Date:	Wednesday 21 August 1946
Time:	04:19
Type:	Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator:	Trans-Luxury Airlines
Registration:	NC51878
MSN:	4542
Year of manufacture:	1942
Total airframe hrs:	4121 hours
Engine model:	Wright R-1820-92
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 25
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	near Moline, IL -   United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi
Departure airport:	Chicago (unknown airport), IL
Destination airport:	Omaha-Eppley Airfield, NE (OMA/KOMA)
Investigating agency:	CAB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
A no. 1 engine oil leak was inspected by a mechanic prior to the next flight. The flight departed Chicago at 03:03, The flight was continued under instrument flight rules and was cleared to cruise at 4,000 feet via airway Green 3 to the Omaha Airport. At approximately 04:00, within about 35 miles of Moline, a flash of fire was observed at the left engine. The propeller was feathered and a descent initiated for a nearby airport. The aircraft overshot the landing on runway 22, so the pilot executed a go around. A left turn was flown with gear and flaps extended. The left wing touched the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled. The engine failure was caused by a no. 5 cylinder fracture.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The faulty execution of an emergency single engine approach following failure of the left engine in flight. A contributing factor was the failure of the pilot to exercise sufficient caution by having, a qualified mechanic determine the reasons for oil leakage in the left engine prior to departure from Chicago."

Air Britain Casualty compendium (pt. 43)
CAB File No. 2254-46

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

1 November 1943

41-38593

United States Army Air Force - USAAF

8 km NE of Grenada AAB, MS

w/o

photo (c) Ronald Gillis; Moline, IL; August 1946

Date/time	Contributor	Updates