Pennsylvania Central Air Lines

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The flight departed Pittsburgh at 1724 and at 1753, 29 minutes later, reported over the Flintstone Intersection, 88 miles southeast of Pittsburgh at 7,000 feet. At 1754 the flight received a message from Washington Airway Traffic Control clearing it to the Herndon Fan Marker to maintain 7,000 feet until further advised The flight was also instructed that there would be an indefinite delay at Herndon but that approach clearance could be expected no later than 1920, which was approximately one hour and 10 minutes later than its estimated time of arrival Immediately after receiving this message the flight was given the 1730 hourly weather sequence report for Washington After acknowledging receipt of the Washington weather report, Flight 410 instructed the company station at Washington to request from Airway Traffic Control a clearance to approach Washington in accordance with contact flight rules on the right side of the west leg of the Arcola radio range This request was approved by Airway Traffic Control and at 1803 the flight received a message clearing it to the Washington tower to cross the Arcola radio range station at or below 2,500 feet and in accordance with contact flight rules. The flight was advised that if this were not possible it was to hold at 2,500 feet and to inform Airway Traffic Control. Prior to establishing its descent the flight was instructed to report when leaving each 1,000-foot level In accordance with these instructions Flight 410 reported leaving the 7,000-foot level at 1805 and two minutes later another report was received from the flight indicating it was leaving 6,000 feet. The flight reported its position as "south of Martinsburg" at 1808 and immediately thereafter reported that it was leaving 5,000 feet at that time At 1810 another report was received from the flight, leaving 4,000 feet." Three minutes thereafter the flight again reported its progress and indicated it was leaving 3,000 feet. Approximately 6 minutes later the company station at Washington initiated several calls to the flight but, although these transmissions were continued for several hours, no contact was established.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The crew was performing a local training flight from Washington-National Airport. Enroute, the engine number four caught fire and the crew was unable to extinguish the fire. The captain informed ATC about his situation and obtained the authorization to return to Washington-National Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach to runway 33, the engine number four separated from the wing. Despite the situation, the crew was able to continue the approach and landed safely. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to the severity of the damages that the right wing suffered due to fire.

Douglas DC-3

The approach to runway 18 was completed in marginal weather conditions. On final, the aircraft was well above the glide and with an excessive speed. It landed half way down the runway and after touchdown, was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, went through a fence and down an embankment before coming to rest with the cockpit crushed on the opposite embankment and partially submerged in a drainage ditch. The aircraft was written off and three crew members, among them both pilots, were killed.

Douglas DC-3

Enroute, the crew was informed several times about weather conditions at destination with low ceiling at 1,000 feet and low visibility, max one mile. While approaching Morgantown at an altitude of 2,100 feet in clouds, the aircraft hit the west slope of Mt Cheat located 7 miles northeast of Morgantown. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 20 occupants were killed. Crew: Harold Houston Jones, pilot, William Thomas Repack, copilot, Marion Grace Adams, hostess.

Douglas DC-3

The crew left Miami Airport bound for Savannah on behalf of the USAAF. After departure, the crew was allowed to climb to 3,000 feet along the east coast of Florida. In the same region was flying a USAAF Consolidated B-24D Liberator registered 41-11889 with a crew of four on board. The crew departed Homestead AFB in the morning for a training exercise. En route, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea, less than one mile from each other. All eight occupants on board both aircraft were killed and the wreckage were found some 6 miles southeast of Lake Worth.

Boeing 247

Shortly after take off from Charleston Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area near the airport. All nine occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces. Crew: Russell J. Wright, captain, William H. Riley, first officer, Irene Coates, flight stewardess.

Douglas DC-3

Twenty minutes after its departure from Washington DC-Hoover Airport, while cruising in poor weather conditions at an altitude of some 4,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous area. All 25 occupants were killed, among them the Senator of Minnesota Ernest Lundeen. Crew: Lowell V. Scoggins, pilot, J. Paul Moore, copilot, Margaret Carson, flight attendant, John B. Staire, Jr, secretary to the District Traffic Manager. Passengers: Miss Dorothy Beer, Mr. E. G. Bowler, Mr. W. M. Burleson, Mr. W. B. Chambers, Miss Mildred Chesser, Dr. Charles D. C. Cole, Miss Naomi Colpo, Mr. A. H. Elliott, Mr. William Garbose, Miss Evelyn Goldsmith, Mrs. Rose Z. Hale, Mr. Arthur Hollaway, Mr. H. J. Hofferth, Mr. D. P. James, Senator Ernest E. Lundeen, Mr. M. P. Mahan, Mr. Adolph Mook, Mr. Joseph J. Pesci, Miss Chloe Post, Mr. E. J. Tarr, Miss Margaret Tuner.