What happened
On the night of March 8, 1964, a Douglas DC-3A, registration N410D, crashed into a residential building located approximately 7.5 miles west-northwest of Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The aircraft, which was operated by Hansen Air Activities, was performing an ILS approach to runway 14R under instrument flight conditions at the time of the accident.
During the descent, the flight crew encountered turbulence and a sudden, heavy buildup of ice on the airframe. These environmental factors caused the aircraft to lose its ability to maintain proper altitude and directional stability. As the crew attempted to abandon the approach, the plane entered an uncontrolled descent, eventually striking an occupied home. While the six occupants of the house escaped without harm, the accident resulted in one fatality among the crew and three minor injuries among the 28 passengers on board. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the impact.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor was the failure to use engine power and de-icing systems effectively to counteract the rapid accumulation of ice and turbulence.