Miami – Tampa – Atlanta – Washington DC – Newark

On October 11, 1946 at 11:25 PM, Miami – Tampa – Atlanta – Washington DC – Newark experienced a crash involving Douglas C-54 Skymaster, operated by Eastern Airlines, with the event recorded near Alexandria Virginia.

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

26 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 26 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: 22, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The four engine aircraft left Atlanta Airport at 2027LT bound for Newark with an intermediate stop in Washington-National Airport. While flying on airway Green 6 at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew was informed by ATC that a landing in Washington was not possible due to poor weather conditions and that he should proceed direct to Newark. Two hours later, the crew received new instructions from ATC: as weather conditions improved in Washington, a landing was therefore possible. The crew modified his route and started the descent to the National Airport. Due to low visibility, the first attempt to land was abandoned and the crew completed a go around. On the second approach, while at a height of 200 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of a small hill, bounced, snatched two telephone poles and crashed in flames near Alexandria, about 6 miles southwest of the airport. Quickly on the scene, the rescue teams were able to evacuate all 26 occupants, some of them injured, while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC88729, MSN 18396, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.8051°, -77.0470°.