Chicago – Detroit

On July 12, 1931 at 12:00 AM, Chicago – Detroit experienced a crash involving Lockheed 5 Vega, operated by Braniff Airways, with the event recorded near Chicago Illinois.

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

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. After takeoff from Chicago Airport, while climbing to a height of 700 feet, the engine failed. The crew elected to return and initiated a turn to the right when the airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC8497, MSN 154, year of manufacture 1930.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 41.8756°, -87.6244°.