Page:CAB Accident Report, TWA Flight 47.pdf/1

 Docket No. SA-107

Adopted: February 1, 1946

An air collision between TA's Flight 47, en route from Chicago to Kansas City, and a privately-owned Boeing trainer on a local flight approximately 7 miles southwest of the Chicago Municipal Airport.on September 20, 1945, resulted in destruction of the Boeing and fatal injuries to its pilot and passenger. Extensive damage to the DC3's night wing was sustained in the collision but the aircraft was landed at the Chicago Municipal Airport without further damage and without injury to either occupant.

TWA's Flight 47 of September 26, 1945, departed from Chicago or Kansas City at 1312 CET ,on a scheduled cargo run without passengers. It was given an instrument clearance to cruise at 4000 feet to Kancas City maintaining 2000 feet to Yorkville, Illinois.

The Boeing pilot, occupying the rear seat, had taken off with a passenger from the Ravenswood, Illinois, Airport (about 10 miles north of the scene of the accident) at approximately 1230. After two practice landings he left the vicinity of the airport. The collision of the two aircraft occurred about 1317 after Flight 41 had reached its 2000-foot altitude (1300 feet above the 700-foot terrain). and was proceeding westerly on the airway to Kansas City. The Boeing was headed south. The upper right wing of the Boeing was destroyed by the right wing of the airliner and the Boeing fell almost vertically to the ground. Both occupants were killed. Apparently neither attempted to jump although both were equipped with parachutes. Despite extensive damage to the leading edge of its right wing the DC3 landed at the Chicago Municipal Airport without further damage and without injury to either occupant.

Examination of the aircraft revealed that the right upper wing of the Boeing had disintegrated before impact with the ground. The inter-plane strut fittings from both spars of this wing were found embedded in the leading edge of the DC3's right wing. The top of the Boing rudder and much of the fabric from the top of the upper right wing were also