Washington DC – Pittsburgh – Cleveland – Detroit – Milwaukee – Minneapolis – Portland – Seattle

On August 28, 1958 at 03:29 AM, Washington DC – Pittsburgh – Cleveland – Detroit – Milwaukee – Minneapolis – Portland – Seattle experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-6, operated by Northwest Airlines, with the event recorded near Minneapolis-Saint Paul Minnesota.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

62 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 62 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 58, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. At approximately 0329LT, the airplane crashed on takeoff from Wold-Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota. A number of the 62 persons (including 2 infants) aboard suffered serious injuries but there were no fatalities. Fire, which broke out a short time after all occupants were evacuated, consumed the aircraft. The aircraft took off normally and climbed to a height of about 100 feet. It then gradually nosed over and entered a descent which continued until it struck the ground. Sky conditions were clear; however, the prevailing visibility was about three miles in fog, and in localized areas around the airport it was reduced to lens than a mile by patches of denser fog. Takeoff was made on runway 22 and the climbout was a from a lighted, built-up section toward an open, unlighted area. The Board believes that the pilot while trying to remain contact in reduced visibility allowed the nose of the aircraft to drop when flaps were retracted because of inattention to flight instruments. The darkness and reduced visibility during climbout contributed to a sensory illusion which completely obscured the fact of descent from the pilot.

Aircraft reference details include registration N575, MSN 45200, year of manufacture 1957.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 44.9227°, -93.0555°.