FlightFinder
Check my flight
53 fatalities

Douglas C-54 Skymaster accident at Bainbridge, United States of America, 30 May 1947 (NC88814)

Bainbridge, United States of AmericaFlight

On May 30, 1947, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration NC88814) operated by Eastern Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Bainbridge, United States of America in flight. 53 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a sudden loss of control, for reasons unknown, resulting in a dive to the ground. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary report: the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) accident report collection at the National Transportation LibraryUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a sudden loss of control, for reasons unknown, resulting in a dive to the ground.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The four engine aircraft left Newark Airport at 1704LT on a flight to Miami. While climbing to an altitude of 4,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 2 miles east of Bainbridge. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 53 occupants were killed.

Probable cause (official findings): The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a sudden loss of control, for reasons unknown, resulting in a dive to the ground.

Related events

Same operator

More accident analyses