Background
Northeast Airlines Flight 8232 was scheduled to depart LaGuardia Field nonstop to Miami, Florida, at 1445. The aircraft, a Douglas DC-6A registered as N34954, and its crew had arrived from Miami as Flight 822 at 1250. The crew comprised Captain Alva V. R. Marsh, First Officer Basil S. Dixwell, Flight Engineer Angelo V. Andon, and Stewardesses Doris Steele, Catherine Virchow, and Emily Gately.
Snow Removal and Departure
Snow began at LaGuardia at 1202 and accumulated on the aircraft's horizontal surfaces after arrival. Ground personnel attempted snow removal during preflight but were ineffective due to continuing snowfall. At approximately 1600, the aircraft, with all occupants aboard, was taxied to a nose hangar on the west side of the airport for thorough snow removal. After completion, at 1745, the crew notified LaGuardia ground control that they were ready to taxi for an IFR departure to Miami. Flight 823 was cleared to runway 4 with wind northeast at 10 knots, altimeter setting 30.12, and a time check of 1747-1/2. The flight was cleared to Bellemead at 7,000 feet, with a supplementary climb-out clearance specifying a left turn after takeoff direct Paterson, direct Chatham, crossing the 081-degree radial of Caldwell at or above 4,000 feet, crossing Paterson between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, and crossing the northwest course of Idlewild not above 6,000 feet. Both clearances were acknowledged.
Accident Sequence
Takeoff clearance was issued at 1800. A tower controller observed the aircraft airborne at approximately 1801 and advised the flight to contact LaGuardia radar departure control on 120.4 MHz. The flight acknowledged, but the radar controller did not receive a call. However, a target appeared on the radar scope over the runway, then beyond the end of the runway on subsequent sweeps, and then turned left before disappearing. Tower controllers observed a large flash around 1802 in the vicinity of Rikers Island, approximately one mile north of the point where the aircraft left the runway. At 1819, it was learned by telephone that Flight 8232 had crashed on Rikers Island. The aircraft was destroyed by post-crash fire, and 20 passengers were killed.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation found no failure or malfunction of the powerplants, airframe, controls, electrical system, or instruments prior to ground impact. There was no fire before impact. The heading indications of both fire-seized course indicators corresponded closely to the impact heading, and these instruments had been functioning properly until impact. The main cabin door jammed due to fuselage deformation, hindering passenger evacuation, and the main cabin lighting system became inoperative during deceleration, with emergency inertia lights failing to actuate.
Probable Cause
The Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was the captain's failure to properly observe and interpret his flight instruments and to maintain control of his aircraft. The investigation noted that weather at takeoff was above company minimums, and immediately after takeoff, the aircraft made a left turn of approximately 119 degrees and a descent, which the pilot and flight crew did not observe or interpret from the instruments.