Martinsburg - Winchester

On May 19, 1990 at 11:30 AM, Martinsburg - Winchester experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by K %26 K Aircraft, with the event recorded near Capon Bridge West Virginia.

The flight was categorized as spraying (agricultural) and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While spraying gypsy moths with dimilin over wooded/hilly terrain, the DC-3 collided with power lines in a valley area. Witnesses in an nearby observation aircraft reported the DC-3 entered a gradual climb, which continued until the DC-3 was in a steep nose high attitude. The pilot of the observation aircraft tried to communicate with the DC-3 pilots, but could not make radio contact. The observation pilot reported the DC-3 entered a stall/spin at about 1,200 feet agl, then crashed. An investigation revealed no evidence of a preimpact failure. The DC-3 was not equipped with a wire cutter kit. Both pilots were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N1FN, MSN 11685, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 39.3006°, -78.4377°.