Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 29 December 1951
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando
Owner/operator: Continental Charters
Registration Number: N3944C
Location: near Salamanca, NY –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 26 / Occupants: 40
Component Affected: The aircraftThe aircraft
Investigating Agency: CABCAB
Category: Accident
A flight involving Flight 44-2 experienced a near-miss incident due to deteriorating instrument weather conditions near Little Valley, NY. The aircraft attempted a visual reference flight, resulting in a collision with a wooded area. The incident was likely caused by the captain’s poor judgment in relying on visual reference during those challenging conditions.A flight involving Flight 44-2 experienced a near-miss incident due to deteriorating instrument weather conditions near Little Valley, NY. The aircraft attempted a visual reference flight, resulting in a collision with a wooded area. The incident was likely caused by the captain’s poor judgment in relying on visual reference during those challenging conditions.
Description
Despite the instrument weather conditions, Flight 44-2 departed Pittsburgh at 21:47 on a VFR flight plan. The crew flew at a low altitude in order to maintain visual reference. Near Little Valley, NY the aircraft flew into a wooded area on a hill, some 15 miles off the direct route to Buffalo. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The captain’s poor judgement in attempting a flight by visual reference during instrument weather conditions.”
Primary Cause
The captain’s poor judgment in attempting a flight by visual reference during instrument weather conditions.The captain’s poor judgment in attempting a flight by visual reference during instrument weather conditions.Share on:
