Narrative:
An Overseas National Douglas C-54D (N79992, msn 10832) took off from Oakland Airport, California at 08:20 on a captain's instrument competency check. At 09:23 the flight was given clearance to make a practice range approach and to remain above 1500 feet. At 09:35 a California Eastern DC-4 (N4002B, msn 10474) took off from Oakland for a similar check-flight.
The two aircraft approached Oakland Range (located 0,2 mile NE of runway 15) at 3000 feet; the Overseas National aircraft on a 124° heading at a speed of 140 mph, the California Eastern plane on a 75° heading at a speed of 170 mph. Both aircraft continued until they collided. The empennage of the ONA aircraft was torn off and the plane crashed on a highway and caught fire. Eleven people on the ground were injured. The California Eastern aircraft was able to make an emergency landing at San Francisco Airport.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the Overseas safety pilot and/or his observer to observe and so avoid the other aircraft and the failure of California's safety pilot to carry a qualified observer aboard the aircraft to insure adequate field of vision."
Forced landing on runway
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 17 November 1951 |
| Time: | 10:14 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-4 |
| Operator: | California Eastern Airways |
| Registration: | N4002B |
| MSN: | 10474 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Oakland Range, CA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Oakland International Airport, CA (OAK/KOAK), United States of America |
| Oakland International Airport, CA (OAK/KOAK), United States of America |
An Overseas National Douglas C-54D (N79992, msn 10832) took off from Oakland Airport, California at 08:20 on a captain's instrument competency check. At 09:23 the flight was given clearance to make a practice range approach and to remain above 1500 feet. At 09:35 a California Eastern DC-4 (N4002B, msn 10474) took off from Oakland for a similar check-flight.
The two aircraft approached Oakland Range (located 0,2 mile NE of runway 15) at 3000 feet; the Overseas National aircraft on a 124° heading at a speed of 140 mph, the California Eastern plane on a 75° heading at a speed of 170 mph. Both aircraft continued until they collided. The empennage of the ONA aircraft was torn off and the plane crashed on a highway and caught fire. Eleven people on the ground were injured. The California Eastern aircraft was able to make an emergency landing at San Francisco Airport.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the Overseas safety pilot and/or his observer to observe and so avoid the other aircraft and the failure of California's safety pilot to carry a qualified observer aboard the aircraft to insure adequate field of vision."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Mid air collisionForced landing on runway
Sources:
» CAB File No. 1-0098Photos
Map
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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