Douglas DC-3 accident at Rural Retreat, United States of America, 23 Feb 1945 (NC18142)
On February 23, 1945, a Douglas DC-3 (registration NC18142) operated by American Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Rural Retreat, United States of America in flight. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The Board concludes that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to properly plan the flight and remain at a sage instrument altitude under existing conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
The Board concludes that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to properly plan the flight and remain at a sage instrument altitude under existing conditions. A contributing cause of the accident was the company's laxity in dispatching and supervising the flight.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The aircraft left Washington DC Airport at 0011LT bound for Nashville, continued to the southwest at an altitude of 4,000 feet. While cruising in poor weather conditions due to turbulence and rain falls, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on the slope of Mt Glade located 5,6 miles southwest of Rural Retreat. Rescue teams arrived on the scene some four hours later. The stewardess and four passengers were seriously injured and evacuated to local hospitals while all 17 other occupants, among them both pilots, were killed. Crew: James E. Stroud, pilot, † Robert E. Brigman, copilot, † Sarah Worley Padgett, stewardess.
Probable cause (official findings): The Board concludes that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to properly plan the flight and remain at a sage instrument altitude under existing conditions. A contributing cause of the accident was the company's laxity in dispatching and supervising the flight.