What happened
The flight originated in Washington, D.C., and was scheduled to travel to Winnipeg, Canada, with several intermediate stops including Detroit, Rochester, Madison, and Minneapolis. Following a brief maintenance delay in Detroit to replace a hydraulic ring seal, the aircraft proceeded to Madison, Wisconsin. At Madison, the plane was refueled and loaded with cargo, bringing its total weight to 36,842 pounds, which remained below the maximum allowable limit of 39,100 pounds.
As the flight progressed toward Minneapolis, weather conditions at several destinations deteriorated due to fog, blowing snow, and freezing rain. Upon reaching Rochester, the crew opted not to land due to the precipitation. At 20:41, the crew contacted Minneapolis Approach Control for landing clearance. The tower reported challenging conditions, including a ceiling of 900 feet, visibility between 1/2 and 3/4 of a mile, and strong north winds gusting up to 40 mph. Additionally, the tower warned of potential communication disruptions due to electrical power failures at the airport.
During the approach to Runway 35, another aircraft was performing engine checks on the runway. The crew of Flight 307 was cleared to land using high-intensity runway lights adjusted for the low visibility. While the aircraft was not visually identified by the tower during its descent, controllers heard the crew communicate via radio. After a brief period of silence, the crew transmitted that they were entering the landing phase. Shortly after passing over the airfield, the aircraft was observed flying level at a distance from the airport when a wing separated. The Boeing 727 then entered a vertical dive from approximately 300 feet, impacting a house. The resulting fire destroyed the residence and much of the wreckage. The accident resulted in 15 fatalities, including all 13 people on board the aircraft and two residents of the home.
Findings
Investigation into the crash revealed that the aircraft was flying significantly off-course, specifically 650 feet to the left of the localizer and 128 feet below the established ILS glide path. The aircraft also struck a flagpole equipped with red neon obstruction lights during its descent.