Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 22 August 1954
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Braniff International Airways
Registration Number: N61451
Location: 26 km S of Mason City, IA –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 19
Component Affected: The DC-3 aircraftThe DC-3 aircraft
Investigating Agency: CABCAB
Category: Accident
A DC-3 aircraft, operating a flight from Memphis to Minneapolis, crashed into the ground due to a severe thunderstorm encounter. The aircraft turned toward a light spot, leading to a ground impact at a considerable distance.A DC-3 aircraft, operating a flight from Memphis to Minneapolis, crashed into the ground due to a severe thunderstorm encounter. The aircraft turned toward a light spot, leading to a ground impact at a considerable distance.
Description
The aircraft operated on a flight from Memphis to Minneapolis with some scheduled stops in between. The flight departed Memphis at 08:35 CST and departed Waterloo, one of the stops, at 16:41. Eyewitnesses near Mason City saw the DC-3 make a left turn proceeding toward a light spot in a thunderstorm. The aircraft entered and disappeared into the thunderstorm at a height of 400-500 feet, crashing into the ground about a mile further on. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The flight while endeavouring to traverse a thunderstorm area encountered very heavy rain, divergent winds, and strong downdrafts that forced the aircraft to the ground.”
Primary Cause
Heavy rain, divergent winds, and strong downdrafts within a thunderstorm area forced the aircraft to the ground.Heavy rain, divergent winds, and strong downdrafts within a thunderstorm area forced the aircraft to the ground.Share on:
