American Airlines Flight 2

American Airlines Flight 2 was a Douglas DC-3 that crashed into the Mississippi River on February 10, 1944. All twenty-four passengers and crew were killed. The ultimate cause of the crash remains a mystery.

American Airlines Flight 2
A similar American Airlines DC-3
Accident
DateFebruary 10, 1944
SummaryControlled flight into terrain, cause undetermined
SiteMississippi River
Aircraft
Aircraft typeDouglas DC-3-277A
OperatorAmerican Airlines
RegistrationNC21767
Flight originLittle Rock National Airport, Little Rock, Arkansas
DestinationMemphis Municipal Airport, Memphis, Tennessee
Occupants24
Passengers21
Crew3
Fatalities24
Survivors0

Flight and aircraft

Flight 2 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight between Little Rock National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis Municipal Airport in Memphis, Tennessee. The aircraft was a DC-3-277A manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company and operated by American Airlines. The craft was five years old, having first entered service in 1939, and had accumulated a total of 12,446 hours of flight time at the time of the crash.[1]

The plane departed Little Rock National Airport with three crew and twenty-one passengers on board. At 11:36 pm, approximately 29 kilometres (18 mi) southwest of Memphis Municipal Airport, the DC-3 descended at an angle of 20 degrees, the right wing slightly low, and struck the Mississippi River.[1] There was no abnormal radio contact prior to the crash. All twenty-four people on the DC-3 were killed.

Investigation

The Civil Aeronautics Board investigated the crash, but was unable to determine the probable cause of the accident. The report that was subsequently issued stated that the investigation would continue and a supplemental report would be issued as to their findings, but no such report was ever filed.

The Board is unable to determine the probable cause of this accident upon the available evidence which has been collected in the present investigation. Search for further information will continue and in the event that additional significant evidence is obtained a supplemental report will be issued.

— Civil Aeronautics Board, CAB File No. 523-44

Flight 2 today

As of April 2017, Flight 2 is used on the Los Angeles-New York City (JFK) route, contrary to the convention of retiring flight numbers that have crashed.[2]

See also

References
  1. Accident description for "American Airlines Flight 2" at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on May 24, 2009.
  2. Neuman, Scott. "When Bad Things Happen To Planes, Flight Codes Get 'Retired'". NPR. Retrieved March 27, 2015.

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