Cleveland, OH Plane Crashes On Landing, Nov 1946

2 KILLED IN AIRLINER CRASH AT CLEVELAND.

Cleveland, Nov. 11 -- AP -- A United Airlines plane crashed into trees and high tension wires just north of Cleveland airport early today, killing the pilots and injuring 17 passengers and the stewardess.
The plane, flight 404 bound from Chicago to Boston, crashed during a rainstorm. The plane cleared Chicago at 1:35 and was due at Cleveland airport at 3:27 a.m.
The victims:
Pilot F. L. BROWN, 44, Chicago.
Co-pilot ROBERT L. ARNOLD, 25, Hammond, Ind.
Plane Demolished.
The plane was demolished as it spun into the ground, the engines being torn from the wings and the fuselage breaking in half.
FRED PASKO, a truck driver believed to be one of the few witnesses, said he noticed the plane about 2,000 feet north of the airport, flying low. He said the plane's landing lights were on and the landing gear was down.
"There was a flash as the plane hit some wires and the street lights went out," PASKO said. "Then the plane crashed into some trees, spun around and hit the ground." Maj. JOHN BERRY, airport commissioner, said airport control tower operators told him the plane had circled the port, had made contact, and had reported no mechanical difficulties.
Had No Contact.
MISS BETTY DOBSON, 25, of Madison, Wis., and Chicago, the plane's stewardess, said she had no contact with the pilot and co-pilot except at one point between Chicago and Cleveland when they asked for sandwiches and coffee.
She also said:
"At no time before the crash did the red light flash above the pilot's door indicating there was going to be an emergency landing. I was standing facing the bulkhead at the time of the crash, and the first thing I knew there was an awful jolt and my head hit the floor."
Afraid Of Fire.
"I was stunned. I was afraid of fire and my main concern was to get the passengers out."
Four civil aeronautics administration inspectors flew in at mid-morning and were to open an immediate invesitagtion.
The passengers and stewardess were rushed to three Cleveland hospitals but six were released almost immediately after treatment for small cuts and bruises. Extent of injuries to the other was not available immediately.

The Marion Star Ohio 1946-11-11

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!