What happened
During a cruise phase at an altitude of 3,100 feet, an Invader aircraft encountered a mid-air collision with an Eastern Airlines DC-3 registered as NC25647. The commercial flight, identified as EA045, was operating from Washington DC to Columbia and carried 20 passengers along with four crew members.
Following the impact, the Invader lost control and crashed into a field near Darlington, located approximately 12 miles northwest of Florence. This incident resulted in the fatalities of both crew members aboard the military aircraft. In contrast, the crew of the DC-3 managed to execute an emergency landing after the collision, though one passenger on board lost their life.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the primary cause was the failure of each pilot to detect the other aircraft in time to avoid the collision. Contributing factors included the DC-3 pilot's deviation from the designated airway near an active USAAF base and a lack of vigilance. Additionally, the Army pilot was continuing a maneuver that restricted their vision in an area not specifically designated for such activities.