Narrative:The Constellation departed San Francisco runway 28L at 00:28 for an IFR flight to New York. Three minutes later the crew were advised that they were to the left of the prescribed departure course. Just 10 seconds later the plane crashed into rising terrain of Sweeney's Ridge.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The probable cause was that the pilot, for undetermined reasons, deviated from departure course into an area of rising terrain where downdraft activity and turbulence affected the climb capability of the aircraft sufficiently to prevent terrain clearance."
Sources:
» ICAO Aircraft Accident Digest No.16 - Volume III, Circular 82-AN/69 (142-153)
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 San Francisco International Airport, CA to New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY as the crow flies is 4124 km (2577 miles).