Statuts:	Enquête Officielle
Date:	13 NOV 1946
Heure:	03:41
Type/Sous-type:	Douglas C-53D-DO (DC-3)
Compagnie:	Western Air Lines
Immatriculation:	NC18645
Numéro de série:	11662
Année de Fabrication:	1943
Heures de vol:	6229
Moteurs:	2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92
Equipage:	victimes: 3 / à bord: 3
Passagers:	victimes: 8 / à bord: 8
Total:	victimes: 11 / à bord: 11
Dégats de l'appareil:	Perte Totale
Conséquences:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Lieu de l'accident:	22,5 km (14.1 milles) S of Lebec, CA (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:	23

Détails:
The flight departed Las Vegas for Burbank at 01:50 on an instrument flight plan to cruise at 10.000 feet. Near Burbank the flight deviated off airways and the let down was started over mountainous terrain. While descending through 5900 feet, the DC-3 flew into the northern slope of White Mountain approximately 75 feet from the crest, 10 miles west of the airway.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in making an instrument letdown without previously establishing a positive radio fix. This action was aggravated by conditions of severe static, wind in excess of anticipated velocities, preoccupation with an unusual amount of radio conversation, and the inoperative Newhall radio range."

Sources:
» CAB File No. 5413-46
Sample newspaper article from Newspaperarchive.com