Narrative:
Crashed into a hill in pine woods while trying to make an instrument landing approach in rain and fog due to altimeter misread. The aircraft found next day at 6:30 CT. Passenger Edward Vernon "Eddy" Rickenbacker (50) survived. Congressman William D. Byron (45) died.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the captain in charge of the flight to exercise the proper degree of care by not checking his altimeters to determine whether both were correctly set and properly functioning before commencing his landing approach. A substantial contributing factor was the absence of an established uniform cockpit procedure on Eastern Air Lines by which both the captain and the pilot are required to make a complete check of the controls and instruments during landing operations."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 26 February 1941 |
| Time: | 23:50 |
| Type: |  Douglas DST-318A (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Eastern Air Lines |
| Registration: | NC28394 |
| MSN: | 3250 |
| First flight: | 1940 |
| Engines: | 2 Wright R-1820-G202A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 13 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 16 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | N of Jonesboro, GA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Washington-Hoover Field, DC, United States of America |
| Atlanta-Candler Field, GA (ATL/KATL), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | Trip 21 |
Crashed into a hill in pine woods while trying to make an instrument landing approach in rain and fog due to altimeter misread. The aircraft found next day at 6:30 CT. Passenger Edward Vernon "Eddy" Rickenbacker (50) survived. Congressman William D. Byron (45) died.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the captain in charge of the flight to exercise the proper degree of care by not checking his altimeters to determine whether both were correctly set and properly functioning before commencing his landing approach. A substantial contributing factor was the absence of an established uniform cockpit procedure on Eastern Air Lines by which both the captain and the pilot are required to make a complete check of the controls and instruments during landing operations."
Accident investigation:
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Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Photos
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 Washington-Hoover Field, DC to Atlanta-Candler Field, GA as the crow flies is 874 km (546 miles).
Distance from Washington-Hoover Field, DC to Atlanta-Candler Field, GA as the crow flies is 874 km (546 miles).
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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