What happened
On the morning of the accident, a DC-3 departed from Battle Creek Airport at 07:33 local time, intended for a flight to Miami with a scheduled stop in Lexington, Kentucky. During its cruise phase, while maintaining an altitude between 700 and 900 feet, the aircraft's left wing struck the right engine of a Martin 202 (registration N93211). The TWA aircraft had recently departed from Cincinnati-Greater Cincinnati Airport.
Following the impact, both planes entered a steep dive. The wreckage of the two aircraft was located in a wooded area and a snow-covered field situated within a suburb of Cincinnati. The collision resulted in 15 fatalities, representing all occupants aboard both aircraft, as both planes were destroyed upon hitting the ground.
Findings
Investigators determined that the primary factor in the accident was the operation of the DC-3 within the control zone as unidentified traffic. The aircraft was flying without proper clearance and was positioned very near or within overcast cloud cover.