Detroit – Cleveland – Akron – Winston-Salem

While cruising at the altitude of 2,500 feet in bad weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Galax. A passenger was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Detroit – Cleveland – Akron – Winston-Salem

Registration

NC88872

MSN

3274

Year of Manufacture

1941

Date

January 12, 1947 at 01:38 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Galax Virginia

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

36.6612°, -80.9240°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On January 12, 1947 at 01:38 AM, Detroit – Cleveland – Akron – Winston-Salem experienced a crash involving Douglas C-49 (DC-3), operated by Eastern Airlines, with the event recorded near Galax Virginia.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

19 people were known to be on board, 18 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 94.7%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 16, passenger fatalities: 15, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While cruising at the altitude of 2,500 feet in bad weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Galax. A passenger was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC88872, MSN 3274, year of manufacture 1941.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 36.6612°, -80.9240°.

Fatalities

Total

18

Crew

3

Passengers

15

Other

0

Crash Summary

While cruising at the altitude of 2,500 feet in bad weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Galax. A passenger was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

16

Estimated Survivors

1

Fatality Rate

94.7%

Known people on board: 19

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Detroit – Cleveland – Akron – Winston-Salem

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

NC88872

MSN

3274

Year of Manufacture

1941

Similar Plane Crashes

May 2, 1918 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The single engine airplane departed Dayton-McCook Field for a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing both occupants. Crew: Maj Oscar Brindley, Lt Col Henry Damm.

June 19, 1918 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

Lt. Frank Stuart Patterson, son and nephew of the co-founders of National Cash Register, is killed in the crash of his DH.4M, AS-32098, at Wilbur Wright Field during a flight test of a new mechanism for synchronizing machine gun and propeller, when a tie rod breaks during a dive from 15,000 feet (4,600 m), causing the wings to separate from the aircraft. Wishing to recognize the contributions of the Patterson family (owners of NCR) the area of Wright Field east of Huffman Dam (including Wilbur Wright Field, Fairfield Air Depot, and the Huffman Prairie) is renamed Patterson Field on 6 July 1931, in honor of Lt. Patterson.

November 9, 1918 at 12:00 AM

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances.

November 12, 1918 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The crew was completing a training mission. At an altitude of about 4,000 feet, the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field near Everman-Barron Field Airport. A crew was killed and the second occupants was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

November 14, 1918 at 12:00 AM

U.S. Air Mail Service

De Havilland DH.4

Crashed following an engine failure. Pilot fate unknown.

November 20, 1918 at 12:00 PM

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The accident occurred in unknown circumstances.