Northwest Airlines Flight 421
| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 August 1948 |
| Summary | Structural failure |
| Site | Fountain City, Wisconsin, 4.1 mi (6.6 km) NW of Winona, Minnesota |
| Passengers | 33 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Fatalities | 37 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Aircraft type | Martin 2-0-2 |
| Operator | Northwest Airlines |
| Registration | NC93044 |
| Flight origin | Chicago, Illinois |
| Destination | Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota |
Northwest Airlines Flight 421 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight from Chicago, Illinois to Minneapolis, Minnesota that crashed on 29 August 1948. The Martin 2-0-2 aircraft, operated by Northwest Airlines, suffered structural failure in its left wing and crashed approximately 4.1 miles (6.6 km) northwest of Winona, Minnesota, about 95 miles (153 km) southeast of Minneapolis. A Civil Aeronautics Board investigation determined that the crash was caused by fatigue cracks in the wings of the aircraft, and recommended lower speeds and frequent inspections of all Martin 2-0-2 aircraft. All 33 passengers and four crewmembers on board were killed. The crash was the first loss of a Martin 2-0-2, and remains the worst accident involving a Martin 2-0-2.
Flight 421 was served by a Martin 2-0-2 aircraft was operated by Northwest Airlines. It was just under a year old, and had accumulated a total airtime of 1321 hours starting in 1947. The flight was piloted by Captain Robert L. Johnson, 30, who had 5,502 hours of flying time. The copilot was David F. Brenner, 27, with 2,380 hours of flight time.
The aircraft departed Chicago at 3:50 pm, CST, carrying 33 passengers, four crewmembers, 800 US gallons (3,000 l; 670 imp gal) of fuel, and 1,038 pounds (471 kg) of baggage. Weather reports received prior to departure indicated relatively clear conditions with a few scattered rain showers en route in the vicinity of La Crosse, Wisconsin and Rochester, Minnesota. The flight progressed normally as the aircraft reached its planned altitude of 8,000 feet (2,400 m) and made its way across Wisconsin. At 4:55 pm, the aircraft reported its position over La Crosse, Wisconsin, about 125 miles (201 km) southeast of Minneapolis. The aircraft received permission to begin its descent, and descended to 7,000 feet (2,100 m) at 4:59 pm.
The last communication made with the flight was a 4:59 pm report from the pilot that the aircraft had passed the 7,000-foot (2,100 m) altitude level. The pilot sounded calm, and made no indication that the aircraft was experiencing any mechanical trouble.
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