Narrative:
Against standard company procedure the flight continued direct to Winston-Salem instead of via the Greensboro range. A let-down was started without definitely establishing the position of the aircraft in relation to the Winston-Salem radio station. The DC-3 flew into the ground in rugged country 63 miles NW of Winston-Salem at an altitude of about 2500 feet.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The action of the pilot in attempting a let-down without having positively determined the position of the aircraft. A contributing factor was the erroneous navigation of the pilot which on at least two occasions led him to believe that he was farther south than he actually was"
» CAB File No. 1-0005-47
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 12 January 1947 |
| Time: | 01:38 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-49-DO (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Eastern Air Lines |
| Registration: | NC88872 |
| MSN: | 3274 |
| First flight: | 1941 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7680 |
| Engines: | 2 Wright R-1820-G202A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 15 / Occupants: 16 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 18 / Occupants: 19 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Galax, VA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Akron/Canton Regional Airport, OH (CAK/KCAK), United States of America |
| Winston-Salem-Smith-Reynolds Airport, NC (INT/KINT), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | EA665 |
Against standard company procedure the flight continued direct to Winston-Salem instead of via the Greensboro range. A let-down was started without definitely establishing the position of the aircraft in relation to the Winston-Salem radio station. The DC-3 flew into the ground in rugged country 63 miles NW of Winston-Salem at an altitude of about 2500 feet.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The action of the pilot in attempting a let-down without having positively determined the position of the aircraft. A contributing factor was the erroneous navigation of the pilot which on at least two occasions led him to believe that he was farther south than he actually was"
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Air Britain Casualty compendium (pt. 45)» CAB File No. 1-0005-47
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 Akron/Canton Regional Airport, OH to Winston-Salem-Smith-Reynolds Airport, NC as the crow flies is 539 km (337 miles).
Distance from Akron/Canton Regional Airport, OH to Winston-Salem-Smith-Reynolds Airport, NC as the crow flies is 539 km (337 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 2447th loss
- 777th fatal accident
- 106th worst accident (at the time)
- 286th worst accident (currently)
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