TWA Flight 513

TWA Flight 513

A TWA L-049, similar to Flight 513.
Accident
Date	July 11, 1946
Summary	In-flight fire
Site	Bern Township, Berks County, near Reading, Pennsylvania 40°24′58″N 75°59′29″W
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Aircraft name	Star of Lisbon
Operator	Transcontinental & Western Air
Registration	NC86513
Passengers	0
Crew	6
Fatalities	5
Injuries	1
Survivors	1

TWA Flight 513, registration NC86513, Star of Lisbon, was a Lockheed L-049 Constellation operated by Transcontinental and Western Air on a training flight on July 11, 1946 when it crashed near Reading, Pennsylvania. Electrical wiring in the baggage compartment arced, starting a fire. The smoke and intense fire created made it impossible for the pilots to maintain control of the aircraft. Of the six crewmembers aboard, five were killed. This accident is memorable for grounding all Lockheed Constellations from July 12 until August 23, 1946 when cargo fire detection equipment could be installed.

See also

• United Airlines Flight 624

External links

• Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network