Page:CAB Accident Report, Eastern Air Lines Flight 42.pdf/1

 Docket No. 811-106

CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Adopted: July 16, 1945

EASTERN AIR LINES - FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 7, 1945

The Accident

Eastern Air Lines' Flight 42 of September 6, en route from Miami, Florida, to New York, N. Y., crashed near Florence, S. C. about 0213, September 7, 1945. All nineteen passengers (of which ten were personnel) and the three crew members were fatally injured. The DC-3 was totally destroyed by impact and fire.

Description of the Flight

Flight 42 deaprted Miami for New York City at 212 E?T September 6, 1945, with routine stops Jacksonville, Fla., and Savannah Ga. Having obtained an instrument clearance from Airway Traffic Control to cruise at. 5,000 feet to Raleigh, N.C., the flight departed Savannnah at 0041, September 7, with Washington and Baltimore listed as alternates. At 0150 the flight transmitted a position report to the company station at Washington indicating it had passed over Florence at 0144 at 5,000 feet. The flight was advised that Raleigh, N.C., its next scheduled stop was reporting a 300 foot overcast. Since the weather at Raleigh was below authorized minimums, Flight 42 requested permission from the company dispatcher to proceed past Raleigh without landing. The station at Washington advised the flight at 0155 that it had been re-cleared to Washington with Baltimore as an alternate, but no acknowledgement of the message was received.