United States of America

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.

On final approach, the crew encountered low visibility due to poor weather conditions. During the final segment, the captain realized he was aligned with the taxiway instead of the runway, so he increased power on both engines and attempted a go around. The aircraft overflew the airport and then stalled before crashing in a wooded area located near the runway end. All 15 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

On final approach to Chicago-Midway Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit a concrete marker. After impact, the aircraft nosed down and crashed in flames few hundred yards short of runway. All 41 occupants were quickly evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

At 2107, the American Airlines’ radio station at New York received a message from the flight on very high frequency, indicating that it had no range reception or operative direction finding facilities. Because it had become apparent that precipitation static was so severe that it would not be possible to use the Philadelphia radio range for an approach to the Municipal Airport, the flight advised that it was continuing northeastward until visual contact with the ground was established. During this transmission, Flight 203 reported its position as in the vicinity of Lake-Hurst, New Jersey. When asked by the New York station of American Airlines at 2115 if he were “contact” in the South Jersey area, the pilot of Flight 203 replied that he had not been “contact” since leaving Washington. At 2128, Flight 203 declared an emergency, reporting that it had 70 gallons of gas aboard, with little or no D/F or radio range reception, and requested a report on the “neatest weather that is 1,000 feet or better.” While maintaining a northeasterly heading, the flight descended to an altitude of 200 feet. However, inasmuch as instrument conditions were still being encountered at that altitude, the pilot climbed again to an altitude of 1,500 feet. By the time the American Airlines’ New York station was able to provide the flight with weather reports in the area northeast of La Guardia Airport, the pilot had decided to effect an emergency landing without further delay. At this time there was but 30 minutes gas supply remaining on board. The pilot turned to a heading of 110 degrees toward the Atlantic Ocean in order to permit a descent to be made over open water. At 2156, after having maintained an east-southeasterly heading for 15 minutes, the flight advised the American Airlines’ station at New York that it intended to drop a flare. Upon dropping the flare and following it to the surface, the pilot found that the flight was over water. The pilot turned, therefore, to a heading of 300 degrees and, with the aircraft landing lights shining on the surface, continued westbound until sighting a shore line. He immediately maneuvered the aircraft to align it with the beach, which was oriented approximately 60 degrees to the left of his flight path, and completed an emergency landing at 2208 with his wheels retracted. Being unaware of his location, the pilot requested that bearings be taken in order to identify the position of the aircraft. At 2245, American Airlines was advised by telephone that Flight 203 had been located on the beach approximately one mile east of the Coast Guard Station at Jones Beach, New York.

On final approach to Nashville-Metropolitan Airport, the aircraft went out of control and crashed onto a house located one mile short of runway. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 16 occupants were injured plus two people in the house.

On approach to Charleston Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to make a go around. Few minutes later, the captain tried an approach to another runway but did not realized that his altitude was too low. The aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located about 3 miles short of runway. All five occupants were killed. It was reported by a local police officer that an unidentified control tower operator had given the pilot permission to land shortly before the plane crashed. The plane was en route from Newark to Miami to pick up cargo, and was carrying an extra pilot and two stewardesses as "dead-heads."
Crew:
Amos Austin, pilot,
James McNeal, pilot,
Elmer Kortman, copilot,
Olga Badman, stewardess,
Doris Wynn, stewardess.

This flight originated at Buffalo and proceeded uneventfully to a scheduled stop at Detroit, Michigan. Departure from Detroit was at 0748, about six minutes behind schedule, with eighteen passengers, 550 gallons of fuel and on an instrument flight plan to cruise at 2,500 feet sea level. Routine position reports were made at 0800, 0807 and 0822. At 0840 the flight was instructed by Air Route Traffic Control at Chicago to climb to 4,000 feet sea level which it did immediately. At 0859 Chicago Air Route Traffic Control cleared the flight from South Bend, Indiana, to the Chicago Tower to maintain 4,000 feet sea level until ten minutes after passing South Bend. At 0902 the flight reported passing South Bend. There were no further radio contacts with the flight until 0918 when it transmitted, "Both engines going bad descending at 1,000 feet per minute looking for opening." This was followed almost immediately by, "Altitude is at present 900 feet." Chicago immediately replied, "Suggest proceed to South Bend immediately if able." This was not acknowledged. The plane crashed at or about that time in the northeastern part of Michigan City at a point approximately two miles from Lake Michigan. The direction of Initial impact was just south of east or about opposite the course from Detroit to Chicago.

Enroute from Flint to Saint Louis on a cargo flight, the crew encountered poor weather with low visibility and severe icing conditions. The crew informed ATC about his situation and lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a prairie. The aircraft was destroyed and both crewmen were killed.

While cruising at the altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew informed ATC he just overflew Mt Laguna and then reduced his altitude when the aircraft, at a height of 6,120 feet, hit the east slope of Mt Cuyapaipe. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire, and all 12 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 75 feet below the summit.
Photos: Craig Fuller and Brad Gray.
http://www.AviationArchaeology.com

The four engine aircraft landed on a wet runway. After touchdown, it was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest 200 feet further on. All 45 occupants were uninjured and quickly disembarked while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to severe damages to the fuselage.