Accident Douglas DC-4 NC37478,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 336749

Date:	Wednesday 10 March 1948
Time:	22:58
Type:	Douglas DC-4
Owner/operator:	Delta Air Lines
Registration:	NC37478
MSN:	18390
Year of manufacture:	1944
Total airframe hrs:	6509 hours
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 13
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Chicago Municipal Airport, IL (MDW) - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Chicago Municipal Airport, IL (MDW/KMDW)
Destination airport:	Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA)
Investigating agency:	CAB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DC-4 NC37478 arrived at Chicago's Municipal Airport at 21:06. The airplane was prepared for the return flight to Miami and finally departed from the ramp at 22:45. Takeoff on the right north-south runway was started at 22:57. The takeoff roll and the first part of the climb appeared to be normal until it had reached an altitude between 150 and 200 feet. Then it assumed a very steep, near vertical, climbing attitude. At 500-800 feet the airplane appeared to stall, and the nose and right wing dropped. A partial recovery from the stall was made before the aircraft crashed to the ground and burst into flames.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of longitudinal control of the airplane. The cause for the loss of control remains undetermined."

Accident investigation: