Douglas DC-3 accident at Cheshire, United States of America, 18 Jan 1946 (NC19970)
On January 18, 1946, a Douglas DC-3 (registration NC19970) operated by Eastern Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Cheshire, United States of America in flight. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The probable cause of this accident was the failure of the left wing in flight due to an engine fire caused by the failure of a fuel line connection. 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.
Probable cause
The probable cause of this accident was the failure of the left wing in flight due to an engine fire caused by the failure of a fuel line connection.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
About thirty minutes into the flight, a fire erupted in the left engine. The crew was unable to extinguish the fire that spread quickly to the entire engine and nacelle that detached, causing the wing to partially collapse. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field located in Cheshire. All 17 occupants were killed.
Probable cause (official findings): The probable cause of this accident was the failure of the left wing in flight due to an engine fire caused by the failure of a fuel line connection.