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Capital Airlines (United States)

From Alfawiki
Capital Airlines
Company typeAirline
IndustryAviation
Founded1936 (as Pennsylvania Central Airlines)
Defunct1961
FateMerged with United Airlines
Headquarters
Arlington, Virginia
,
United States
Area served
Eastern, Southern, Southeastern, and Midwestern United States; Florida
Key people
J.H. "Slim" Charmichael (President)
ProductsPassenger air transport services

Capital Airlines was a major trunk airline in the United States, primarily servicing the eastern, southern, southeastern, and midwestern regions. Its central operations and main hub were located at Washington National Airport, where it also conducted crew training and aircraft upkeep. During the 1950s, Capital ranked as the fifth largest domestic airline in the U.S. by passenger numbers and occasionally by passenger-miles, trailing behind the leading four carriers (American, United, TWA, and Eastern).

In 1961, Capital Airlines merged with United Airlines.

Clifford Ball Airline

Clifford A. Ball, an automobile dealer from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, held a controlling stake in Bettis Field near Pittsburgh and secured airmail contract route No. 11 in 1926. The Clifford Ball Airline commenced operations in April 1927, flying between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Operating out of Pittsburgh’s first commercial airport, Bettis Field, Ball’s airline became a pioneer in scheduled passenger service starting April 28, 1928. By August 1928, it was the first carrier to link Washington, D.C., from the west via its "Path of the Eagle" route running from Cleveland to Hoover Field near D.C. This early enterprise established the groundwork for Capital Airlines’ subsequent expansion and influence within the region.

Pennsylvania Air Lines

In November 1930, Ball sold his holdings to Pittsburgh Aviation Industries Corp., leading to the airline's rebranding as Pennsylvania Air Lines (PAL). Following the early 1930s Air Mail scandal, PAL underwent reorganization as Pennsylvania Airlines and acquired Kohler Aviation in 1934.

Central Airlines

Founded in 1934 by former Pittsburgh Airlines founders, Central Airlines gained recognition for employing Helen Richey, the first female commercial pilot in the U.S. Central Airlines emerged as PAL's primary rival, engaging in aggressive fare competition with prices set below railroad rates.

The two carriers merged on November 1, 1936, to form Pennsylvania Central Airlines (PCA).

Pennsylvania Central Airlines

Initially, PCA operated Stinson A and Boeing 247 aircraft. After a temporary grounding of Boeing 247s in January 1937, all B-247s were sold by 1942; two of these aircraft are preserved in museums today.

Headquartered at Allegheny County Airport near Pittsburgh, PCA expanded its network to Chicago by 1938 and introduced Douglas DC-3 aircraft into its fleet by 1940. In 1941, PCA relocated its headquarters to Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, becoming one of its inaugural tenants and adopting the slogan "The Capital Airline," with its planes nicknamed "Capitaliners." By September 1943, PCA sought permission to add routes spanning 23 states as part of post-war growth plans that included ambitions for trans-Atlantic service.

In September 1944, PCA placed a $10 million order with Douglas Aircraft for Douglas DC-4 planes. The DC-4 entered service in 1946 but was not profitable on routes with low passenger volumes; ten remained at the time of PCA’s merger with United Airlines and were quickly retired.

Postwar inflation combined with expansion efforts placed financial strain on PCA. By early 1947, intensifying competition on major routes such as New York-Chicago impacted revenues significantly. The airline pursued SEC approval for refinancing amid these financial challenges.

During this period, J.H. "Slim" Charmichael was elected president and implemented significant workforce reductions from 4,800 to 3,000 employees. By October 1947, PCA operated a fleet consisting of 25 DC-3s (including two dedicated cargo aircraft) and three DC-4s. Charmichael focused on assertive leadership strategies aimed at revitalizing the struggling carrier.

On April 21, 1948, reflecting its expanded reach beyond Pennsylvania and central states, PCA adopted the name Capital Airlines, along with new branding and insignia.

Capital Airlines

In 1948, Capital launched the "Nighthawk," among the earliest coach class offerings, aiming to rival railroads and leading carriers such as United, TWA, and American on the Chicago-New York corridor. This overnight service was priced at $29.60 plus a 15% federal tax. That same year, Capital pioneered the installation of the first in-flight television on a commercial aircraft.

By 1950, Capital introduced its initial Lockheed Constellation aircraft and, in 1955, became the inaugural U.S. operator of the British-manufactured four-engine Vickers Viscount, recognized as the first passenger turboprop airliner. These Viscount propjets were deployed on key routes including Washington to Chicago. Nevertheless, Capital’s growth was constrained by regulatory obstacles imposed by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), which also declined subsidy requests. Despite these setbacks, passenger-miles surged by 88% between 1955 and 1957.

By 1958, Capital was providing frequent shuttle services utilizing Viscounts on routes such as New York-Chicago, New York-Detroit, and Chicago-Washington D.C., promoting "Viscounts every sixty minutes all day long." In 1959, the airline introduced seven daily Viscount flights between Chicago and Minneapolis–St. Paul, marketing this as the "First Jet-Powered Service" on that route.

Operational disruptions occurred when the International Association of Machinists initiated a 38-day strike in fall 1958. In 1960, Capital faced allegations of discrimination after denying employment to Patricia Banks Edmiston, an African-American woman who fulfilled all criteria for a flight attendant position; she ultimately became one of only two Black flight attendants in the country.

Starting in 1961, Capital operated leased Boeing 720 jets from United Airlines—the sole jet type in its fleet. The June 1 timetable emphasized "New Boeing 720 Jets" servicing New York-Atlanta-New Orleans routes and boasted "596 daily flights," including exclusive jet service to Miami from Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Earlier intentions to acquire De Havilland Comet jets were abandoned due to financial limitations.

Capital Airlines strategically emphasized innovative offerings like coach-class service and turboprop technology to capture market share on competitive routes despite regulatory restrictions and labor challenges. Its transition to jet aircraft reflected efforts to modernize under financial strain prior to eventual consolidation within the industry.

Acquisition by and merger with United

By the close of the 1950s, Capital Airlines encountered significant financial strain. In May 1960, Vickers repossessed Capital's Viscount fleet due to unpaid debts, pushing the airline closer to insolvency. Nevertheless, on July 28, 1960, an agreement was announced for a merger with Chicago-based rival United Airlines. The federal Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) sanctioned this transaction as United aimed to acquire Capital’s CAB-granted Florida routes. At the time of acquisition, Capital operated nonstop services linking Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville with multiple major cities. The merger was completed on June 1, 1961, combining the nation’s second and fifth-largest airlines into what was then the largest airline merger in U.S. history. Despite thorough preparation, integration difficulties arose on merger day. United inherited forty-one of Capital's Viscount turboprops along with three Douglas DC-3 aircraft; it later obtained six additional Viscounts that had been returned to Vickers. United continued operating former Capital DC-3s for one year post-merger, becoming the last major U.S. carrier to utilize DC-3s due to CAB route mandates.

Revival of Capital Airlines

In 1981, a group of former employees established the Capital Airlines Association with the goal of safeguarding the airline's heritage. Milt Marshall, a retired pilot from United Airlines, secured the rights to the Capital brand and operated a charter service under this name out of Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Connecticut.

Tragically, in July 2004, Marshall was flying a Capital Airways Piper PA-31 Navajo on a charter mission when the aircraft crashed near Lake George, New York, resulting in the deaths of both the pilot and passenger. The passenger was a businessman under financial distress and facing fraud charges who had recently applied for a substantial life insurance policy prior to the flight. Investigators discovered a pistol magazine missing several rounds at the crash site; however, no firearm was located. Due to the severely damaged remains, authorities were unable to conclusively determine the cause of death, and the investigation was subsequently closed. This event effectively concluded the history of Capital Airlines.

Service Network: 1937–1960

In 1937, Principal Cities Airlines (PCA) primarily operated a route connecting Milwaukee and Washington, D.C., with intermediate stops at major Midwestern and Eastern urban centers such as Detroit, Cleveland, Akron, and Pittsburgh. Branch routes extended from Detroit to Pontiac and Flint, as well as from Pittsburgh to Parkersburg and Charleston.

By 1941, PCA had expanded its branch lines from Grand Rapids reaching Chicago, Sault Ste. Marie, and Traverse City; from Pittsburgh to Erie and Buffalo; and from Charleston to Southern cities including Tri-Cities, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Birmingham. Additional routes linked Washington northward to Baltimore and Harrisburg and southward through North Carolina cities like Raleigh and Asheville. By 1946, service between Pittsburgh and New York City was introduced.

By 1950, the airline's network had grown further southward to include Atlanta, Mobile, and New Orleans, while also extending westward to Minneapolis. Memphis and Huntsville were incorporated by 1953 alongside cooperative interchange flights with National Airlines serving Florida destinations.

Leading up to its merger with United Airlines in 1960, Capital Airlines operated flights throughout Florida covering cities such as Jacksonville, Miami, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and West Palm Beach. This comprehensive route system demonstrated the airline’s focused expansion within domestic markets prior to consolidation.

Destinations as of 1961

According to the June 1, 1961 timetable for Capital Airlines, service included the destinations listed below. Locations shown in bold were served by Boeing 720 jet aircraft:


Destinations discontinued by 1961

In 1955, Capital Airlines served the following smaller cities but had ceased operations to these locations by 1961:

Aircraft lineup in 1961

The timetable dated June 1, 1961 lists the following aircraft types in active service:

  • Boeing 720 – the airline’s only jet model; operated with crews from Capital and leased.
  • Douglas DC-3
  • Douglas DC-4
  • Douglas DC-6
  • Douglas DC-6B – included in the listing though returned to Pan Am as of May 1961.
  • Vickers Viscount – the sole turboprop type flown; subsequently operated by United Airlines after acquisition.

Prior to 1960, Capital Airlines flew Lockheed Constellations and had placed orders for Bristol Britannia turboprops (1956), de Havilland Comet jets (1956), Convair 880 jets (1958), and Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprops (1959). However, none of these models entered their fleet. This composition illustrates Capital’s strategic approach of maintaining a diverse aircraft portfolio to effectively serve its markets and sustain competitiveness prior to merging with United Airlines.

Notable accidents and incidents

November 16, 1935
A Central Airlines Stinson Model A (NO-15107) was compelled to perform an emergency landing after all three engines failed shortly after departure from Allegheny County Airport. The pilot executed a wheels-up landing on an incomplete runway segment. No injuries were reported; however, the aircraft endured significant damage due to fuel contamination.
August 31, 1940
PCA Trip 19, a Douglas DC-3-313 (NC21789), crashed following incapacitation of the pilots caused by a lightning strike amid a thunderstorm. All 25 passengers and crew perished. This incident marked the deadliest U.S. airline accident at that time.
April 16, 1941
Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 143, operating a Boeing 247D (NC13359), crashed near St. Albans, West Virginia after failure of the right engine shortly after takeoff. There were serious injuries but no fatalities.
October 2, 1941
PCA Trip 142, a Douglas DC-3 (NC25691), overran the runway at Morgantown, West Virginia due to delayed application of brakes by the captain. The aircraft sustained damage but no one was hurt.
March 2, 1942
PCA Trip 17, flying a Douglas DC-3 (NC21788), landed long on a snow-covered runway at Detroit City Airport and crashed through a fence causing extensive damage; no injuries occurred.
April 14, 1945
Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 142, operated by a Douglas DC-3-313A (NC25692), crashed near Morgantown due to pilot error resulting in the deaths of all 20 onboard.
January 6, 1946
Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 105, a Douglas DC-3 (NC21786), crashed during approach to Birmingham Municipal Airport. Three crew members died while several passengers sustained injuries.
September 12, 1946
A PCA Douglas DC-4 (NX91068) executed an emergency landing in Washington, D.C. after an engine fire. The crew suffered minor injuries and the aircraft was heavily damaged.
May 8, 1947
A Capital Airlines Douglas DC-3 (NC11917) experienced left engine failure during a ferry flight and conducted a forced wheels-up landing resulting in significant damage but no casualties.
June 13, 1947
Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 410, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (NC88842), crashed near Charles Town, West Virginia while en route from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C., killing all fifty passengers and crew aboard.
April 27, 1949
Capital Airlines Trip 40, flying a Douglas DC-3 (NC25689), made an emergency landing near Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania with minor damage and no injuries reported.
August 7, 1949
Capital Airlines Flight 19, operating a Douglas DC-3 (NC25689), collided mid-air with a Cessna near Milwaukee. The Cessna was destroyed with fatalities while the DC-3 sustained wing damage but landed safely without injuries.
December 12, 1949
Capital Airlines Flight 500, a Douglas DC-3-313A (NC45379), stalled and crashed into the Potomac River near Washington D.C., resulting in six fatalities out of twenty-three onboard.
February 20, 1956
Capital Airlines Flight 141, a Vickers Viscount 744 (N7404), suffered severe damage following a hard landing at Chicago Midway caused by propeller control failure. All passengers survived; the aircraft was later transferred to Trans-Canada Air Lines service.
June 22, 1957
A Capital Airlines Douglas C-47 (N88835) crashed during training exercises near Clarksburg, Maryland due to stall and spin from loss of airspeed. All crew members aboard lost their lives.
April 6, 1958
Capital Airlines Flight 67, flying Vickers Viscount 745D (N7437), crashed during approach to Saginaw, Michigan because of ice buildup on the horizontal stabilizer. All forty-seven onboard perished.
May 20, 1958
Capital Airlines Flight 300 collided with an Air National Guard Lockheed T-33 near Brunswick Maryland. The Vickers Viscount (N7410) crash resulted in eleven fatalities onboard plus one crew member from the T-33.
June 4, 1958
Capital Airlines Flight 3 operated by a Douglas C-53B (N49553), crashed at Martinsburg Airport after trainee pilot stalled on takeoff and instructor failed to properly intervene.
May 12, 1959
Capital Airlines Flight 983 piloted a Lockheed L-049E Constellation (N2735A) that ground looped upon landing at Charleston due to wet runway conditions. The aircraft caught fire causing two deaths among forty-four occupants.
May 12, 1959
Capital Airlines Flight 75’s Vickers Viscount (N7463) disintegrated mid-flight amid thunderstorms near Chase Maryland killing all thirty-one onboard.
August 26, 1959
A Capital Airlines Douglas DC-3 (N44993) lost control during landing at Charleston and veered off into an embankment attributed to flawed landing technique.
January 18, 1960
Capital Airlines Flight 20’s Vickers Viscount (N7462) crashed at Holdcroft Virginia following complete loss of engine power. All fifty passengers and crew died.

See also

Sources

  • Charles Baptie, Capital Airlines: A Nostalgic Flight into the Past, Charles Baptie Studio, 1984
  • Airline History: Capital Airlines (archive.org)
  • Lloyd, Kristin B., "Flying the Capital Way, Part I," Historic Alexandria Quarterly, Winter 1997 (PDF)
  • Lloyd, Kristin B., "Flying the Capital Way, Part II," Historic Alexandria Quarterly, Spring 1998 (PDF)

External links

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