On May 24, 1938, a Douglas DC-3 (registration NC18108) operated by United Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Cleveland, United States of America during landing or approach. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A fire in the right engine accessory section caused by a failed cylinder barrel, which was fueled by the right engine oil supply. 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.
A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a wooded area near Cleveland Airport after losing control during an emergency landing attempt following a right engine fire, resulting in the deaths of all ten occupants on board.
What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was on approach to Cleveland Airport. During this phase of flight, a fire broke out in the right engine. At that time, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet. In response to the emergency, the crew initiated an attempt to make an emergency landing. However, control of the aircraft was lost during this maneuver. The plane subsequently crashed into a wooded area situated 14 kilometers from the airport. The impact forces and the subsequent post-crash fire destroyed the airframe. All 10 occupants were killed in the accident.
Findings
The investigating board determined that the probable cause of the accident was a fire originating in the right engine accessory section. This fire resulted from the failure of a cylinder barrel and was fed by the right engine oil supply.
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