What happened
On the evening of November 4, 1949, an aircraft departed North Philadelphia Airport for Cleveland, Pennsylvania. The flight plan originally intended for a transition from visual flight rules to instrument flight rules via Allentown. At the time of departure, the aircraft was carrying 4,878 pounds of cargo and 3,000 pounds of fuel, with a total weight of 24,800 pounds that remained within certified limits.
While flying over Youngstown, Ohio, at approximately 21:00, the crew updated their flight plan due to poor weather conditions in Cleveland, including forecasted freezing rain. The destination was redirected to Akron, with Toledo designated as the alternate airport. At 21:14, the pilot contacted the Akron-Canton Tower and received clearance for an approach. Following several position reports over the outer marker at various altitudes, the crew was cleared to land on Runway 36 at 21:32.
Shortly after this final communication, the aircraft impacted the ground south of the airport. The wreckage was located roughly 3,250 feet south of the runway 36 threshold and 880 feet east of the centerline. There were 3 fatalities among the crew members.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the improper execution of an instrument approach, which led to the aircraft drifting right of the intended path at an altitude insufficient to avoid terrain.