Status:	Final
Date:	28 DEC 1946
Time:	09:19
Type:	Douglas C-50A-DO (DC-3)
Operator:	American Airlines
Registration:	NC15577
C/n / msn:	4805
First flight:	1941
Total airframe hrs:	11920
Engines:	2 Wright G-102
Crew:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 3
Passengers:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 18
Total:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 21
Airplane damage:	Written off
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Michigan City, IN (United States of America)
Phase:	En route (ENR)
Nature:	Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Detroit (unknown airport), MI, United States of America
Destination airport:	Chicago (unknown airport), IL, United States of America
Flightnumber:	2207

Narrative:
DC-3 NC15577 departed Michigan at 07:48, about six minutes behind schedule on an instrument flight plan to cruise at 2,500 feet to Chicago. At 08:40 the flight was instructed by Chicago ARTCC to climb to 4,000 feet, which altitude it was supposed to stay at until 10 minutes past South Bend. At 09:18 the pilot reported: "Both engines going bad descending at 1,000 feet per minute looking for opening. Altitude is at present 900 feet." Chicago suggested to return to South Bend, but the DC-3 could not make it and crash-landed near Michigan City.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accumulation of carburetor ice following the loss of power in both engines as a result of fuel starvation. The reason for fuel starvation could not be determined."

Sources:
» CAB File No. 5566-46