Viscount c/n 320
Operational Record
American Airlease
United States
This V.835 series Viscount was built for American Airlease as N500T It first flew on Friday, 4 September 1959 at Weybridge, Surrey, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.
During its life this aircraft was also owned and/or operated by Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation, Washington Square Methodist Church, Tenneco Inc, Omni International Corporation, Loving Insurance Agency and Ray Charles Enterprises Inc
Go Group Unlimited Inc
United States
Its final owner/operator was Go Group Unlimited Inc as N923RC.Its fate:- Whilst owned by Ray Charles Enterprises Inc it was damaged beyond repair after running off the end of the runway at Monroe County Airport, Bloomington, Indiana 19 October 1985. The forward fuselage section broke off during the over-run into a corn field and the undercarriage collapsed. There were no fatalities or a post-crash fire. The remains were sold to Go Group Unlimited Inc, Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA for spares recovery. Fuselage panels bearing the 'Ray Charles' name were cut out and saved.
September 1959 to
Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A.
CU-T624 - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
Cuba registered
1959
The sale to Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A. was not completed.
September 1959
Aircraft converted to a Type 835 standard with a VIP interior for sale to American Airlease for operation by the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.
September 1959 to October 1959
American Airlease
N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
1959
Purchased new from Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd.
It was originally ordered and built for Compañía Cubana de Aviación S.A. as a Type 818.
4 September 1959
First flight from Brooklands Airfield, Weybridge, Surrey, England as a V.835.
It landed at Wisley Airfield, Surrey, England for fitting out and test flying.
24 September 1959
Departed on delivery to American Airlease in full Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation livery with a VIP interior.
25 September 1959
Noted at Bluie West One Airfield, Narsarsuaq, Southern Greenland during a refuelling stop on delivery to the USA.
1 October 1959
Leased to the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.
October 1959 to December 1961
Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation
N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
1 October 1959
Leased from American Airlease.
28 December 1961
Sold to Washington Square Methodist Church while still on lease.
December 1961 to February 1966
Washington Square Methodist Church
N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
28 December 1961
Purchased from American Airlease while on lease to the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.
It remained with the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation during this change of ownership.
23 February 1966
Sold to the Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation.
February 1966 to April 1966
Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation
N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
23 February 1966
Purchased from the Washington Square Methodist Church.
11 April 1966
Transferred to Tenneco Inc due to a corporate name change.
April 1966 to September 1975
Tenneco Inc
N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
11 April 1966
Transferred from Tennessee Gas Transmission Corporation due to a corporate name change.
3 June 1970
After landing at Alexandria International Airport, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA the nose undercarriage leg collapsed resulting in curled propellers and shockloaded Rolls-Royce Dart engines.
The collapse was due to a badly worn downlock socket and the National Transportation Safety Board were critical of the poor maintenance standards.
There were no reported injuries to the 7 passengers and 3 crew on board.
Repaired and returned to service.
11 September 1975
Sold to the Omni International Corporation.
September 1975 to September 1975
Omni International Corporation
N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
11 September 1975
Purchased from Tenneco Inc.
12 September 1975
Sold to the Loving Insurance Agency.
September 1975 to September 1975
Loving Insurance Agency
N500T - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
12 September 1975
Purchased from Omni International Corporation.
19 September 1975
Re-registered N500TL.
September 1975 to January 1977
Loving Insurance Agency
N500TL * - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
19 September 1975
Re-registered from N500T. N500TL was later used on C/N 201.
5 January 1977
Sold to Ray Charles Enterprises Inc.
January 1977 to February 1977
Ray Charles Enterprises Inc
N500TL * - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
5 January 1977
Purchased from the Loving Insurance Agency.
23 February 1977
Re-registered N923RC.
February 1977 to November 1985
Ray Charles Enterprises Inc
N923RC * - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
23 February 1977
Re-registered from N500TL.
This registration represented Ray's birthday (September 23rd) and had previously been used on Viscount C/N 201.
March 1977
Noted still carrying N500TL.
10 February 1978
Noted at Daugherty Field, Long Beach, California, USA carrying the new registration but not yet repainted in the 'Gold' livery.
Ray Charles Enterprises Inc. 'Gold' livery.
December 1978
Noted at Skyharbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, USA now repainted in the 'Gold' livery.
19 October 1985
Damaged beyond repair after running off the end of the runway at Monroe County Airport, Bloomington, Indiana.
The forward fuselage section broke off during the over-run into a corn field and the undercarriage collapsed.
There were no fatalities or a post-crash fire.
circa November 1985
Remains sold to Go Group Unlimited Inc for spares recovery.
November 1985 to December 1985
Go Group Unlimited Inc
N923RC - c/n 320 - a V.835 series Viscount
United States registered
circa November 1985
Remains purchased from Ray Charles Enterprises Inc after its accident and moved to Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona, USA for spares recovery.
Fuselage panels bearing the 'Ray Charles' name were cut out and saved during the subsequent scrapping process.