Narrative:
Northwest flight 2501, was scheduled to operate between New York and Seattle via Minneapolis and Spokane.
At approximately 19:31 the flight departed from LaGuardia Airport. At 21:49, when over Cleveland a cruising altitude of 4,000 feet was requested by the flight and approved by ARTC. Forty minutes later the flight was requested by ARTC to descend to 3,500 feet because there was an eastbound flight at 5,000 feet over Lake Michigan which was experiencing severe turbulence and difficulty in maintaining its assigned altitude. ARTC estimated that the standard separation of 1,000 feet would not be sufficient because of the turbulence. At 22:51, Flight 2501 reported that it was over Battle Creek at 3,500 feet, and that it would be over Milwaukee at 23:37. When in the vicinity of Benton Harbor, at 23:13, the flight requested a cruising altitude of 2,500 feet, however, no reason was given for the request. Acknowledgement that ARTC could not approve descent to 2,500 feet was received at 23:15, and this was the last communication received from the flight.
An intensive search of the Lake Michigan area was commenced at daylight June 24. On the following day, at 18:30, a United States Coast Guard cutter found an oil slick, and aircraft debris in Lake Michigan approximately 18 miles north-northwest of Benton Harbor. At the time the aircraft crashed, it was flying through an area of considerable thunderstorm activity. The crew knew about the thunderstorm activity and the possible development of a squall line forecast of a squall line, but had not been given a forecast describing the development and location of a squall line that had been issued 100 minutes before the accident.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Insufficient evidence upon which to make a determination of probable cause."
N95425
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 23 June 1950 |
| Time: | 23:25 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-4 |
| Operator: | Northwest Orient Airlines |
| Registration: | N95425 |
| MSN: | 10270 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 15902 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2000-2SD13G Twin Wasp |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 55 / Occupants: 55 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 58 / Occupants: 58 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 29 km (18.1 mls) NNW off Benton Harbour, MI [Lake Michigan] ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA/KLGA), United States of America |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN (MSP/KMSP), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 2501 |
Northwest flight 2501, was scheduled to operate between New York and Seattle via Minneapolis and Spokane.
At approximately 19:31 the flight departed from LaGuardia Airport. At 21:49, when over Cleveland a cruising altitude of 4,000 feet was requested by the flight and approved by ARTC. Forty minutes later the flight was requested by ARTC to descend to 3,500 feet because there was an eastbound flight at 5,000 feet over Lake Michigan which was experiencing severe turbulence and difficulty in maintaining its assigned altitude. ARTC estimated that the standard separation of 1,000 feet would not be sufficient because of the turbulence. At 22:51, Flight 2501 reported that it was over Battle Creek at 3,500 feet, and that it would be over Milwaukee at 23:37. When in the vicinity of Benton Harbor, at 23:13, the flight requested a cruising altitude of 2,500 feet, however, no reason was given for the request. Acknowledgement that ARTC could not approve descent to 2,500 feet was received at 23:15, and this was the last communication received from the flight.
An intensive search of the Lake Michigan area was commenced at daylight June 24. On the following day, at 18:30, a United States Coast Guard cutter found an oil slick, and aircraft debris in Lake Michigan approximately 18 miles north-northwest of Benton Harbor. At the time the aircraft crashed, it was flying through an area of considerable thunderstorm activity. The crew knew about the thunderstorm activity and the possible development of a squall line forecast of a squall line, but had not been given a forecast describing the development and location of a squall line that had been issued 100 minutes before the accident.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Insufficient evidence upon which to make a determination of probable cause."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
» CAB File No. 1-0081Photos
N95425
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 New York-La Guardia Airport, NY to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN as the crow flies is 1626 km (1017 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from New York-La Guardia Airport, NY to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN as the crow flies is 1626 km (1017 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
- 137th loss
- 72nd fatal accident
- The worst accident (at the time)
- 10th worst accident (currently)
United States of America- The worst accident (at the time)
- 48th worst accident (currently)
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