Accident description
Last updated: 20 May 2013
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | 07 SEP 1945 |
| Time: | 02:13 |
| Type: | Douglas DC-3-201G |
| Operator: | Eastern Air Lines |
| Registration: | NC33631 |
| C/n / msn: | 4137 |
| First flight: | 1941 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 17532 |
| Engines: | 2 Wright R-1820-G-202A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 22 / Occupants: 22 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 10 km (6.3 mls) ENE of Florence, SC (United States of America) |
| Phase: | Unknown (UNK) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Savannah International Airport, GA (SAV/KSAV), United States of America |
| Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC (RDU/KRDU), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 42 |
The aircraft had departed Savannah at 00:41 for a flight to Raleigh. Weather at Raleigh was below minima, so the crew were re-cleared for Washington. No acknowledgement of the message was received. At 02:05, a radio transmission from Flight 42 was intercepted in which it was indicated that the pilot intended to return to Florence and that he desired clearance to land at Florence Army Air Field. It was found out that a fire in the rear had forced the crew to divert. Because of the fire, the passengers moved to the front of the plane. The right elevator caught fire as well, rendering longitudinal control very difficult and probably made the collision with the first of the trees unavoidable. The aircraft crashed in a swampy, wooded area.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Fire of undetermined genesis in the rear cargo compartment or lavatory which resulted in the inability of the pilot to maintain altitude long enough to effect a landing." Events:
Sources:
» CAB File No. 2970-45
Sample newspaper article from Newspaperarchive.com
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Savannah International Airport, GA to Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC as the crow flies is 470 km (293 miles).
Distance from Savannah International Airport, GA to Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC as the crow flies is 470 km (293 miles).
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Douglas DC-3
- 1076th loss
- ca 13.000 built
- 21st worst accident (at the time)
- 154th worst accident (currently)
United States of America- 9th worst accident (at the time)
- 154th worst accident (currently)