About a year or two ago I witnessed a remarkable incident on one of those television programs having to do with "TV's Worst Moments" or some such title.

An amature videographer chanced upon a Convair 240 or 340 passing low overhead with really nasty engine problems. Both engines were barely turning over. I could hear them backfiring and missing as if someone really screwed up the timing on each. The aircraft also appeared to be just above stall speed.

The next shot...apparently caught by a second videographer, caught the same aircraft in a head on shot coming down toward a small clearing in front of a tree line as if attempting to make a landing. The aircraft was in a slight nose down attitude. If I recall correctly, the Convair, which was facing the camera, slightly dropped the port wing which caught the ground thus slamming the nose onto the surface pretty much destroying a good amount of the cockpit section. The video ended at that point. The narrator ended the segment by saying that one of the pilots was killed in the mishap...but did not mention injuries or fatalities among other crew members or passengers.

Again, if my memory is correct the accident took place somewhere in Central or South America.

I know it's a stretch but does anyone have any records or recollections of this incident?

Doug

I think the show was 'RealTV', a syndicated video-clip montage. I haven't seen the show listed for some time, so I think it's out of production. Can't find the website either - they used to have downloadable clips. Copyright/litigation problems I suspect.

Anyway the one that seems to fit is CP-2142. 5 POB, 1 fatality (pilot)
http://aviation-safety.net/database/1995/950522-1.htm

Doug,
I cannot comnent on the CV twin crash you write about. But on a similar note, 2 days ago a Focker F27 "Friendship" crashed into the sea just after take off in the Philipines.
The airplane was caught on video, flying low in a shallow left hand descending turn. Smoke can be seen coming from the left engine.
This footage was shown on local TV last night.
At this stage, there is only 1 survivor.