What happened
During a nighttime flight at a speed of 290 km/h, the aircraft was traveling at a low altitude when it collided with tree tops. The impact occurred in a wooded and swampy region approximately four miles from Goodwin, Arkansas. The airframe was destroyed upon impact, and there was no post-crash fire initially. However, gasoline spilled from the wreckage ignited when a flash bulb from a photographer's camera was used at the scene.
All 17 occupants aboard the aircraft perished in the accident. The crew consisted of a pilot, a copilot, and a stewardess, while the remaining passengers were private individuals. This event marked the first fatal commercial aircraft accident recorded in the state of Arkansas.
Findings
The US Bureau of Air Commerce investigated the incident but was unable to determine the underlying cause of the crash. While the agency noted that the low altitude at which the Douglas DC-2 was flying contributed to the severity of the impact, no definitive mechanical or human error factor was identified.
Investigations were complicated by the ignition of spilled fuel and extensive looting of the site by local residents, which destroyed potential evidence. Despite a lack of concrete proof regarding cockpit interference, the Bureau issued a directive prohibiting passengers from entering the cockpit of US commercial aircraft during flights. Some reports suggest that only the copilot was in the cockpit at the time of the accident, with speculation surrounding a possible passenger disturbance.