What happened
On January 14, 1951, National Airlines Flight 83 departed Newark, New Jersey, for a flight to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The aircraft, a Douglas DC-6, experienced a 33-minute delay prior to takeoff due to the replacement of a malfunctioning generator. During the flight, the crew was provided with updated weather information indicating low visibility and light snow at their destination.
As the flight approached Philadelphia, the pilot was cleared for a straight-in approach to Runway 9. At the time, the instrument landing system glide path was non-functional, and there was ongoing construction on a runway extension. The crew reported being at 1,600 feet and descending while inbound to the outer marker. Although tower personnel provided information regarding poor braking action on the runway, the crew stated they did not receive this specific transmission.
Witnesses observed the aircraft descending steeply and performing a normal flare before contacting the runway. The Douglas DC-6 continued traveling down the runway, passed the end of the pavement, and struck a ditch at the eastern boundary of the airport. The impact triggered a significant fire. Of the 28 occupants on board, 7 fatalities occurred due to burns.
Findings
- The primary cause was an error in judgment by the pilot, who attempted to land too far down the runway instead of performing a missed approach.
- The runway surface was covered in wet snow, which created poor-to-fair braking conditions.
- The aircraft's position on the runway during touchdown left insufficient distance to stop before the end of the pavement.