Charlestown Navy Auxiliary Air Field – August 7, 1951
TBM-3E Avenger
U. S. Navy Photo
On August 7, 1951, a navy TBM-3E Avenger, (Bu. No. 63834), was engaged with four other TBM aircraft in a carrier landing practice exercise at the Charlestown NAAF. The aircraft had made six successful touch-and-go landings. On the seventh, the pilot of 63834 took off at full throttle and raised the landing gear at the same time. Then the plane suddenly lost power and fell back onto the runway and skidded about 600 feet to a stop. The aircraft required a major overhaul but there were no injuries.
All of the aircraft were assigned to VS-913.
Source: U. S. Navy accident report dated August 7, 1951.
