Investigation Summary
The flight was a routine personnel transport mission piloted by Lieutenant Colonel William F. Smith Jr., a decorated combat veteran. While en route from Massachusetts, Smith encountered thick fog over New York City and requested clearance to land at Newark. Despite being warned by LaGuardia controllers that the Empire State Building was not visible due to zero visibility, Smith proceeded at low altitude to maintain visual contact with the ground. He became disoriented, narrowly missing the Chrysler Building before turning right instead of left, which placed him on a direct collision course with the Empire State Building. The aircraft struck the north facade at the 79th floor, creating an 18-by-20-foot hole. One engine severed elevator cables, causing a car to plummet 75 stories; the operator, Betty Lou Oliver, survived the fall in what remains a world record. The crash was a primary catalyst for the passage of the Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946, which allowed citizens to sue the federal government for damages.
Final Conclusions
The accident was caused by the pilot's decision to continue flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at a low altitude over a densely populated urban area. Disorientation caused by thick fog led the pilot to make an incorrect turn after a near-miss with the Chrysler Building, resulting in a controlled flight into a skyscraper. The structural resilience of the Empire State Building prevented a total collapse, and the relatively low Saturday occupancy limited the civilian death toll.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
The B-25 Bomber Crash Into the Empire State Building — A detailed look at the July 28, 1945, disaster where a B-25 Mitchell bomber, lost in heavy fog, struck the world's tallest building, resulting in 14 fatalities and a record-breaking elevator survival.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Elevator Safety Cables
The impact severed the main hoisting cables of an elevator; however, the combination of air pressure in the shaft and coiled cables at the bottom cushioned the car's 1,000-foot fall.
B-25 Mitchell Propulsion
The aircraft was powered by two Wright R-2600 Cyclone engines; one engine lodged in the building while the other exited the south side.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash resulted in the world record for the longest survived elevator fall (75 stories).
- 02One engine traveled completely through the building and destroyed a penthouse art studio on the next block.
- 03All 11 civilian fatalities were employees of the War Relief Services and the National Catholic Welfare Council.
- 04The building was open for business on many floors by the following Monday morning.
- 05The accident led to the passage of the Federal Tort Claims Act in 1946.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Federal Tort Claims Act
Source ↗The crash spurred the passage of legislation allowing citizens to sue the United States government for damages caused by its employees' negligence.