Date:	Wednesday 4 March 1953
Time:	01:50
Type:	Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando
Owner/operator:	Slick Airways
Registration:	N4717N
MSN:	22400
Year of manufacture:	1945
Total airframe hrs:	43310 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-2800-75
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	2,5 km SW of Windsor Locks-Bradley Field, CT (BDL) -   United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY (IDL/KIDL)
Destination airport:	Windsor Locks-Bradley International Airport, CT (BDL/KBDL)
Investigating agency:	CAB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Bradley Field was the first intermediate stop of a cargo flight from New York to Chicago. On an IFR flight plan, the C-46 departed New York at 01:01 and climbed to the cruising altitude of 3,000 feet. At 01:39 the pilot advised Bradley Approach Control that the aircraft had just passed Hartford and that he would maintain 3,000 feet to the Bradley Field outer marker. The flight was then cleared for an instrument approach to runway 06. Weather information was given as: Wind indicating northeast calm, ceiling indefinite 500 feet, obscurement, visibility one and one-half miles, light rain and fog, altimeter 30.01 inches. The pilot was then requested to report over the outer marker when inbound and was advised that the Bradley Field glide path was inoperative until further notice. At 01:41, the pilot reported problems intercepting the localizer and decided to continue to make an ADF let-down. The flight reported over the outer marker at 01:44 and was cleared to land. The aircraft was seen and heard flying low to the southwest of Bradley Field. The airplane was flying at low altitude when the left wing struck a tree approximately 70 feet in height, and was torn off. The remaining portion of the wing then struck a second tree 112 feet further away, and was torn off. As the aircraft cut a swath through the trees, it described a complete roll to the left.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "After missing his first approach to the airport, the pilot displayed poor judgement in attempting a circle under the overcast in rain and at night, rather than execute a standard instrument approach."

CAB File No. 1-0015
ICAO Accident Digest Circular 39-AN/34 (53-56)

Date/time	Contributor	Updates