Quonset Point, Rhode Island – June 17, 1943
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
U.S. Navy Photo
On June 17, 1943, a U. S. Navy PV-1 Ventura, (Bu. No. 29860), was making a landing approach to the Quonset Point Naval Air Station after a six hour cross-country training flight. About thirty other aircraft were in the vicinity at the time, all trying to land quickly because the Quonset control tower had announced that the field was about to close due to weather closing in. The Ventura came in close behind another aircraft and struck the slipstream of the preceding plane. The Ventura landed hard on the runway and bounced, but was traveling fast enough for the pilot to apply full throttle and remain airborne. The Ventura circled the field for a second try, and upon touchdown the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded along the runway to a stop. There was no fire, but the aircraft received major damage. The six man crew was not injured.
The aircraft was assigned to VB-126.
Source:
U. S. Navy accident report #43-7297, dated June 17, 1943.
