San Antonio – Houston – New Orleans – Mobile – Montgomery – Atlanta – Spartanburg – Charlotte – Greensboro – Richmond – Washington DC – Baltimore – Gamden – Newark

On October 18, 1938 at 10:44 PM, San Antonio – Houston – New Orleans – Mobile – Montgomery – Atlanta – Spartanburg – Charlotte – Greensboro – Richmond – Washington DC – Baltimore – Gamden – Newark experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-2, operated by Eastern Airlines, with the event recorded near Montgomery Alabama.

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.

14 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 14 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 11, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. After take off, while climbing to 1,000 feet, pilot retracted the landing gear when he felt several vibrations coming from the right engine. A fire erupted in the right engine and the crew decided to return to Montgomery. Due to a sudden deteriorating situation, captain decided to make an emergency landing in a field located near the airport. Aircraft slid several yards and the right wing was sheared off as it hit a tree. All occupants escaped unhurt, except for the captain who was slightly burned. The aircraft was destroyed by post crash fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC13735, MSN 1261, year of manufacture 1934.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 32.3777°, -86.3091°.