Mohawk Airlines Flight 121

Mohawk Airlines Flight 121 was a scheduled passenger flight from Rochester-Monroe Airport in Rochester, New York to Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. On July 2, 1963, the aircraft operating the flight, a Martin 4-0-4 with a total of 15,970 operational hours, crashed during takeoff. The accident killed 7 people (2 crewmen and 5 passengers) and injured 36.

Mohawk Airlines Flight 121

A Martin 4-0-4 similar to the accident aircraft
Accident
Date	July 2, 1963
Summary	Pilot error, bad weather as a contributing factor
Site	Rochester, NY 43°07′24″N 77°40′32″W
Aircraft type	Martin 4-0-4
Operator	Mohawk Airlines, Inc.
Registration	N449A
Passengers	40
Crew	3
Fatalities	7
Injuries	36
Survivors	36

Flight 121 attempted to take off on Rochester's runway 28 into a heavy thunderstorm. The co-pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft, and it fell to earth two minutes after takeoff. The plane struck the ground left wing-first. It then cartwheeled wing-over-wing and caught fire.

The co-pilot, as pilot flying, had attempted to keep the plane aloft, keeping a tight grip on the controls even after recovery was impossible. The captain managed to assume control and managed to guide the plane down to save most of the passengers.

The NTSB found the cause of the accident to be the pilot's decision to take off in bad weather, and cited the weather itself as a contributing factor. The captain had initially refused to take off, but was told he would be demoted if he did not commence the flight, as he had twice previously refused to take off in bad weather.