Eastern Airlines Flight 21, night of February 26, 1941. Sometimes called the “Rickenbacker Crash” due to the presence of Eastern Airlines President and former WWI ace Eddie Rickenbacker on board. Eastern DC-3 (NC28394) crashed during inclement weather after controlled flight into terrain while shooting an instrument approach into Candler Field (current ATL). Of 25 total passengers and crew, there were 16 fatalities and 9 injured (including Rickenbacker).
Broadly speaking, the instrument approach for the day called for an overflight of the radio beacon at the airport at a specific altitude on the reciprocal runway heading for 5 minutes, then execute a procedure 180 degree turn to the runway heading, then proceed inbound to the airport while gradually descending to the runway. Shortly after performing the procedure turn the aircraft struck the tops of pine trees, and then crashed heavily into a ravine beyond, totally destroying the aircraft. Due to the (then) remote location, rescue crews did not arrive until daylight.
CAB investigation concluded that the crash was caused by pilot error due to the misuse of altimeter settings by the pilot and copilot. In other words, the aircraft was much lower throughout the approach than the flight crew thought they were.
PLEASE NOTE: Contemporary news accounts of this crash are aggravatingly vague as to its precise location. Most accounts describe it as “down a dirt road off Highway 54 north of Jonesboro.” The CAB report is likewise silent on the exact location. This TAG is placed on what I could glean from the two sources noted above, plus the recollections of an old-timer I spoke with from the area who recalls the crash. Many roads have been added and/or realigned in the area since the crash.
They seem to have a pretty good handle on that aspect when they report on this on the 28th. They account for all aboard as either dead or injured. When I saw tomorrow's story about the overdue plane with Rickenbacker aboard I flashed back to his autobiography I read about 40 years ago. I recall he devoted a good chapter to this episode, as well he might. I'm not surprised the exact location is something of a mystery. According to the story the plane crashed "700 yards from the nearest dirt road."
Very interesting. Thanks Larry.