Date & Time:
Nov 11, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
NC90741
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Francisco – Chicago
MSN:
43046
YOM:
1947
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
0
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
435
Copilot / Total hours on type:
417
Aircraft flight hours:
142
Circumstances:
Enroute from San Francisco to Chicago, the crew informed ATC that a fire erupted in the rear compartment of the aircraft and decided to divert to Gallup Airport for an emergency landing. The aircraft was difficult to maneuver and landed in flames. After it came to a halt, all 25 occupants were quickly disembarked and helped by local rescuers before the aircraft being totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of these accidents was the combustion of gasoline which had entered the cabin heater combustion air intake scoop from the No 3 alternate tank vent due to inadvertent overflow during the transfer of fuel from the No 4 alternate tank.
The failure of the manufacturer and the Civil Aeronautics Administration to exercise full caution in the analysis of the fuel system of the DC-6 relative to proper location of fuel tank vents to provide non-hazardous location for fuel drainage, as required by existing regulations, and the insufficient attentiveness on the part of the manufacturer, the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and the air carriers to the procedures of fuel management employed by pilots operating DC-6 aircraft, were contributing factors.
This case was categorized as similar as the United Airlines' DC-6 that crashed in Bryce Canyon on October 24, 1947, killing all 52 occupants.
The failure of the manufacturer and the Civil Aeronautics Administration to exercise full caution in the analysis of the fuel system of the DC-6 relative to proper location of fuel tank vents to provide non-hazardous location for fuel drainage, as required by existing regulations, and the insufficient attentiveness on the part of the manufacturer, the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and the air carriers to the procedures of fuel management employed by pilots operating DC-6 aircraft, were contributing factors.
This case was categorized as similar as the United Airlines' DC-6 that crashed in Bryce Canyon on October 24, 1947, killing all 52 occupants.
Final Report:
NC90741.pdf767.79 KB
