little more emotion than that. This video is FAKE.
26th March, 2011
Will
(Canada)
I have been flying for 18 yrs now and I always use the checksheet. And these pilots just demonstrated why
16th March, 2011
Tim
yes the pilot in command was responsible-and he paid for his mistake-with his life. Kinda hard to try and shame a dead man
18th February, 2011
Brian
St. Louis

(United States)
There was a lot of speculation on whether this video was fake or not. I did a lot of searching and after finding that is was indeed real, I also found part of a safety lecture that cited this crash. One of the main reasons that the locked control surfaces was blamed as the cause of the crash was because they found the control knob, that unlocks the controls, imbedded in the captain's wrist in his autopsy. Freaky...
16th December, 2010
George
Astana

(Kazakhstan)
I have seen pilots, dozens of times, place both hands on the conrol surfaces (when they can reach them) and wiggles the surface. I have also seen them move the controls while looking out the window. Seems simple to me and I'm not a pilot.
28th October, 2010
Drew
Galveston

(Usa)
I found this on the Aviation Safety Network Quote: Date: 27 AUG 1992 Time: 10:20 Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-4T Caribou Operator: NewCal Aviation Registration: N400NC Msn / C/n: 240 Year built: 1965 Crew: 3 fatalities /
12th May, 2010
Drew
Galveston

(Usa)
Ground crew does not hold the ultimate responsibility, the PIC was completely responsible for not doing a good pre- flight controls check.
12th May, 2010
Kevin
I think this is an unmanned test flight. The guy that says "it's over" is probably filming it because he knows what's about to happen. You watch this plane go skyward, topple over, and just stand there and say it's over. Bullshit!
7th May, 2010
Sam
Torrington, Ct

(Usa)
Sorry to say there is no excuse for not doing a thorough pre-flight.
18th February, 2010
rafael
Buenos Aires

(Argentina)
es un truco
21st October, 2009
DOug
My dad was a WWII bomber and fighter pilot trained by the Marines. When the Korean war took off, he was recalled to train and fly the first helicopters. He was meticulous about preflight, sometimes taking 20 minutes. Horrible mistake.
20th April, 2009
Curt
Bellevue

(Usa)
The third person, and the engineering working on the program was Gordon Hagel.
9th April, 2009
Dan Rowan
Zurich

(Switzerland)
I knew the crew. Owners son was PPL in Left Seat with Check Pilot in Right Seat. Got in a hurry. Checking the control movements on the Caribou, expecially with a intergral control lock system, is rather essential.
11th April, 2008
J. Miller
Oak Harbor, Wa.

(Usa)
Very, very sad. Even worse, this type of accident is completely avoidable. It's better to take time and preflight an aircraft correctly than to rush and not make it at all. A quick free and correct would have indicated a lock problem
24th January, 2008
Steve
Atlanta

(Usa)
Sam is dead on. Moe and Jonas obviously know nothing about aviation. I am a preflight inspector for a major US carrier and know without any doubt the fight crew, meaning pilot and copilot, failed to do a proper preflight check unfortunatly.
12th January, 2008
Sam
Surfers Paradise

(Australia)
With regard to the previous comments.I was taught that the last check a pilot carried out before take off was to check controls for free and full movement.The pilot (Captain,Man- in-Charge)is ultimately responsible.
22nd November, 2007
Jonas
Whietcourt Ab

(Canada)
The camera man was probably part of the ground crew. "it's all over" meaning his job.
13th November, 2007
moe
Montreal

(Canada)
As far from what i've seen in this stunnig clip; the ground crew should have been shot. Well thats my opinion.
25th October, 2007