10 fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crash in Evansville during night diversion (42-55864)

Evansville-William H. Dress, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On April 21, 1943, a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar (registration 42-55864) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Evansville-William H. Dress, United States of America during landing or approach. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident resulted from the crew adopting an incorrect approach configuration and flying at an unsafe altitude, leading to a controlled flight into terrain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed short of the runway at Evansville-Dress Airport while diverting due to weather, killing all ten occupants on board.

What happened

The aircraft was en route from Cleveland, Ohio, to Monroe, Louisiana. Deteriorating weather conditions prompted the crew to divert to Evansville-Dress Airport. During the final approach, which took place at night in marginal visibility, the twin-engine airplane impacted the ground a few kilometers short of the runway. The impact forces destroyed the aircraft, resulting in the deaths of all 10 occupants.

Findings

The official investigation determined that the crew adopted an incorrect approach configuration. Additionally, they were flying at an altitude that was too low and unsafe for the conditions. These factors led to a controlled flight into terrain.

Probable cause

The accident resulted from the crew adopting an incorrect approach configuration and flying at an unsafe altitude, leading to a controlled flight into terrain.