1951 — Dec 16, Miami Airlines C-46 engine fire on takeoff, crash, Elizabeth City, NJ –all 56

–56 Aviation Safety Network (ASN), Accident Description, Miami Airlines, Dec 16, 1951
–56 Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 11-6-2011 rev.
–56 CAB. AIR. Miami Airline, Inc. – Elizabeth, New Jersey, December 16, 1951. 1952, p. 1.
–56 Daily Middlesboro News, KY. “Investigate Plane Crash Fatal to 56,” Dec 17, 1951, p. 1.
–56 Gero. Aviation Disasters…World’s Major Civil Airliner Crashes Since 1950 (2nd Ed.). 1996, p.15-16.
–56 Haine, Edgar A. Disaster in the Air. New York: Cornwall Books, 2000, 394 pages, p. 222.
–56 NFPA. “Elizabeth, N. J. – Incredible Coincidence!” Quarterly of…, 45/4, Apr 1952, p. 312.
–56 Planecrashinfo.com. “1951…Accident Details…Miami Airlines…Dec 16, 1951…”

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network: “The fully laden…Miami Airlines C-46 was prepared for a direct flight from Newark to Tampa. After the aircraft was loaded both engines were run up. The right one was run up longer than the left engine, and a number of nearby persons saw smoke continuously coming from that engine. The flight then taxied to runway 28 and was cleared for takeoff at 15:02. Immediately after becoming airborne, the landing gear was retracted. Tower personnel then observed a trail of White smoke from the right side of the aircraft and the tower supervisor, fearing a fire, pressed the airport crash alarm button. A captain employed by Miami Airline witnessed the takeoff and believed that the source of the smoke was an overheated right brake. He immediately telephoned the control tower and asked that the flight he advised of his impression, suggesting that the landing gear not be raised and that it be extended if it had been raised. The tower complied, the flight acknowledged, and the landing gear was extended.

“The aircraft continued straight ahead in the direction of takeoff for a distance of approximately four miles, slowly gaining an altitude of approximately 800 to 1,000 feet. The smoke continued to increase in volume and shortly before the four-mile point was reached black smoke and actual flames were seen coming from the underside of the right nacelle as the landing gear was lowered. Shortly after the landing gear was extended, a large, “ball of fire” was seen coming from underneath the right nacelle. The aircraft then started a gradual left turn banked at an estimated 10 degrees. This turn and subsequent flight continued for an additional distance of approximately 4½
miles with altitude continuously being lost, until the aircraft was approximately 3 miles Southwest of runway 28 of the Newark airport.

“The aircraft at this time was over the City of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and was nearly 60 degree from alignment with and approximately two and one-fourth miles distant from runway 06 of the Newark Airport. At this point and at an estimated altitude of about 200 feet the aircraft’s then low left wing dropped about vertically downward with the right wing coming vertically upward and the aircraft fell with relatively little forward speed. Just before striking the ground the aircraft’s left wing tip struck the gabled roof of a vacant house near its ridge. The aircraft continued ahead and down, struck a brick building used as a storage for water supply department materials, damaged this building and plunged a few feet ahead to the bank of the Elizabeth River, where it came to rest. The wreckage was in a generally inverted position and partially submerged in shallow water [2 feet according to the NFPA article]. A severe gasoline fire developed instantly, spreading to and damaging the storage building. Nearby fire-fighting apparatus arrived quickly and about 17 minutes later, the fire was extinguished. All aboard were killed and one person on the ground was seriously injured.” [The NFPA, p. 314, notes that 35 or the victims “had been catapulted from the aircraft and were found in one mass on the east bank of the river.”] (ASN, Miami Airlines, Dec 16, 1951.)

This was the 2nd worst aviation disaster at the time. (ASN, Miami Airlines, Dec 16, 1951)

Civil Aeronautics Board Accident Investigation Report:

“The Accident

“A C-46F aircraft, N 1678M, operated by Miami Airline, Inc., Miami, Florida, an irregular air carrier, crashed shortly after takeoff from the Newark, New Jersey Airport on December 16, 1951, at about 1509. All 56 occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.

“History of the Flight
….
“After the aircraft was loaded [at Newark] both engines were urn up. The right engine was run up longer than the left engine, and a number of persons saw smoke continuously coming from that engine. This smoke was variously described as being ‘white,’ ‘grey’ and ‘light’ in color. The Newark Control Tower then gave the aircraft taxying instructions….The flight was then cleared for takeoff at 1502 and immediately started down the runway…..Immediately after becoming airborne, the landing gear was seen to retract. At this point tower personnel for the first time observed a trail of white smoke from the right side of the aircraft and the tower supervisor, fearing a fire, pressed the airport crash alarm button.

“The tower then advised the flight as follows: ‘1678M, you can land any way possible, any way you wish, cleared back to the field.’ This was not acknowledged.

“The takeoff run was normal but the subsequent climb was slow. The right engine emitted a continuous smoke trail….” [End of p.1.]

“The aircraft continued straight ahead in the direction of takeoff for a distance of approximately four miles, slowly gaining an altitude of approximately 800 to 1,000 feet. The smoke continued to increase in volume and shortly before the four-mile point was reached black smoke and actual flame were seen coming from the underside of the right nacelle as the landing gear was lowered.

“Shortly after the landing gear was extended, a large ‘ball of fire’ was seen coming from underneath the right nacelle. The aircraft then started a gradual left turn banked at an estimated 10 degrees. This turn and subsequent flight continued for an additional distance of approximately 4½ miles with altitude continuously being lost, until the aircraft was approximately 3 miles southwest of Runway 28 of the Newark airport. During this period the flame from the right nacelle appeared to go out for a period of a few seconds, and then start again. It was indicated that the speed of the aircraft throughout the entire flight had been somewhat slow and that during the latter portion of the flight the speed became progressively slower, and the right propeller was turning slowly. The aircraft at this time was over the City of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and was nearly 60⁰ from alignment with and approximately two and one-fourth miles distant from Runway 6 of the Newark Airport. At this point and at an estimated altitude of about 200 feet the aircraft’s then low left wing dropped about vertically downward with the right wing coming vertically upward and the aircraft fell with relatively little forward speed. Just before striking the ground the aircraft’s left wing tip struck the gabled roof of a vacant house near its ridge. The aircraft continued ahead and down, struck a brick building used by the City of Elizabeth as a storage for water supple department materials, damaged this building and plunged a few feet ahead to the bank of the Elizabeth River, where it came to rest. The wreckage was in a generally inverted position and partially submerged in shallow water. A severe gasoline fire developed instantly, spreading to and damaging the storage building. Nearby fire fighting apparatus arrived quickly and about 17 minutes later, the fire was extinguished. All aboard [56] were killed and one person on the ground was seriously injured.
….

“Probable Cause: The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a stall with the landing gear extended following a serious loss of power from the right engine. This loss of power was caused by the failure of the hold-down studs of the no.10 cylinder, precipitating a fire in flight which became uncontrollable.” (CAB. AIR. Miami Airline, Inc. – Elizabeth, New Jersey, December 16, 1951, p. 11 of 16.)

Baugher: “Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando….78749 (c/n 22572) on December 16, 1951 as N1678M for Miami Airlines crashed on takeoff at Elizabeth, NJ (Newark Int’l Airport) 4 crew and 52 pax [passengers] fatal. Shortly after taking off from Newark Airport the control tower noticed smoke emanating from the right engine. Minutes later the aircraft gradually descended, its left wing dropped and the aircraft struck the roof of a building. Hold-down studs in the number 10 cylinder of the right engine failed due to fatigue. Fire erupted at the base of the failed cylinder. Extension of the landing gear and loss of the right engine led to the aircraft stalling at the height of about 200 ft.” (Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 11-6-2011.)

Haine: “….On becoming airborne the plane’s right engine caught fire and, circling in an attempt to return to the runway, the plane plunged into a shallow stream near the center of Elizabeth. Aboard were forty-eight adult passengers, four children, and a crew of four….The air disaster was the second worst in the history of commercial flying in the United States, only being surpassed in death toll by the loss of fifty-eight persons on 24 June 1950 when a Northwest Airlines DC-4 plunged into Lake Michigan. The Elizabeth accident, however, represented the most serious ever on any unscheduled airliner….” (pp. 222-223.)

Planecrashinfo.com: “Shortly after taking off from Newark Airport the control tower noticed smoke emanating from the right engine. Minutes later the aircraft gradually descended, its left wing dropped and the aircraft struck the roof of a vacant building. Hold-down studs in the number 10 cylinder of the right engine failed due to fatigue. Fire erupted at the base of the failed cylinder. Extension of the landing gear and loss of the right engine led to the aircraft stalling at the height of about 200 ft. The aircraft was also overloaded by 117 pounds. A stall with the landing gear extended following a serious loss of power from the right engine. This loss of power was caused by the failure of the hold-down studs of the No. 10 cylinder, precipitating a fire in flight which became uncontrollable.” (Planecrashinfo.com.)

Newspaper:

Daily Middlesboro News, KY: “Elizabeth, N.J., Dec. 17 (UP) – Investigators sought to determine today whether a non-scheduled, war surplus airliner was inspected properly before it took off on a cut-rate flight to Florida that ended six minutes later in fiery death for all 56 person aboard….Those who were not killed instantly were trapped in the flaming wreckage and died screaming as would-be rescuers were held back by the intense heat. It was the worst air crash of the year and the second worst in the nation’s history…. Patrolman Nicholas Bilsky, on duty near the Elizabeth crash scene, said the pilot seemed to be searching for a clear place to land in the heavily populated area. “The plane suddenly dipped and zoomed to the ground, shearing off the roof of an unoccupied three story frame dwelling and hit the Elizabeth water works,” Bilsky said…. The passengers, mostly from the New York-New England area, were bound for Tampa and Miami. The dead included two children and two families of four each.” (Daily Middlesboro News (KY). “Investigate Plane Crash Fatal to 56,” December 17, 1951, p. 1)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. Miami Airlines, Dec 16, 1951. Accessed 12-20-2008 at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19511216-0

Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). Nov 6, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-29-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_5.html

Civil Aeronautics Board. Accident Investigation Report. Miami Airline, Inc. – Elizabeth, New Jersey, December 16, 1951 (File No. 1-0100). Washington, DC: CAB, released 4-13-1952. Accessed 6-18-2023 at: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/33430

Daily Middlesboro News, KY. “Investigate Plane Crash Fatal to 56.” 12-17-1951, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/freepdfviewer.aspx?img=51699703

Gero, David. Aviation Disasters: The World’s Major Civil Airliner Crashes Since 1950 (Second Edition). London: Patrick Stephens Limited, 1996.

Haine, Edgar A. Disaster in the Air. New York: Cornwall Books, 2000, 394 pages.

National Fire Protection Association. “Elizabeth, N. J. – Incredible Coincidence!” Quarterly of the NFPA, Vol. 45, No. 4, Apr 1952, pp. 311-322.

Planecrashinfo.com. “1951…Accident Details…Miami Airlines…Dec 16, 1951…” Accessed at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1951/1951-65.htm