Statuts:	Enquête Officielle
Date:	17 JAN 1942
Heure:	19:20
Type/Sous-type:	Douglas DC-3-382
Compagnie:	Transcontinental & Western Air - TWA
Immatriculation:	NC1946
Numéro de série:	3295
Année de Fabrication:	1941
Moteurs:	2 Wright G-202A
Equipage:	victimes: 3 / à bord: 3
Passagers:	victimes: 19 / à bord: 19
Total:	victimes: 22 / à bord: 22
Dégats de l'appareil:	Perte Totale
Conséquences:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Lieu de l'accident:	53 km (33.1 milles) SW of Las Vegas, NV (Etats-Unis d'Amérique)
Phase de vol:	En vol (ENR)
Nature:	Transport de Passagers Nat.
Aéroport de départ:	Las Vegas Airport, NV, Etats-Unis d'Amérique
Aéroport de destination:	Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA (BUR/KBUR), Etats-Unis d'Amérique
Numéro de vol:	3

Détails:
The DC-3 collided with an almost vertical rock cliff, near the top of Potosi Mountain in the Spring Mountain Range. The point of impact was at an elevation of approximately 7,770 feet above sea level, about 80 feet below the top of the cliff, and abut 730 feet below the crest of the mountain, which has an elevation of about 8,500 feet above sea level.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "Upon the basis of the foregoing findings and of the entire record available at this time, we find that the probable cause of the accident to aircraft NC 1946 on January 16, 1942, was the failure of the captain after departure from Las Vegas to follow the proper course by making use of the navigational facilities available to him.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1. The use of an erroneous compass course.; 2. Blackout of most of the beacons in the neighborhood of the accident made necessary by the was emergency.; 3. Failure of the pilot to comply with TWA's directive of July 17, 1941, issued in accordance with a suggestion from the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics requesting pilots to confine their flight movements to the actual on-course signals."

Sources:
» CAB File No. 119-42
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