South Weymouth Naval Air Station – December 3, 1948
On December 3, 1948, a navy Culver TD2C – 1 target drone, (Bu. No. 120259), was returning to the South Weymouth Naval Air Station after a gyro flight test. On approach, the pilot throttled back to reduce air speed, and when he attempted to apply more throttle the engine quit. The pilot glided the aircraft over some trees at the end of Runway 22 and after doing so, aimed the nose downward to pick up flying speed, but due to loss of speed and the small surface of the elevators on this type of aircraft, he could not raise the nose. The aircraft stalled and nosed into the ground at a twenty degree angle. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair but the pilot was not injured.
The aircraft was attached to VU-5.
Source: U. S. Navy accident report dated December 3, 1948