1955 — Jan 12, TWA # 694 and Castleton, Inc. DC-3 Planes Collide, Covington, KY –all 15

–15 Airdisaster.com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 01121955.
–15 Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. Trans World Airlines, 12 Jan 1955.
–15 Middlesboro Daily News (KY), “15 Feared Dead In Plane Crash…” Jan. 12, 1955.
–15 NFPA. “Summary of Large Loss Aircraft Fires [1955].” Vol. 49, No. 4, April 1956, p. 395.
–15 Planecrashinfo.com. Accident Details, January 12, 1955, TWA/Castleton, Inc.
–13 Eckert. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” AJFM&P, 3/1, March 1982, Table 1.
Blanchard note: Eckert number is for TWA 694.

Narrative Information

AirDisaster.com: “The aircraft collided with a Castleton DC-3 at approximately 700 feet. The DC-3 had entered the airport’s control space without permission.” (AirDisaster.Com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 01121955.)

CAB abstract: “Midair Collision – TWA Martin 202A & Castleton, Inc., DC-3C, Greater Cincinnati Airport, Covington, Kentucky, 1/12/55.” (CAB – Aircraft Accident Reports – 1955.)

CAB Accident Investigation Report: “The Accident
“At 0904, January 12, 1955, a Trans World Airlines Martin 202A, N 93211, and a Douglas DC-3C, N 999B, owned by Castleton, Inc., collided near the Greater Cincinnati Airport approximately two minutes after takeoff of the TWA flight. All 13 persons aboard the TWA aircraft and the two pilots, sole occupants of the DC-3, were killed. Both aircraft were demolished as a result of collision, ground impact, and fire…. [p. 1]

“….The presence of N 999B in the Cincinnati area was unknown to CAA Air Route Traffic Control and the Cincinnati tower…. [p. 3]

“Findings

“….3. A Douglas DC-30, owned by Castleton, Inc., departed Battle Creek, Michigan, under VFR conditions [visual flight rules], at approximately 0733, destined for Lexington, Kentucky; no flight plan was filed.
….
“6. No radio facilities were contacted by the pilots of the DC-3 after departing Battle Creek.
….
“9. Instrument conditions prevailed in the control zone [Cincinnati AP] because the ceiling was less than 1,000 feet; this condition required an instrument flight plan or permission from the towr to operate within the zone. [p. 19]

“Probable Cause. The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was operation of the DC-3 in the control zone as unknown traffic, without clearance, very close to the bae of, or in, the overcast.” [p. 20] (Civil Aeronautics Board. Accident Investigation Report. Trans World Airlines, Inc. – Castleton, Inc., Near Greater Cincinnati Airport, Covington, Kentucky, January 12, 1955. Washington, DC: CAB File No. 1-0014, adopted July 5, 1955.)

Planecrashinfo.com: Accident Details
“Date: January 12, 1955
“Time: 0905
“Location: Greater Cincinnati Airport, Covington, Kentucky
“Operator: Trans World Airlines / Castleton Inc.
“Flight #: ?
“Route: Cincinnati – Cleveland
“AC Type: Martin 202A / DC-3
“Registration: N93211 / N999B
“cn / in: 14081 / 4255
“Aboard: 15 (passengers: 10 crew: 5)
“Fatalities: 15 (passengers: 10 crew: 5)
“Ground: 0
“Summary: “Midair collision at 700-900 feet. The DC-3 [Castleton] entered the airport’s control
space without clearance or communication with the tower. Thirteen killed on the
Martin [TWA], two crew on the DC-3.”

(Planecrashinfo.com. Accident Details, Jan 12, 1955, TWA/Castleton, Inc.)

Newspaper

Jan 12, UP: “CINCINNATI, Ohio (UP) — A Trans-World Airlines plane and a privately – owned DC-3 aircraft collided in flight and crashed in flames near here today killing 15 persons. TWA officials said that 13 persons, 10 passengers and three crew members, were aboard its twin-engined Martin 202. The plane had left the Greater Cincinnati Airport about 9 a.m. (EST) enroute to Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland, Ohio. The twin-engined DC-3 was owned by Castleton Farms, famous Lexington, Ky., harness horse farm. It was enroute from Battle Creek, Mich., to pick up the farm owners…The pilot…and co-pilot…were killed…. A witness said the impact of the crash ‘shook every house’ in Limburg, Ky., the community nearest the tragedy… the planes apparently caught fire after the collision and were aflame when they hit the ground, about a mile apart…. The collision occurred about two miles south of the Greater Cincinnati Airport, which is in Kentucky about 12 miles from Cincinnati. It is in a rural, hilly area, selected to escape the Ohio River fog, which frequently closed the Lunken Airport in Cincinnati.” (Middlesboro Daily News (KY), “15 Feared Dead In Plane Crash At Cincinnati,” Jan. 12, 1955.)

Sources

AirDisaster.com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 01121955. Accessed at: http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=01121955&reg=N93211&airline

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Network. Accident Description. Trans World Airlines Flight 694, 12 Jan 1955. Accessed 2-20-2009 at:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19550112-0

Civil Aeronautics Board. Accident Investigation Report. Trans World Airlines, Inc. – Castleton, Inc., Near Greater Cincinnati Airport, Covington, Kentucky, January 12, 1955. Washington, DC: CAB File No. 1-0014, adopted July 5, 1955. Accessed 4-18-2023 at: file:///C:/Users/Wayne/Downloads/dot_24304_DS1.pdf

Eckert, William G. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, Vol. 3, No. 1, March 1982, Table 1.

Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “15 Feared Dead In Plane Crash At Cincinnati,” January 12, 1955. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/freepdfviewer.aspx?img=57054664

National Fire Protection Association. “Summary of Large Loss Aircraft Fires [1955].” Vol. 49, No. 4, April 1956, pp. 393-395.

Planecrashinfo.com. Accident Details, January 12, 1955, Trans World Airlines / Castleton, Inc. Accessed 4-18-2023 at: https://www.planecrashinfo.com/1955/1955-3.htm