Zone
California

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Palm Springs: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1973 at 1604 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I
Operator:
Prescott Valley Flying Service
Registration:
N42J
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Phoenix - Palm Springs
MSN:
421A-0185
YOM:
1968
Location:
Palm Springs
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2190
Circumstances:
On approach to Palm Springs Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was found a day later and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who conducted improper or non-standard IFR approach for unknown reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon in Palm Springs

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1967 at 0712 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Registration:
N7436C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15-1502
YOM:
1945
Location:
Palm Springs
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
13000
Captain / Total hours on type:
600.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Palm Springs Airport, the right engine failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing, reduced his altitude and was able to land in a prairie near the airport. While both occupants were uninjured, the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair. Initially manufactured as a Lockheed PV-2D Harpoon for the US Navy, the airplane was later converted by Oakland Airmotive Corporation as an 'Oakland Centaurus' prototype.
Probable cause:
Failure of the piston n° 13 of the right engine, resulting in exhaust and intake valves remaining open.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 near Palm Springs: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1965 at 1721 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Paul Kelly Flying Service
Registration:
N243F
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Palm Springs – Hollywood
MSN:
23-063
YOM:
1965
Location:
Palm Springs
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
15100
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
160
Copilot / Total hours on type:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
43
Circumstances:
About 1721 P.s.t., November 14, 1965, Lear Jet Model 23, N243F, operated as a free transportation flight by the Paul Kelly Flying Service, Inc., crashed shortly after a night takeoff from the Palm Springs Airport at Palm Springs, California. The crash was in the Indio Hills approximately 13 miles east of the airport. The six passengers and two crewmembers were fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire. The flight, which was to transport the passengers to Burbank, California, was observed to depart Runway 13 in a normal manner, commence a low-angle climbout, and accelerate to a relatively high speed. Shortly after takeoff the pilot called the Thermal, California Flight Service Station. Although station personnel responded immediately, there were no other transmissions from the flight. About this time the aircraft was observed to make a left turn beneath a low cloud base of about 3,000 feet, proceed in a northerly direction and then enter a steep dive from horizontal flight, and crash. All eight occupants were killed.


Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was spatial disorientation of the pilot, resulting in a loss of control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-240-1 in Palm Springs

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1958 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-240
Operator:
Registration:
N8405H
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Las Vegas – Palm Springs – San Diego
MSN:
22
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
WA019
Location:
Palm Springs
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9845
Captain / Total hours on type:
3547.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5240
Copilot / Total hours on type:
785
Aircraft flight hours:
22516
Circumstances:
About 1342 Flight 19 took off from runway 31. The takeoff appeared normal, and the aircraft climbed to approximately 500 feet above the ground. At this time several ground witnesses saw two or more silvery pieces separate from the aircraft. Most witnesses said the pieces seemingly separated from the area of the right wing. Almost simultaneously the aircraft was observed to nose down sharply and descend at a steep angle. As it neared the ground it leveled off considerably but continued to descend. It contacted the ground raising a large cloud of dust and then disappeared from the view of the observers behind intervening higher terrain. Seconds later large columns of smoke were seen rising from the accident site. During the ground roll the aircraft struck large boulders in its path and fire occurred which consumed the major portion of the aircraft. There were no fatalities but serious injuries resulted to 5 of the 18 passengers and minor injuries to most of the others. The crew of three received minor or slight injuries.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of a mechanic to secure properly the right wing leading edge section as a result of which the unit separated in flight. This improper installation was undetected because of inadequate inspection. The following findings were reported:
- During the departure from Palm Springs the right wing leading edge separated in flight,
- Separation of the component resulted in severe control difficulty and buffeting of the aircraft,
- A gear-down emergency landing was made in the boulder-strewn desert about four miles north-northwest of the airport,
- During the ground roll impacts with the boulders caused severe damage and breakup of the aircraft, and a fire in the left wing spread rapidly and destroyed the aircraft,
- N8405H received a No. 3, areas 1 and 3, heavy maintenance check about two hours of flying time before the accident,
- During the maintenance a mechanic assigned to close and secure the right leading edge forgot to install the retaining screws,
- The gap straps were properly installed,
- An inadequate inspection of the aircraft by the lead mechanic resulted in his failure to detect the omission,
- The gap straps held the leading edge in place until the Palm Springs departure when they failed from loads beyond their design strength.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Auburn: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1945 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16374
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Davis Monthan – Palm Springs – McClellan
MSN:
20840
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
115
Location:
Auburn
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Palm Springs in VFR conditions but while approaching the Sacramento area, the crew should continue in IFR mode. While descending to McClellan AFB, pilots were unable to locate the airport and were unaware of their exact position when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on a wooded mountain located three miles northwest of Auburn, about 20 miles northeast of the McClellan AFB. All three crew members and six passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-178 near Palm Springs: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1942 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC16017
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Burbank – Phoenix
MSN:
1555
YOM:
1936
Flight number:
AA028
Location:
Palm Springs
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Captain / Total flying hours:
17155
Captain / Total hours on type:
5000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
863
Copilot / Total hours on type:
353
Circumstances:
While cruising on airway 5 at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the DC-3 collided with a USAAF Lockheed B-34 Ventura II registered 41-38116 and performing a flight from Long Beach to Palm Springs with two pilots on board. Following the collision, the DC-3 dove into the ground and crashed 3 miles north of Palm Springs, killing all 12 occupants. The Ventura was able to land safely at Palm Springs Airport. The American composer Ralph Rainger was among the passengers.
Crew:
Charles Fred Pedley, pilot,
Louis Frederick Reppert Jr., copilot,
Estelle Frances Regan, stewardess.
Probable cause:
The evidence of the record leaves no doubt as to the cause of, or the responsibility for, this accident. The pilot of the Bomber testified with great frankness to the facts, which showed that no diverged from his military mission to fly the Bomber in close proximity to the Airliner for the express purpose of signalling friend in the copilot's seat of the letter plane. Such conduct was wholly without justification. The investigation discloses no basis for any inference that the pilot in command of the Airliner was aware of the reason for Lieutenant Wilson's conduct or that he sought in any manner to cooperate with Lieutenant Wilson in any plan of reciprocal solution. Both the pilot and copilot of the Bomber testified that they observed no maneuver of recognition from the Airlines in response to the Bomber's wing-dip salute. Board is driven to the conclusion that this collision resulted from the reckless and irresponsible act of the Bomber pilot and that the captain of the Airliner was without fault.

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