What happened
Shortly after departing, the pilot of a Curtiss C-46 identified the beginning of a fire within the left engine. Following established airline protocols, the crew feathered the affected engine and entered the traffic pattern to prepare for a landing. During the final approach, the pilot attempted to deploy the landing gear.
However, the fire was actually located within the undercarriage housing rather than the engine itself. The heat from this blaze had already caused structural damage, preventing the undercarriage mechanism from functioning. Believing the most dangerous phase of the fire had passed due to a lack of visible smoke, and seeking to avoid a belly landing, the pilot increased power to full throttle.
As the aircraft reached the intersection of runways 05 and 23, the flames spread to the left wing, causing it to separate from the fuselage. The plane struck the ground and was destroyed upon impact. The accident resulted in 40 fatalities, comprising 5 crew members and 35 passengers.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the primary factor in the accident was the fire situated in the undercarriage housing, which led to the structural failure and detachment of the left wing during flight. A secondary contributing factor was an error in judgment by the pilot, who misidentified the location of the fire and failed to properly evaluate its intensity, leading to a decision that ultimately exacerbated the situation.