ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-4 NC37478 Chicago Municipal Airport, IL (MDW)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Wednesday 10 March 1948
Time:22:58
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC4 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas DC-4
Operator:Delta Air Lines
Registration: NC37478
MSN: 18390
First flight: 1944
Total airframe hrs:6509
Crew:Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Passengers:Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 9
Total:Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 13
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:Chicago Municipal Airport, IL (MDW) (   United States of America)
Phase: Initial climb (ICL)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Chicago Municipal Airport, IL (MDW/KMDW), United States of America
Destination airport:Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA), United States of America
Flightnumber:DL705
Narrative:
DC-4 NC37478 arrived at Chicago's Municipal Airport at 21:06. The airplane was prepared for the return flight to Miami and finally departed from the ramp at 22:45. Takeoff on the right north-south runway was started at 22:57. The takeoff roll and the first part of the climb appeared to be normal until it had reached an altitude between 150 and 200 feet. Then it assumed a very steep, near vertical, climbing attitude. At 500-800 feet the airplane appeared to stall, and the nose and right wing dropped. A partial recovery from the stall was made before the aircraft crashed to the ground and burst into flames.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of longitudinal control of the airplane. The cause for the loss of control remains undetermined."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: CAB
Status: Investigation completed
Accident number: final report
Download report: Final report

Classification:

Loss of control

Sources:
» CAB File No. 1-0023
» Chicago Tribune 11-3-1948


Photos

photo of Douglas-DC-4-NC37478
accident date: 10-03-1948
type: Douglas DC-4
registration: NC37478
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Chicago Municipal Airport, IL to Miami International Airport, FL as the crow flies is 1892 km (1183 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-4

  • 1242 built
  • 88th loss
  • 45th fatal accident
  • 22nd worst accident (at the time)
  • 86th worst accident (currently)
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