Narrative:
The DC-4, named "Flagship New England", departed New York-LaGuardia (LGA) at 12:14 on October 2, 1946 bound for Shannon (SNN), Ireland and Berlin, Germany. Prior to crossing the Atlantic, an intermediate stop was planned at Gander in Canada. Poor visibility at Gander forced the crew to land at their alternate, Stephenville-Harmon Field. The DC-4 arrived there at 16:30. In order to provide the necessary crew rest, a 12-hour stopover was made with a scheduled departure at 04:45. The flight was cleared to taxi to runway 30 for departure. As the wind appeared to be from 90 degrees at 9 kts, the tower operator advised the crew to taxi to runway 07 instead. At the time of the takeoff the ceiling was reported 5,000 feet, overcast; visibility 10 miles. Neither moon nor stars were visible through the overcast as the flight took off towards unlit terrain. It was general practice for flights using runway 07 to turn right immediately after takeoff to avoid rising terrain. After takeoff the DC-4 continued in a straight line and collided with a steep ridge at an elevation of 1160 feet, 7,1 miles past the runway.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The action of the pilot in maintaining the direction of take-off toward higher terrain over which adequate clearance could not be gained."
» CAB
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 3 October 1946 |
| Time: | 05:03 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-54E-5-DO (DC-4) |
| Operator: | American Overseas Airlines |
| Registration: | NC90904 |
| MSN: | 27290 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3731 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2000-9 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 31 / Occupants: 31 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 39 / Occupants: 39 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 11,4 km (7.1 mls) NE of Stephenville-Harmon AAB, NL (YJT) ( Canada)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 354 m (1161 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Stephenville Air Base, NL (YJT/CYJT), Canada |
| Shannon Airport (SNN/EINN), Ireland |
The DC-4, named "Flagship New England", departed New York-LaGuardia (LGA) at 12:14 on October 2, 1946 bound for Shannon (SNN), Ireland and Berlin, Germany. Prior to crossing the Atlantic, an intermediate stop was planned at Gander in Canada. Poor visibility at Gander forced the crew to land at their alternate, Stephenville-Harmon Field. The DC-4 arrived there at 16:30. In order to provide the necessary crew rest, a 12-hour stopover was made with a scheduled departure at 04:45. The flight was cleared to taxi to runway 30 for departure. As the wind appeared to be from 90 degrees at 9 kts, the tower operator advised the crew to taxi to runway 07 instead. At the time of the takeoff the ceiling was reported 5,000 feet, overcast; visibility 10 miles. Neither moon nor stars were visible through the overcast as the flight took off towards unlit terrain. It was general practice for flights using runway 07 to turn right immediately after takeoff to avoid rising terrain. After takeoff the DC-4 continued in a straight line and collided with a steep ridge at an elevation of 1160 feet, 7,1 miles past the runway.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The action of the pilot in maintaining the direction of take-off toward higher terrain over which adequate clearance could not be gained."
Accident investigation:
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Air Britain Casualty compendium (pt. 44)» CAB
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Stephenville Air Base, NL to Shannon Airport as the crow flies is 3436 km (2147 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Stephenville Air Base, NL to Shannon Airport as the crow flies is 3436 km (2147 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-4
- 1242 built
- 57th loss
- 28th fatal accident
- 2nd worst accident (at the time)
- 31st worst accident (currently)
Canada- The worst accident (at the time)
- 10th worst accident (currently)
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