At approximately 14.00 hours on an overcast December day in 1954, persons in the vicinity of Idlewild Airport, New York, were startled by a violent explosion followed by the signs of an intense fire. Investigation revealed that an incoming European aircraft, a DC-6B, had crashed into the pier supporting the approach lights to Runway 4, had been demolished by the impact and had carried 26 persons to their deaths in the icy waters of Jamaica Bay. An inquiry into the accident was made by the Civil Aeronautics Board and their findings published. The probable cause of the accident was determined as an erratic approach which resulted in a descent too low to avoid striking the pier, but a significant rider was added to the effect that a contributing factor was pilot fatigue due to the particular and difficult circumstances of the flight.