1985 Century Equipment Douglas DC-3 [N711Y] Ricky Nelson's plane crash Aftermath Footage

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Accident Description: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm1KG50Pm...

On 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝟭, 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟱, a Douglas DC-3 (Reg. N711Y) was operating a domestic passenger flight from Guntersville to Dallas carrying 2 crew members and 7 passengers, among them American pop singer Ricky Nelson, his girlfriend Helen Blair as well as 5 members of his band 'The Stone Canyon'.

At 17:08:48, while cruising at 6,000 feet, a pilot of N711Y advised ATC, 'I think I'd like to turn around, head for Texarkana here, I've got a little problem.' He was provided a vector and advised of closest airports. Shortly after, he stated he would be unable to reach the airports. At 17:11:49, he said there was smoke in the cockpit. While landing in a field at 17:14, the plane hit wires and a pole then continued into trees where it was extensively damaged by impact and fire. The crew egressed thru the cockpit windows. The passengers did not escape.

During flight, the crew was unable to start the cabin heater; despite repeated attempts by the captain. Smoke then entered the cabin. Fresh air vents and cockpit windows were opened, but smoke became dense. The crew had difficulty seeing. The oxygen system and hand held fire extinguishers were not used. Fasteners for the heater door were found unfastened. Examination indicated the fire originated in the aft cabin area, right hand side, at or near the floor line. The ignition and fuel sources were not determined.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲:
Fuselage, cabin .. fire
Reason for occurrence undetermined
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀:
Fuselage,cabin .. smoke
Fuselage,crew compartment .. smoke
Emergency procedure .. not followed .. pilot in command
Checklist .. not used
Oxygen system .. not used
Object .. wire,transmission
Object .. utility pole
Terrain condition .. tree(s)