Narrative:
The Braniff Convair was on operating on the flight Dallas-Oklahoma City-Wichita-Kansas City-Chicago. Departure time a Kansas City was 04:35 as the aircraft started VFR for Chicago. IFR was requested at 05:19. At 05:56 the crew received a weather forecast: thin (1000 feet) obscuration; visibility 1/2 mile. The crew then reported over Napierville at 06:18 and were radar vectored to the runway 13R outer marker for an ILS approach. On final approach the Convair descended too low and collided with a commercial sign. The aircraft then crashed through the airport boundary fence in flames and came to rest inverted.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Momentary disorientation caused by the loss of visual reference during the final visual phase of the approach resulting in an increased rate of descent an altitude too low to effect recovery."
accident date: 17-07-1955
type: Convair CV-340-32
registration: N3422
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 17 July 1955 |
| Time: | 06:24 |
| Type: |  Convair CV-340-32 |
| Operator: | Braniff International Airways |
| Registration: | N3422 |
| MSN: | 71 |
| First flight: | 1953 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4956 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 40 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 22 / Occupants: 43 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Kansas City Downtown Municipal Airport, MO (MKC/KMKC), United States of America |
| Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW/KMDW), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 560 |
The Braniff Convair was on operating on the flight Dallas-Oklahoma City-Wichita-Kansas City-Chicago. Departure time a Kansas City was 04:35 as the aircraft started VFR for Chicago. IFR was requested at 05:19. At 05:56 the crew received a weather forecast: thin (1000 feet) obscuration; visibility 1/2 mile. The crew then reported over Napierville at 06:18 and were radar vectored to the runway 13R outer marker for an ILS approach. On final approach the Convair descended too low and collided with a commercial sign. The aircraft then crashed through the airport boundary fence in flames and came to rest inverted.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Momentary disorientation caused by the loss of visual reference during the final visual phase of the approach resulting in an increased rate of descent an altitude too low to effect recovery."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 50-AN/45 (137-142)Photos
accident date: 17-07-1955
type: Convair CV-340-32
registration: N3422
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 Kansas City Downtown Municipal Airport, MO to Chicago-Midway Airport, IL as the crow flies is 645 km (403 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from Kansas City Downtown Municipal Airport, MO to Chicago-Midway Airport, IL as the crow flies is 645 km (403 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
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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Convair CV-340
- 311 built
- 2nd loss
- The first fatal accident
- The worst accident (at the time)
- 4th worst accident (currently)
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