Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 421 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight from Chicago, Illinois, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, that crashed on 29 August 1948. The Martin 2-0-2 aircraft, operated by Northwest Orient 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 4 crew members 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, as well as the worst aviation accident in Wisconsin.
Northwest Airlines Flight 421 crashes in Fountain City, Wisconsin, killing all 37 aboard.
On August 29, in the year 1948, Northwest Airlines Flight 421 crashes in Fountain City, Wisconsin, killing all 37 aboard. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of August 29, one of 431 recorded events on this date across all of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on August 29, 1948 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 2 Wikipedia articles.
- The event is associated with a specific geographical location (see map below).
- Wikipedia source last updated on 19 February 2026.
On This Date in History 431
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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