Accident description
Status: | Final |
Date: | 17 MAR 1960 |
Time: | 15:25 |
Type: | Lockheed L-188C Electra |
Operator: | Northwest Orient Airlines |
Registration: | N121US |
C/n / msn: | 1057 |
First flight: | 1959 |
Total airframe hrs: | 1786 |
Engines: | 4 Allison 501-D13 |
Crew: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
Passengers: | Fatalities: 57 / Occupants: 57 |
Total: | Fatalities: 63 / Occupants: 63 |
Airplane damage: | Written off |
Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
Location: | 9 km (5.6 mls) NE of Cannelton, IN (United States of America) |
Phase: | En route (ENR) |
Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
Departure airport: | Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW) (MDW/KMDW), United States of America |
Miami International Airport, FL (MIA) (MIA/KMIA), United States of America | |
Flightnumber: | 710 |
Electra N121US was operating on Northwest Flight 710 from Minneapolis (MSP) to Chicago (MDW) and Miami (MIA). The flight departed Minneapolis at 12:51 and arrived at Midway at 13:55. During the short time the aircraft was on the ground at Chicago, approximately 30 minutes, it was refueled and prepared for continuation of the flight to Miami. The flight departed Chicago at 14:38. At 14:45, the flight reported to the Indianapolis, Indiana, ARTC Center over Milford at 18,000 feet and estimating Scotland, Indiana, at 15:12. At 15:13, Flight 710 reported over Scotland maintaining 18,000 feet and estimating Bowling Green, Kentucky, at 15:35. This was the last radio contact with the flight.
At 15:25 the the outboard engines and engine support structures, the complete right wing, and the outer portions of the left wing and ailerons separated in flight. The aircraft crashed out of control.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that tho probable cause of this accident was the separation of the right wing in flight due to flutter induced by oscillations of the outboard nacelles. Contributing factors were a reduced stiffness of the structure and the entry of the aircraft into an area of severe clear air turbulence. "
FOLLOW UP: Modifications to all Lockheed Electra aircraft which included nacelle-wing improvements.
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Sample newspaper article from Newspaperarchive.com
Statistics
3rd loss of a Lockheed L-188
2nd worst accident involving a Lockheed L-188 (at the time)
8th worst accident involving a Lockheed L-188 (currently)
6th worst accident in United States of America (at the time)
46th worst accident in United States of America (currently) » figures explained
2nd worst accident involving a Lockheed L-188 (at the time)
8th worst accident involving a Lockheed L-188 (currently)
6th worst accident in United States of America (at the time)
46th worst accident in United States of America (currently) » figures explained
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW) (MDW/KMDW) to Miami International Airport, FL (MIA) (MIA/KMIA) as the crow flies is 1892 km (1183 miles).
Distance from Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW) (MDW/KMDW) to Miami International Airport, FL (MIA) (MIA/KMIA) as the crow flies is 1892 km (1183 miles).