Vintage Transport Veered Off Runway On Takeoff

Two pilots suffered minor injuries when their turboprop-powered C-47 Turbo Dakota went off the runway during takeoff Wednesday morning from the Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV) in California.

The Mercury News reports the 62-year-old aircraft briefly lifted off from Runway 30, but quickly dropped back to the ground. The tailwheel-equipped plane then veered to the right, and nosed over.

The aircraft is owned by the National Test Pilot School, and was on a training flight at the time of the accident. Both pilots, whose names were not released, have already left the hospital.

The Turbo Dakota (similar to type shown above) is a re-engined, former military-spec version of the classic Douglas DC-3 commercial airliner. The type first entered service in the 1930s.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 834TP        Make/Model: DC3       Description: DC-3, DST ( C-41, C-47, C-47A to J, AC-4
  Date: 02/04/2009     Time: 1650

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: MOJAVE   State: CA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 30 AND NOSED OVER AT MOJAVE, CA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: KMHV 1650Z VRB/03KTS 40SM FEW120 12/M05 A3015

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Training      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: VAN NUYS, CA  (WP01)                  Entry date: 02/05/2009

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntps.com/