Illinois

During the takeoff roll at Chicago-Midway Airport, the pilot inadvertently retracted the landing gear while the aircraft was still rolling. It sank on the ground and slid for several yards before coming to rest. While the pilot was uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On final approach to Rockford-Greater Rockford Airport, one of the engine failed. Due to insufficient speed, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

The pilot, sole on board, was involved in a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff from Kankakee-Greater Kankakee Airport, while climbing, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and was able to complete an emergency belly landing in a field. The airplane slid for several yards and came to rest. The pilot was unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

A Douglas DC-3A, N410D, operated by and registered to Hansen Air Activities, crashed into an occupied house 7-1/2 miles west-northwest of the Chicago O'Hare International Airport at 2356 c.s.t., March 8, 1964. The copilot sustained fatal injuries and three of the 28 passengers received minor injuries. None of the six persons in the house were injured. The aircraft was damaged substantially. The crew was attempting an ILS approach to runway 14R in instrument flight conditions when turbulence was encountered, accompanied by a rapid accretion of airframe icing. The crew was unable to maintain directional stability or altitude, and abandoned the approach. After leaving the approach course, the aircraft continued to descend in an uncontrolled condition until it crashed.

Shortly after takeoff from Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed into Michigan Lake. The aircraft was lost and both crew members were killed. They were performing a positioning flight to Chicago-Palwaukee Airport when the accident occurred.

Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no injuries among the occupants while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

At approximately 0855 1, the flight was cleared for takeoff on runway 14R. At this time the aircraft was taxing on a westerly heading in the runup area adjacent to runway 14R. Flight 706 acknowledged the clearance, while continuing toward the runway, and made a running takeoff No witnesses were found who observed the actual lift-off. N137US was observed after lift-off, 3,000 to 4,000 feet down the runway at an estimated altitude of 50 to 75 feet and in a normal climb attitude. At the 8,000-foot marker the altitude of the aircraft was estimated to have been approximately 100 feet, which is a slightly lower altitude than Electra aircraft normally attain at this point during takeoff. Five witnesses noted a change in engine sound during this portion of the flight. Between the 8,000 and the 9,000 foot runway marker the aircraft was observed to commence an apparently coordinated right turn with a slowly increasing rate of bank. When the bank angle was 30 to 45 degrees, the crew made a short, garbled transmission. Immediately thereafter, at a bank angle of 50 to 60 degrees, the aircraft began to lose altitude. The minimum altitude attained in the entire turn was 200 to 300 feet. The right wing near the No. 4 engine struck powerlines adjacent to the Chicago Northwestern Railroad tracks, severing the lines at an angle of about 70 degrees from the horizontal, and causing a bright bluish flash. The aircraft then continued in a direction of about 271 degrees magnetic and, when in a bank of about 85 degrees and a nose-down attitude of about 10 degrees, the right wing of the aircraft struck the railroad embankment. Continuing to roll about its longitudinal axis, the aircraft cartwheeled, the nose crashing into the ground 380 feet beyond the point of first Impact, and landed right side up It then slid tall first another 820 feet. The aircraft disintegrated throughout its path, and wreckage was strewn over an area 200 feet wide and 1,200 feet long. Evidence of ground fire was found at various points along this path. Impact occurred on airport property about 3,800 feet abeam and to the right of the end of runway 14R, about 500 feet north of Irving Park Road. After passing beyond the railroad embankment the aircraft was lost to view by most of the eye witnesses because of trees and other obstructions; immediately thereafter a large mushroom of orange-red flame accompanied by heavy black smoke was seen. Time of impact was established as 0857. The aircraft was demolished by impact and fire. All occupants were fatally injured.

During engine runup, Flight 529 was given its air traffic control clearance which was: "cleared to the Las Vegas Airport via Victor 6 Naperville, Victor 8 flight plan route, maintain 5,000 feet." The clearance was acknowledged correctly and TWA Flight 529 departed on runway 22L at 0200, making a right turn out of traffic. The 0200 Midway Airport weather was: scattered clouds at 10,000 feet; high overcast, visibility three miles in haze and smoke; wind south eight knots. The Chicago O'Hare Airport weather at 0200 was: partial obscuration; scattered clouds 15,000 feet; high overcast; visibility two and one-half miles in ground fog and smoke; wind south six knots. Radar contact was established with the flight one minute and 34 seconds after the flight acknowledged takeoff clearance and as the aircraft proceeded outbound in a right turn. At 0204, Flight 529 was observed on radar by the departure controller to be five miles west of Midway Airport proceeding on course. Northwest Airlines Flight 105 was cleared for takeoff on runway 22L at Midway, and took off Immediately. The ground controller observed a flash west of Midway Airport at this time and asked Flight 105 if he had seen a flash. Flight 105 advised that they had seen a flash fire and would fly over the area. As Flight 105 reported over the fire, the radar range was noted to be nine miles west of Midway Airport and the radar return of TWA. Flight 529 had disappeared from the scope. It was later determined that Flight 529 had crashed at this site and that the observed ground fire was the result of the accident. The airplane disintegrated in a field and all 78 occupants have been killed.

During the takeoff roll, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft swung on runway and came to rest. All 60 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Flight 595, loaded with cargo, took off on runway 31L of Midway at approximately 0531LT bound for Los Angles, California. As the aircraft began a left turn, the crew notified Midway Tower they had received a fire warning on the No. 2 engine and had shut it down. They also informed the tower the flight would return and land. The aircraft proceeded in a continuing left turn around the airport in an elliptical pattern and below the clouds which were based at an altitude of 500 to 600 feet. In the turn to final approach to runway 31 the aircraft banked in excess of 45 degrees during which it developed an excessive rate of sink. When the aircraft reached the tops of the trees its wings were nearly level and its nose was raised in a climbing attitude; however, the descent continued. The wing flaps were being retracted during the last 5 to 10 seconds of the final descent and were found to be symmetrically extended at 24 percent upon impact. The plane crashed into a residential area about one-fourth of a mile southeast of Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois, killing all persons aboard, demolishing the aircraft, and fatally injuring eight persons on the ground.