Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 2 January 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-49J (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 43-1982
Location: Los Angeles-Mines Field, California (LAX) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: C-49 AircraftC-49 Aircraft
Category: Accident
A C-49 cargo aircraft, en route to Mines Field, experienced a sudden and catastrophic collision with high-tension power lines at McClellan Field. The pilot initiated a go-around due to ground fog, subsequently descending for approximately one mile before striking trees, power lines, and a house. The aircraft then crashed into a car, resulting in a fire. The wreckage was found in a vacant lot.A C-49 cargo aircraft, en route to Mines Field, experienced a sudden and catastrophic collision with high-tension power lines at McClellan Field. The pilot initiated a go-around due to ground fog, subsequently descending for approximately one mile before striking trees, power lines, and a house. The aircraft then crashed into a car, resulting in a fire. The wreckage was found in a vacant lot.
Description
The C-49 departed McClellan Field at 18:30 on a cargo flight to Mines Field. Instrument conditions existed en route and during descent. At 21:17 the airplane was cleared to land on runway 07L. Visibility was good apart from some ground fog on the eastern side of the runway. The pilot was surprise by the ground fog and carried out a go around. The airplane continued on runway heading for about a mile before it collided with high tension power lines. The airplane continued to descend. It struck trees, power lines and clipped a house at 5053W 106th Street. The C-49 then crashed into a car and came to rest in a vacant lot at 5016 W 106th Street where it burst into flames
Source of Information
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.asphttp://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.aspPrimary Cause
Ground fog conditions reduced visibility significantly, leading to a pilot’s unexpected go-around and subsequent collision with power lines.Ground fog conditions reduced visibility significantly, leading to a pilot’s unexpected go-around and subsequent collision with power lines.Share on:
