Memphis

American Airlines Trip 2, on a regular transcontinental schedule from Los Angeles to New York City, while en route from Little Rock to Memphis, crashed in the Mississippi River 18 miles southwest of Memphis Airport about 2336LT. The 21 passengers and three crew members were fatally injured and the airplane was totally destroyed. The flight was observed to be at a normal altitude approximately 30 miles west of the scene of the crash. At a point 2 1/2 miles west of the scene, the plane was observed flying very low. How long it had been flying low between these two points could not be ascertained as there were no known witnesses to this portion of the flight. It approached and struck the river in an angle of descent of about 20 degree with the right wing slightly low. Impact with the water, submersion and the extremely difficult salvage operation caused an unusual degree of damage to the plane. Only 75% of the wreckage is estimated to have been recovered. These conditions materially limited the efforts of the Boards investigators.

The aircraft christened 'Flagship Missouri' departed Nashville for its last leg to Memphis and climbed to 6000 feet when the pilot reported cruising at this level at 2259LT. Seven minutes later, at 2306LT, the flight called Nashville and requested permission to climb to 8000 feet, which was approved. However altitude was lost until the DC-3 descended into the thickly wooded southern slope of a hill which rose to a height of about 75 feet.
Crew:
Dale F. Dryer, pilot,
William J. Brand, copilot,
Margaret A. Jewell, stewardess.

The airplane was on transit flight from Michigan to Jackson, Mississippi, with an intermediate stop in Memphis. Just after takeoff from Memphis Municipal Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed. Five crew members were killed and two others were seriously injured. One of the survivors died two days later from injuries sustained.
Those killed were:
2nd Lt Joe F. Simpson, pilot,
2nd Lt John P. Treadaway, pilot,
2nd Lt Frank E. Budenholzer, navigator,
T/Sgt Vincent A. Costlow, flight engineer,
Sgt Richard F. Gemein,
2nd Lt Roger C. Jones.

While cruising at low altitude and at a speed of 290 km/h in darkness, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded and swampy area located some 4 miles from Goodwin. The aircraft was destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed. While there was no post crash fire, a flash bulb from a photographers camera did ignite gasoline that had spilled. This was the first fatal commercial aircraft accident in the state of Arkansas.
Crew:
Gerald V. Marshall, pilot,
Glenn Freeland, copilot,
Perla Casparini, stewardess.
Passengers:
Charles Altschul,
Mrs. Samuel Horowitz,
Seba Horowitz,
Mrs. B. Horowitz,
W. R. Dyess,
R. H. McNair Jr.,
Frank C. Hart,
J. C. Cahn,
J. S. Gremillion,
W. S. Hardwicke,
A. D. Chernus,
H. W. plato,
Sam Schwartz +1.

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a night cargo flight from Nashville to Memphis. While cruising at an altitude of 3,500 feet in a reduced visibility due to foggy conditions, the engine failed. The pilot bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that entered a dive and crashed in a pasture. The pilot was uninjured.

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a cargo flight from Little Rock to Memphis. Upon landing, the aircraft crashed and came to rest. The pilot was injured.

While cruising at night on a flight from Little Rock to Memphis, the pilot got lost. He reduced his altitude when the airplane collided with an oak tree and crashed. Both occupants were killed.