Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 1 March 1938
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-2-112
Owner/operator: Transcontinental & Western Air – TWA
Registration Number: NC13789
Location: 13 km ENE Wawona, CA –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9
Component Affected: Flight control system (specifically, the pilot’s navigation and position referencing).Flight control system (specifically, the pilot’s navigation and position referencing).
Category: Accident
A catastrophic aviation incident occurred on June 12, 1938, resulting in the deaths of three crew members and six passengers after a crash into mountain terrain near Buena Vista Crest in Yosemite National Park. The investigation concluded that a combination of unfavorable wind conditions and pilot error ? specifically, a change in wind direction and a rapid increase in velocity ? led to the accident.A catastrophic aviation incident occurred on June 12, 1938, resulting in the deaths of three crew members and six passengers after a crash into mountain terrain near Buena Vista Crest in Yosemite National Park. The investigation concluded that a combination of unfavorable wind conditions and pilot error ? specifically, a change in wind direction and a rapid increase in velocity ? led to the accident.
Description
Crashed into mountain in poor weather. The wreckage found on Buena Vista Crest, Yosemite Nat’l Park, June 12, 1938. The three crew and six passengers died. It is the opinion of the Investigating Board that the probable cause of this accident was a change in wind direction and a sharp increase in velocity, unknown to the pilot, together with the pilot’s confusion as to his position with reference to the Fresno Radio Range station, which combined to bring about flight over mountainous terrain, ending in a crash at near his reported cruising altitude.
Primary Cause
Change in wind direction and a sharp increase in velocity, unknown to the pilot, combined with pilot’s confusion regarding his position with respect to the Fresno Radio Range station.Change in wind direction and a sharp increase in velocity, unknown to the pilot, combined with pilot’s confusion regarding his position with respect to the Fresno Radio Range station.Share on:
