Date & Time:
Jan 12, 1947 at 0138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NC88872
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Detroit – Cleveland – Akron – Winston-Salem
MSN:
3274
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
EA665
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
3
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
15
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
18
Captain / Total hours on type:
1939
Copilot / Total hours on type:
326
Aircraft flight hours:
7680
Circumstances:
While cruising at the altitude of 2,500 feet in bad weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Galax. A passenger was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in attempting a let-down without having positively determined the position of the aircraft. A contributing factor was the erroneous navigation of the pilot which on at least two occasions led him to believe that he was farther south than he actually was.
Final Report:
NC88872.pdf577.29 KB
