123:
403:'s top airman, Erick Rios Bridoux. Bridoux was testing the twin-engine craft which his government had purchased from the United States. An airport tower operator a bare half-mile away saw the P-38 bear down on the transport. He cried a radio warning to the 28-year-old Bolivian, but the P-38 kept coming. Then the tower frantically signalled the transport. The DC-4 pilot swerved the big ship from its path, but too late. The fighter ripped into it from above and from the side. The airliner split in half. Bodies and wreckage fell into the water and along the bank of the Potomac.
669:
574:
231:
961:
365:, but instead it flew south of the airport and entered a long straight-in approach at the same time Flight 537 was turning onto a shorter final. The controller then called Flight 537 ordering it to turn left; it began the turn, but by then the P-38, being considerably faster than a DC-4 on final, overtook the aircraft a half mile southwest of the threshold of Runway 3.
441:
notifying the pilots of Flight 537 earlier as to the critical traffic situation developing. However, the report also states that even if Flight 537 had received earlier advice with respect to the P-38's location, it might still have been too late to avoid the accident, as
Bridoux's actions left Flight 537 only a few seconds in which to turn.
433:(CAB) investigators. He claimed he had taken off from Runway 36, had been in constant contact with the tower, and had been explicitly cleared to land on Runway 3 under the call sign "Bolivian 927". However, the testimony of both the tower personnel and a military controller listening in on the frequency from his position at
440:
The CAB determined the primary probable causes of the accident to be the P-38 pilot's decision to land without proper clearance and his failure to exercise normal vigilance in looking out for conflicting traffic. The CAB also found that the tower controllers failed to exercise due vigilance in not
395:
said its hearings into the cause of the crash will start in a few days. The airline scheduled a probe of its own, as well. The disaster occurred as the big DC-4 transport headed into the
National Airport for a landing shortly before noon, flying at about 300 feet.
437:(as well as other discrepancies in the P-38 pilot's testimony) led the CAB to discount Bridoux's version of events. As Bridoux spoke and understood English well, it was thought that language difficulties played no part in the accident.
995:
387:
Many hours following the collision of an
Eastern Air Lines passenger transport and a Bolivian fighter plane, the search went on today under the glare of floodlights for the nine passengers whose bodies had not yet been recovered.
988:
981:
1611:
1376:
1616:
368:
The DC-4 was cut in half by the left propeller of the P-38 just forward of the trailing edge of the wing. The aft portion of the DC-4 fell to the ground on the west bank of the
1606:
1601:
60:
471:
1636:
1369:
685:
391:
Shocked
Members of Congress, stunned by the loss of one of their own number (Republican George J. Bates), promised a complete air safety investigation. The
350:, killing all 55 aboard the DC-4 and seriously injuring the pilot of the P-38. At the time it was the deadliest airliner incident in United States history.
1646:
1641:
1621:
1572:
1566:
1362:
1434:
1631:
1091:
721:
377:
591:
1474:
973:
1085:
748:
1290:
422:
Sergeant Morris J. Flounlacker hauled the weakly treading
Bridoux out of the Potomac, just as the wounded pilot lost consciousness. At
1494:
347:
176:
1213:
1172:
1464:
1307:
709:
703:
891:
361:, then returned, requesting permission to land due to engine trouble. The controller cleared the aircraft to join the left
353:
The tower controllers on duty that day at
National testified that the P-38 had taken off on Runway 3, turned left north of
1284:
1039:
1591:
1126:
1386:
1272:
491:
741:
459:
1484:
1313:
1260:
383:
and on a highway passing near the Yard. The fore portion of the aircraft fell into the river, as did the P-38.
1424:
1410:
1278:
1143:
715:
1544:
1325:
1207:
1003:
921:
915:
903:
897:
885:
879:
873:
867:
855:
1626:
1266:
1219:
1201:
1155:
1149:
1062:
1033:
909:
849:
843:
1254:
1114:
964:
734:
1596:
1248:
1016:
799:
423:
668:
573:
1504:
1097:
938:
362:
1354:
616:
430:
392:
243:
612:
1554:
519:"CAB report for November 1, 1949 accident involving N88727, Docket No. SA-202, File No. 1-0138"
434:
122:
1514:
943:
532:
335:
152:
1444:
1242:
1178:
410:
399:
Into the traffic pattern, calling for landing instructions, came a P-38 fighter piloted by
373:
53:
8:
1344:
1340:
358:
1534:
1454:
1079:
1004:
Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States and U.S. territories in the 1940s
825:
692:
549:
346:
at an altitude of 300 feet about half a mile southwest of the threshold of Runway 3 at
339:
230:
1225:
773:
757:
455:
343:
165:
145:
43:
1339:
An asterisk (*) denotes an incident that took place in a U.S. territory, including
948:
649:
554:
323:
783:
778:
596:
445:
1184:
1120:
661:
566:
449:
429:
Bridoux contradicted much of the tower controllers' testimony when he spoke to
419:
331:
722:
Planes
Collide Near National Airport Killing 55; D.C. Loses Home Rule Advocate
1585:
820:
369:
319:
75:
62:
641:
544:
1056:
815:
518:
426:, doctors found he had a broken back, crushed ribs and serious contusions.
380:
354:
311:
135:
127:
An
Eastern Air Lines Douglas DC-4, similar to the one involved in the crash
726:
706:. Retrieved August 25, 2009 – includes photographs of crash wreckage
697:
1384:
700:, United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1954
400:
315:
712:. Retrieved August 25, 2009 – names of those on board the DC-4
1612:
Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 1949
472:
List of sole survivors of aviation accidents and incidents
235:
A Lockheed P-38L Lightning, the type involved in the crash
1617:
Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error
691:, pp. 233–240. Retrieved August 25, 2009, using
1607:
Airliner accidents and incidents in
Washington, D.C.
1602:Accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-4
1583:
1092:American Airlines Flight 63 (Flagship Missouri)
600:, November 14, 1949. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
378:Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad
326:, via intermediate points on November 1, 1949.
1637:Mid-air collisions involving military aircraft
718:, November 5, 1949. Retrieved August 25, 2009
444:Among the dead on Flight 537 were Congressman
1370:
989:
742:
716:Reaction of Eleanor Roosevelt to the disaster
521:. Civil Aeronautics Board. September 22, 1950
642:"Congressman, N.Y. Executives, Die in Crash"
1086:American Airlines Flight 63 (Flagship Ohio)
1377:
1363:
996:
982:
749:
735:
229:
121:
1647:Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
1642:November 1949 events in the United States
1622:Eastern Air Lines accidents and incidents
537:
1214:Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 410
1173:Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 105
710:The Deseret News, November 1 1949, p. 5
704:The Deseret News, November 1 1949, p. 1
698:Erick Rios Bridoux v. Eastern Air Lines
334:being test-flown for acceptance by the
1632:Mid-air collisions involving airliners
1584:
587:
585:
583:
1358:
1291:Airborne Transport DC-3 disappearance
977:
756:
730:
634:
608:
606:
513:
511:
509:
507:
505:
580:
13:
1308:Strato-Freight Curtiss C-46A crash
603:
545:"Planes Collide in Air, 55 Killed"
502:
14:
1658:
1475:MacRobertson Miller Aviation DC-3
1127:South Portland A-26 Invader crash
679:
1387:Aviation accidents and incidents
960:
959:
667:
572:
496:Federal Aviation Administration
372:; other pieces were located in
1485:Standard Air Lines Flight 897R
1314:Standard Air Lines Flight 897R
1285:Georgia USAF Boeing B-29 crash
1261:Northwest Airlines Flight 4422
621:
484:
1:
1279:Northwest Airlines Flight 421
1144:American Airlines Flight 6001
477:
338:by Erick Rios Bridoux of the
310:, registration N88727, was a
1545:American Airlines Flight 157
1525:Eastern Air Lines Flight 537
1465:Strato-Freight Curtiss C-46A
1435:Queensland Airlines Lodestar
1326:American Airlines Flight 157
1320:Eastern Air Lines Flight 537
1208:Eastern Air Lines Flight 605
627:Komons, Nick (August 1989).
308:Eastern Air Lines Flight 537
22:Eastern Air Lines Flight 537
7:
1273:Lake Mead Boeing B-29 crash
1267:United Air Lines Flight 624
1220:United Air Lines Flight 608
1202:United Air Lines Flight 521
1156:National Airlines Flight 16
1150:Eastern Air Lines Flight 45
1063:American Airlines Flight 28
1040:Northwest Airlines Flight 5
1034:Eastern Air Lines Flight 21
465:
348:Washington National Airport
177:Washington-National Airport
10:
1663:
1255:Delta Air Lines Flight 705
1115:American Airlines Flight 2
1564:
1402:
1335:
1300:
1235:
1194:
1165:
1136:
1107:
1072:
1049:
1026:
1017:Lovettsville air disaster
1009:
957:
931:
834:
808:
800:Eastern Air Lines Shuttle
792:
764:
458:, and former Congressman
297:
289:
281:
273:
265:
257:
249:
239:
228:
223:
215:
207:
199:
191:
183:
172:
161:
151:
141:
131:
120:
115:
107:
99:
91:
49:
39:
31:
26:
1592:1949 in Washington, D.C.
1495:Manchester DC-3 accident
1425:Exhall mid-air collision
1337:This list is incomplete.
939:Eastern Air Lines (2015)
592:"Bolivia 927! Turn Left"
244:Lockheed P-38L Lightning
617:Aviation Safety Network
492:"FAA Registry (N88727)"
431:Civil Aeronautics Board
414:, St. Joseph, Michigan.
393:Civil Aeronautics Board
332:Lockheed P-38 Lightning
314:aircraft en route from
435:Bolling Air Force Base
417:
16:1949 mid-air collision
1515:Air France Flight 009
944:Eastern Airlines, LLC
686:Haine, Edgar (2000),
385:
336:government of Bolivia
1347:prior to statehood..
1249:Los Gatos DC-3 crash
1243:Mantell UFO incident
1179:Mount Tom B-17 crash
613:Accident description
374:Alexandria, Virginia
54:Alexandria, Virginia
1573:► 1950
1567:1948 ◄
1505:Mexicana DC-3 crash
688:Disaster in the Air
424:Alexandria Hospital
344:collided in mid-air
342:. The two aircraft
76:38.8350°N 77.0450°W
72: /
23:
1627:Mid-air collisions
1570:
1455:Aeroflot Flight 17
1328:(November 29 1949)
1228:(October 26 1947)*
1080:Pan Am Flight 1104
826:Eddie Rickenbacker
693:Google Book Search
652:. November 2, 1949
646:The Decatur Herald
557:. November 2, 1949
550:The Decatur Herald
460:Michael J. Kennedy
408:November 2, 1949,
340:Bolivian Air Force
168:, Queens, New York
21:
1579:
1578:
1555:Sabena DC-3 Crash
1352:
1351:
1322:(November 1 1949)
1251:(January 28 1948)
1226:Pan Am Flight 923
1222:(October 24 1947)
1098:Tamaqua, PA crash
971:
970:
774:Colonial Airlines
758:Eastern Air Lines
456:Helen E. Hokinson
305:
304:
166:LaGuardia Airport
146:Eastern Air Lines
81:38.8350; -77.0450
44:Mid-air collision
1654:
1597:1949 in Virginia
1571:
1445:Superga disaster
1397:
1396:
1394:
1379:
1372:
1365:
1356:
1355:
1245:(January 7 1948)
998:
991:
984:
975:
974:
963:
962:
949:If You Had Wings
751:
744:
737:
728:
727:
673:
672:
671:
665:
659:
657:
638:
632:
625:
619:
610:
601:
589:
578:
577:
576:
570:
564:
562:
541:
535:
530:
528:
526:
515:
500:
499:
488:
415:
324:Washington, D.C.
233:
125:
92:Total fatalities
87:
86:
84:
83:
82:
77:
73:
70:
69:
68:
65:
56:, United States
35:November 1, 1949
24:
20:
1662:
1661:
1657:
1656:
1655:
1653:
1652:
1651:
1582:
1581:
1580:
1575:
1569:
1560:
1559:
1558:
1557:
1552:
1548:
1547:
1542:
1538:
1537:
1532:
1528:
1527:
1522:
1518:
1517:
1512:
1508:
1507:
1502:
1498:
1497:
1492:
1488:
1487:
1482:
1478:
1477:
1472:
1468:
1467:
1462:
1458:
1457:
1452:
1448:
1447:
1442:
1438:
1437:
1432:
1428:
1427:
1422:
1418:
1417:
1408:
1398:
1392:
1390:
1385:
1383:
1353:
1348:
1338:
1331:
1296:
1293:(December 1948)
1263:(March 12 1948)
1257:(March 10 1948)
1231:
1190:
1161:
1132:
1117:(February 1944)
1103:
1100:(November 1943)
1068:
1045:
1036:(February 1941)
1022:
1005:
1002:
972:
967:
953:
927:
837:& incidents
836:
830:
804:
788:
784:Mackey Airlines
779:Florida Airways
766:
760:
755:
682:
677:
676:
666:
655:
653:
648:. Decatur, IL.
640:
639:
635:
626:
622:
611:
604:
590:
581:
571:
560:
558:
553:. Decatur, IL.
543:
542:
538:
524:
522:
517:
516:
503:
490:
489:
485:
480:
468:
446:George J. Bates
416:
407:
363:traffic pattern
357:, circled over
234:
224:Second aircraft
126:
108:Total survivors
80:
78:
74:
71:
66:
63:
61:
59:
58:
57:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1660:
1650:
1649:
1644:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1619:
1614:
1609:
1604:
1599:
1594:
1577:
1576:
1565:
1562:
1561:
1553:
1550:
1549:
1543:
1540:
1539:
1535:Hurum disaster
1533:
1530:
1529:
1523:
1520:
1519:
1513:
1510:
1509:
1503:
1500:
1499:
1493:
1490:
1489:
1483:
1480:
1479:
1473:
1470:
1469:
1463:
1460:
1459:
1453:
1450:
1449:
1443:
1440:
1439:
1433:
1430:
1429:
1423:
1420:
1419:
1409:
1406:
1405:
1404:
1403:
1400:
1399:
1382:
1381:
1374:
1367:
1359:
1350:
1349:
1336:
1333:
1332:
1330:
1329:
1323:
1317:
1311:
1304:
1302:
1298:
1297:
1295:
1294:
1288:
1287:(October 1948)
1282:
1276:
1270:
1264:
1258:
1252:
1246:
1239:
1237:
1233:
1232:
1230:
1229:
1223:
1217:
1211:
1205:
1198:
1196:
1192:
1191:
1189:
1188:
1187:(July 11 1946)
1185:TWA Flight 513
1182:
1176:
1175:(January 1946)
1169:
1167:
1163:
1162:
1160:
1159:
1158:(October 1945)
1153:
1147:
1146:(January 1945)
1140:
1138:
1134:
1133:
1131:
1130:
1124:
1121:TWA Flight 277
1118:
1111:
1109:
1105:
1104:
1102:
1101:
1095:
1094:(October 1943)
1089:
1083:
1082:(January 1943)
1076:
1074:
1070:
1069:
1067:
1066:
1065:(October 1942)
1060:
1059:(January 1942)
1053:
1051:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1043:
1042:(October 1941)
1037:
1030:
1028:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1020:
1013:
1011:
1007:
1006:
1001:
1000:
993:
986:
978:
969:
968:
958:
955:
954:
952:
951:
946:
941:
935:
933:
929:
928:
926:
925:
919:
913:
907:
901:
895:
889:
883:
877:
871:
865:
859:
853:
847:
840:
838:
832:
831:
829:
828:
823:
818:
812:
810:
806:
805:
803:
802:
796:
794:
790:
789:
787:
786:
781:
776:
770:
768:
762:
761:
754:
753:
746:
739:
731:
725:
724:
719:
713:
707:
701:
695:
681:
680:External links
678:
675:
674:
662:Newspapers.com
633:
620:
602:
579:
567:Newspapers.com
536:
501:
482:
481:
479:
476:
475:
474:
467:
464:
405:
303:
302:
299:
295:
294:
291:
287:
286:
283:
279:
278:
275:
271:
270:
267:
263:
262:
259:
255:
254:
251:
247:
246:
241:
237:
236:
226:
225:
221:
220:
217:
213:
212:
209:
205:
204:
201:
197:
196:
193:
189:
188:
185:
181:
180:
174:
170:
169:
163:
159:
158:
155:
149:
148:
143:
139:
138:
133:
129:
128:
118:
117:
116:First aircraft
113:
112:
109:
105:
104:
101:
100:Total injuries
97:
96:
93:
89:
88:
51:
47:
46:
41:
37:
36:
33:
29:
28:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1659:
1648:
1645:
1643:
1640:
1638:
1635:
1633:
1630:
1628:
1625:
1623:
1620:
1618:
1615:
1613:
1610:
1608:
1605:
1603:
1600:
1598:
1595:
1593:
1590:
1589:
1587:
1574:
1568:
1563:
1556:
1546:
1536:
1526:
1516:
1506:
1496:
1486:
1476:
1466:
1456:
1446:
1436:
1426:
1416:
1415:disappearance
1414:
1401:
1388:
1380:
1375:
1373:
1368:
1366:
1361:
1360:
1357:
1346:
1342:
1334:
1327:
1324:
1321:
1318:
1315:
1312:
1309:
1306:
1305:
1303:
1299:
1292:
1289:
1286:
1283:
1281:(August 1948)
1280:
1277:
1274:
1271:
1268:
1265:
1262:
1259:
1256:
1253:
1250:
1247:
1244:
1241:
1240:
1238:
1234:
1227:
1224:
1221:
1218:
1215:
1212:
1210:(May 30 1947)
1209:
1206:
1204:(May 29 1947)
1203:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1193:
1186:
1183:
1181:(July 9 1946)
1180:
1177:
1174:
1171:
1170:
1168:
1164:
1157:
1154:
1151:
1148:
1145:
1142:
1141:
1139:
1135:
1128:
1125:
1122:
1119:
1116:
1113:
1112:
1110:
1106:
1099:
1096:
1093:
1090:
1087:
1084:
1081:
1078:
1077:
1075:
1071:
1064:
1061:
1058:
1055:
1054:
1052:
1048:
1041:
1038:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1029:
1025:
1019:(August 1940)
1018:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1008:
999:
994:
992:
987:
985:
980:
979:
976:
966:
956:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
936:
934:
930:
923:
920:
917:
914:
911:
908:
905:
902:
899:
896:
893:
890:
887:
884:
881:
878:
875:
872:
869:
866:
863:
860:
857:
854:
851:
848:
845:
842:
841:
839:
833:
827:
824:
822:
821:Frank Lorenzo
819:
817:
814:
813:
811:
807:
801:
798:
797:
795:
791:
785:
782:
780:
777:
775:
772:
771:
769:
763:
759:
752:
747:
745:
740:
738:
733:
732:
729:
723:
720:
717:
714:
711:
708:
705:
702:
699:
696:
694:
690:
689:
684:
683:
670:
663:
651:
647:
643:
637:
630:
624:
618:
614:
609:
607:
599:
598:
593:
588:
586:
584:
575:
568:
556:
552:
551:
546:
540:
534:
520:
514:
512:
510:
508:
506:
497:
493:
487:
483:
473:
470:
469:
463:
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767:acquisitions
765:Mergers and
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660:– via
656:December 22,
654:. Retrieved
645:
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629:Air Progress
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561:December 22,
559:. Retrieved
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18:
1316:(July 1949)
1310:(June 1949)
1275:(July 1948)
1269:(June 1948)
1216:(June 1947)
1152:(July 1945)
1129:(July 1944)
1123:(June 1944)
1088:(July 1943)
892:Flight 1320
454:cartoonist
173:Destination
79: /
1586:Categories
1413:Star Ariel
922:Flight 980
916:Flight 855
904:Flight 212
898:Flight 401
886:Flight 663
880:Flight 304
874:Flight 512
868:Flight 375
862:Flight 537
856:Flight 605
835:Accidents
809:Key people
478:References
451:New Yorker
282:Fatalities
208:Fatalities
192:Passengers
910:Flight 66
850:Flight 45
844:Flight 21
420:Air Force
376:, at the
359:Arlington
298:Survivors
266:Occupants
216:Survivors
184:Occupants
67:77°02.7′W
64:38°50.1′N
965:Category
631:. p. 65.
466:See also
406:—
328:NX-26927
290:Injuries
261:NX-26927
253:Lockheed
250:Operator
142:Operator
27:Accident
1391: (
1389:in 1949
932:Related
615:at the
525:June 1,
401:Bolivia
40:Summary
1551:Dec 18
1541:Nov 29
1531:Nov 20
1511:Oct 28
1501:Sep 26
1491:Aug 19
1481:Jul 12
1451:May 13
1431:Mar 10
1421:Feb 19
1407:Jan 17
1345:Hawaii
1341:Alaska
924:(1985)
918:(1983)
912:(1975)
906:(1974)
900:(1972)
894:(1970)
888:(1965)
882:(1964)
876:(1962)
870:(1960)
864:(1949)
858:(1947)
852:(1945)
846:(1941)
330:was a
316:Boston
157:N88727
1521:Nov 1
1471:Jul 2
1461:Jun 7
1441:May 4
1411:BSAA
322:, to
1393:1949
1343:and
1301:1949
1236:1948
1195:1947
1166:1946
1137:1945
1108:1944
1073:1943
1050:1942
1027:1941
1010:1940
658:2016
597:Time
563:2016
527:2021
274:Crew
240:Type
200:Crew
179:, DC
132:Type
50:Site
32:Date
533:PDF
1588::
650:AP
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555:AP
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301:1
293:1
285:0
277:1
269:1
219:0
203:4
111:1
103:1
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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