Incident Overview
Date: Friday 18 April 1952
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando
Owner/operator: Robin Airlines, lsf Air Charters
Registration Number: N8404C
Location: 3 km E of Whittier, CA –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 29 / Occupants: 29
Component Affected: The C-46 aircraft itself.The C-46 aircraft itself.
Investigating Agency: CABCAB
Category: Accident
A Curtiss C-46 aircraft, operated by North Continent Airlines, crashed into a hill at 980 feet altitude after descending below the cleared altitude. The pilot voluntarily descended below the minimum altitude for approach, resulting in a crash.A Curtiss C-46 aircraft, operated by North Continent Airlines, crashed into a hill at 980 feet altitude after descending below the cleared altitude. The pilot voluntarily descended below the minimum altitude for approach, resulting in a crash.
Description
The Curtiss C-46 had been cleared for a straight-in instrument approach. The crew were told to maintain 3000 feet until leaving the Downey marker. The aircraft descended below this altitude and crashed into a hill at 980 feet altitude. At the time of this accident Robin Airlines, Inc., was doing business as North Continent Airlines, although no authorization to change its name had been obtained from the Civil Aeronautics Board. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The action of the pilot in voluntarily descending below the minimum altitude for which he was cleared, and attempting an approach at an altitude too low to clear the terrain.”
Primary Cause
The pilot’s deliberate descent below the minimum altitude and attempt to approach at an altitude too low to clear the terrain.The pilot’s deliberate descent below the minimum altitude and attempt to approach at an altitude too low to clear the terrain.Share on:
