The aircraft's occupants on the accident flight consisted of 52 passengers and six crew, including the captain, C. A. Lyons of Miami,[1][2] and Doris Ruby, a nightclub entertainer from New York City.

[1] The aircraft continued ahead in the direction it took off in for a distance of about 4 miles (6.4 km), slowly gaining an altitude of approximately 800 to 1,000 feet (240 to 300 m).

The aircraft banked left to an angle of about 10 degrees and continued onwards in this position for another 4.5 miles (7.2 km), gradually losing altitude as it went.

[1] While flying over the nearby city of Elizabeth, the aircraft, at an estimated altitude of just 200 feet (61 m), suddenly lurched into a 90-degree left bank from which no recovery was possible.

[1] According to the accident report, the hold-down studs of the right engine's number 10 cylinder failed, setting off the fire that ultimately brought down the Miami Airlines C-46.

Just over a month later, an American Airlines Convair 240 crashed while on final approach into Newark, killing all 23 people on board and seven on the ground.