Statuts:	Enquête Officielle
Date:	24 AVR 1946
Heure:	01:57
Type/Sous-type:	Douglas DC-3A-367
Compagnie:	Western Air Lines
Immatriculation:	NC33621
Numéro de série:	3286
Année de Fabrication:	1941
Heures de vol:	13354
Moteurs:	2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830
Equipage:	victimes: 3 / à bord: 3
Passagers:	victimes: 0 / à bord: 0
Total:	victimes: 3 / à bord: 3
Dégats de l'appareil:	Perte Totale
Conséquences:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Lieu de l'accident:	3 km (1.9 milles) NW of Hollywood, CA (Etats-Unis d'Amérique)
Phase de vol:	En approche (APR)
Nature:	Test
Aéroport de départ:	Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA (BUR/KBUR), Etats-Unis d'Amérique
Aéroport de destination:	Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA (BUR/KBUR), Etats-Unis d'Amérique

Détails:
The DC-3 departed Hollywood at night for a test flight following an engine change. After reporting an engine failure the pilot tried to return to the airport. In conditions of ground fog the aircraft approached too high. While maneuvering for another approach the DC-3 struck eucalyptus trees, crashed and burst into flames in the yard of 11723 Lorne Street, North Hollywood. Excessive oil accumulation in the no. 8 cylinder on the no. 1 engine forced the crew to shut it down.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The action of the pilot in descending to an excessively low altitude in an attempt to remain contact after encountering ground fog during an approach for an emergency landing. A contributing factor was failure of the left engine due to excessive oil accumulation in the No. 8 cylinder prior to starting the engine. A further contributing factor was the failure of maintenance personnel to take proper precaution for drainage of oil accumulation prior to starting the engine."

Sources:
» CAB File No. 872-46