Lake Charles - Newark

While overflying New York city in poor visibility due to fog, the crew started the descent to Newark when the twin engine aircraft hit the 58th floor of the Bank of Manhattan Building located 40 Wall Street. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and all four crew members were killed. Fortunately, there were no casualties in the building or on the ground.

Flight / Schedule

Lake Charles - Newark

Registration

44-47570

MSN

7977

Date

May 20, 1946 at 08:10 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

City

Crash Location

Manhattan New York

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

40.7506°, -73.9688°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On May 20, 1946 at 08:10 PM, Lake Charles - Newark experienced a crash involving Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF, with the event recorded near Manhattan New York.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a city crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. While overflying New York city in poor visibility due to fog, the crew started the descent to Newark when the twin engine aircraft hit the 58th floor of the Bank of Manhattan Building located 40 Wall Street. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and all four crew members were killed. Fortunately, there were no casualties in the building or on the ground.

Aircraft reference details include registration 44-47570, MSN 7977.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.7506°, -73.9688°.

Fatalities

Total

4

Crew

4

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

While overflying New York city in poor visibility due to fog, the crew started the descent to Newark when the twin engine aircraft hit the 58th floor of the Bank of Manhattan Building located 40 Wall Street. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and all four crew members were killed. Fortunately, there were no casualties in the building or on the ground.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 4

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Lake Charles - Newark

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

City

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

44-47570

MSN

7977

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