Chicago – Cleveland

On November 11, 1946 at 03:30 AM, Chicago – Cleveland experienced a crash involving Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3), operated by United Airlines, with the event recorded near Cleveland Ohio.

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.

21 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 19 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 9.5%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 18, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was heard southwest of the airport at 0327 and at this time Cleveland Tower cleared the flight to land on Runway 36-Left. At 0328 the air-craft was observed over the airport at an altitude of between 200 and 400 feet flying In a northeasterly direction. When approximately over the north boundary, the aircraft disappeared from view in what appeared to be a low cloud formation. At this time Cleveland Tower advised the flight that It was cleared to use Runway 36-Left, Runway 36-Right, or Runway 31, at the captain's discretion. The aircraft was next seen re-approaching the airport from the northeast in a right turn, during which turn the landing lights were switched on. In the latter part of the turn, a descent was established and this descent was continued in a northwesterly direction toward the dark, undeveloped area north of the airport. With the exception of the fact that the aircraft was heading toward an area not within the boundary of the airport, its appearance was that of an aircraft in a normal landing approach. When at an altitude of approximately 30 feet, the aircraft banked slightly to the left and, immediately thereafter it struck trees and high tension lines paralleling the north boundary of the airport. The aircraft veered sharply to the right and dived into the ground, coming to rest approximately 550 feet beyond the point of initial contact.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC19947, MSN 4873, year of manufacture 1942.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 41.4997°, -81.6937°.