Date & Time:
Oct 11, 1946 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
NC88729
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami – Tampa – Atlanta – Washington DC – Newark
MSN:
18396
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
EA564
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
0
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
1227
Copilot / Total hours on type:
79
Aircraft flight hours:
2045
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Atlanta Airport at 2027LT bound for Newark with an intermediate stop in Washington-National Airport. While flying on airway Green 6 at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew was informed by ATC that a landing in Washington was not possible due to poor weather conditions and that he should proceed direct to Newark. Two hours later, the crew received new instructions from ATC: as weather conditions improved in Washington, a landing was therefore possible. The crew modified his route and started the descent to the National Airport. Due to low visibility, the first attempt to land was abandoned and the crew completed a go around. On the second approach, while at a height of 200 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of a small hill, bounced, snatched two telephone poles and crashed in flames near Alexandria, about 6 miles southwest of the airport. Quickly on the scene, the rescue teams were able to evacuate all 26 occupants, some of them injured, while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The Board finds that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the pilot to maintain flight at or above the minimum safe altitude for an instrument approach to Washington-National Airport.
