Crash Site: Eastern Flight 537 (1949) (Alexandria, Virginia)

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November 1, 1949. Crash site of Eastern Airlines Flight 537 after a midair collision with a war surplus P-38L. All 55 passengers and crew aboard the Eastern DC-4 (N88727) are killed. The P-38L (ex-44-26927, civil reg. NX26927) was on a test flight prior to delivery to the Bolivian government. After departing Washington National (DCA) the pilot radioed that he was having engine troubles and was returning to the field. Tower controllers directed the P-38 to follow the Eastern DC-4, then arriving from Boston via New York. For reasons never clearly explained, the P-38 began a long straight in approach to runway 3, as opposed to following the DC-4 in the normal left-hand traffic pattern. The P-38 overtook and collided with the DC-4 from above and behind as the latter turned onto final approach. Portions of the DC-4 fell onto Potomac Yard. The bulk of the fuselage came down into the Potomac River at this point. The pilot of the P-38 survived, though with serious injuries. Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) investigation determined that the primary cause of the crash was failure of the P-38 pilot to follow air traffic control directions. Secondary cause was the failure of air traffic control to advise the Eastern crew of the developing emergency with the P-38. At the time of the crash, it was the worst civil air disaster in US History.

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