The wreck of Northeast Airlines DC-6A N34954 on Rikers Island the morning after it crashed on take-off from La Guardia Airport at 1802 EST on 1.2.57. Behind are the prison buildings, whose inmates helped to rescue the occupants of the burning aircraft.
1.2.57 Northeast Airlines Douglas DC-6A N34954 c/n 44678, leased from Flying Tiger, crashed on Rikers Island, New York less than one minute after take-off from La Guardia for Miami in snow. Departure had been delayed from 1445 until 1801 by the weather and the aircraft had been de-iced before take-off. Capt Alva V R Marsh was blamed for failing to maintain control and to monitor flight instruments. (He had survived the 14.1.52 crash of Convair N91238 and the 6.2.53 crash of Convair N91239 and this latest accident was the subject of the book "Tiger on a Leash" by Alvin Martin, 1961.) Marsh, 5 other crew and 75 passengers survived, though 25 passengers and 3 stewardesses were seriously injured, and twenty passengers were killed. Inmates of the nearby Rikers Island prison assisted in the rescue work, some later being paroled for their efforts.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-6 / C-118 Liftmaster - СШАUSA - 1946