With the exception of the two aircraft that came apart due to gyroscopic whirlmode, all other accidents in this plane were caused by pilot error. I flew the L-188C freighter for Saturn Airways back in the 70's. I truly loved the way this aircraft flew and had complete confidence in them. I have flown many commercial airliners, being a retired pilot for Delta Air Lines ( DC-8/ DC-9/ B-727/ 757/ 767 & L1011's )and I can honestly say this was one of my favorites.

I flew this a/c for 3 years as a co-pilot for Eastern Airlines during the late 60's. The airplane got a bad reputation after a few came apart in the air. The problem was in the way the engines were mounted. They created more than one frequency which was transfered to the airframe. When two or more frequencies collide, you create a harmonic. If you don't satisfy the harmonic, the a/c comes apart. Eastern beefed up the wings and made them more ridged. This made the airplane ride like a buckboard in turbulance. I got my brains beat out on more than one occasion in bad weather. Eastern also limited the speed to 300 knots. This solved the problem and we had no more accidents. The torque and P-factor on takeoff required a lot of right rudder or it would put you in the boondocks.
The airplane was capable of incredible performance. I witnessed a single engine approach on an outboard engine and watched it climb out of a deep stall. I once landed in a 60 knot cross wind at JAX with no problems. The unexpected wind was caused by a micro-burst from an approaching thunderstorm to the west of the field which hit us just prior to touchdown. The airplane seemed to be cabable of anything. It had great short field capability and we hardly ever had to use the brakes. The air conditioning kept the a/c comfortable even on the hottest days. It was one of my favorite airplanes. I would fly one to Hell and back if necessary. The Navy still flys these birds. They solved the harmonic problem by mounting the engines inverted. To my knowledge, they never had to beef up the wings or limit the speed. I have never talked to a Navy pilot with time in this equipment that did not have a love affair with it.

I have a couple of thousand hours in the Electra both as a co-pilot and Capt. It was not the greatest A/C from a passenger vewpoint, but one of the finest for a pilot; particularly in the frozen North of our country. Many a time I was asked by the tower after landing for a braking report and replied "didn't use the brakes". It was my favotite A/C until the DC10.

Flew F/O on these at Zantop in the 70's-80's. I'm still alive after almost 5000 hrs in them. Lost several comrads from Zantop. I was never comfortable in this airplane. Killed too many people. Took the Navy version P-3 to de-rate the rudder with flaps to help keep the tail on when it happens to go upside down. Too many Boiler Plate patches on the wing bottoms to suit me. Glad I lived thru it!

Since Eastern Air Lines was the largest operator of the L188 as a passenger airplane and later Zantop International Airlines in the all cargo configuration, how about some pictures of them? (Billy Webber, former Eastern and Zantop Flight Engineer and flight crew ground instructor.)