Continental Charters operated without a regular schedule and was equipped with military surplus aircraft, allowing the company to offer discounted fares.

After a seven-hour delay due to mechanical problems, Flight 44-2 departed Miami and arrived safely but late into Pittsburgh's Allegheny County Airport.

The weather briefer further stated that VFR flight was not recommended over their intended route due to low ceilings and poor visibility.

Reports of witnesses on the ground located by accident investigators after the crash indicated that the aircraft began drifting east of the direct route soon after takeoff.

[3] The only surviving crew member, a flight attendant, later recounted that the two relief pilots went forward into the cockpit just before the crash.

The only part of the aircraft that was not destroyed was the aft passenger compartment, which rolled to a stop at the far end of the debris field.

The 14 survivors spent two days and two nights at the crash site in below freezing temperatures waiting to be rescued.

The probable cause was determined to be "the captain's poor judgement in attempting a flight by visual reference during instrument weather conditions.

The CAB issued a draft regulation on March 10, 1952, requiring that night visual flights on passenger planes in large aircraft be conducted only on designated routes and between airports equipped with radio communications.