Incident Overview
On an early morning departure, Flight 595, loaded with cargo, took off from Runway 31L at Midway Airport at approximately 0531 local time, bound for Los Angeles, California. Shortly after beginning a left turn, the crew notified Midway Tower that they had received a fire warning on the No. 2 engine and had shut it down. They also informed the tower that the flight would return and land.
Maneuvering and Descent
The aircraft proceeded in a continuing left turn around the airport, following an elliptical pattern below the clouds, which were based at an altitude of 500 to 600 feet. During the turn to final approach for Runway 31, the aircraft banked in excess of 45 degrees, during which it developed an excessive rate of sink. When the aircraft reached the tops of the trees, its wings were nearly level and its nose was raised in a climbing attitude; however, the descent continued. The wing flaps were being retracted during the last 5 to 10 seconds of the final descent and were found to be symmetrically extended at 24 percent upon impact.
Impact and Aftermath
The plane crashed into a residential area about one-fourth of a mile southeast of Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois. The impact killed all persons aboard, demolished the aircraft, and fatally injured eight persons on the ground.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of this accident was the maneuvering of the aircraft in a manner that caused it to develop an excessive rate of sink while in the turn to final approach.