Chicago – Indianapolis – Louisville – Nashville – Chattanooga – Jacksonville – Daytona Beach – Miami

On August 10, 1937 at 04:40 AM, Chicago – Indianapolis – Louisville – Nashville – Chattanooga – Jacksonville – Daytona Beach – Miami experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-2, operated by Eastern Airlines, with the event recorded near Daytona Beach Florida.

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.

9 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 44.4%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 6, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is other causes. Shortly after takeoff by night and in good weather conditions, while in initial climb, the aircraft hit an electric pole with its left wing, stalled and crashed in a wooded area past the runway end. Two passengers and both pilots were killed while all five other occupants were seriously injured. Crew: Start G. Dietz, pilot, Robert R. Road, copilot, Bryan W. Merrill, steward.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC13739, MSN 1289, year of manufacture 1934.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 29.2108°, -81.0228°.