Narrative:
Hughes Airwest Flight 706, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, and a US Marine Corps McDonnell F-4B Phantom both crashed following a mid-air collision 7 km north of Duarte, California, USA.
All 49 on board the DC-9 and the pilot of the Phantom were killed in the accident.
Flight 706
Hughes Airwest Flight 706 was a regularly scheduled flight from Los Angeles, California, to Seattle, Washington, with intermediate stops at Salt Lake City, Utah, Boise and Lewiston, Idaho, and Pasco and Yakima, Washington.
The flight departed Los Angeles International Airport at 18:02 local time and following radar vectors from Los Angeles Departure Control, contacted the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) at 18:06. The flight reported leaving 12,000 feet at 18:09, and the controller advised, "Air West seven zero six red, turn left heading zero four zero until receiving Daggett proceed direct." RW706 acknowledged, "OK. zero four zero direct to Daggett." This was the last recorded transmission from the flight.
Phantom
The U.S. Marine Corps F-4B Phantom, 151458, was part of a two-ship formation that had departed the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro, California on June 4, 1971 on an overnight cross-country return flight to McChord Air Force Base (AFB), Washington. During a refueling stop at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, on the way back, 151458 was grounded for repairs to have mechanical difficulties checked out. The radar and transponder were inoperative, there as an oxygen system leak and the radar system were degraded. Meanwhile the flight leader continued back to MCAS El Toro.
Maintenance personnel replaced a fuse to fix the radio, but they did not have the personnel to check the transponder. They confirmed the oxygen leak, but could not repair it. No attempt was made to restore the radar to peak performance at that time. The crew of 151458 then flew to Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Fallon, Nevada, for further repairs.
The maintenance personnel on duty at NAAS Fallon were unable to provide the appropriate repairs, so it was decided that the Phantom should continue to MCAS El Toro at low altitude.
The flight departed at 17:16, climbed initially to 7500 feet, and then climbed to 15500 feet to clear mountains and some clouds. After crossing the mountains, they descended to 5500 feet and later further down to 1000 feet. Due to deteriorating visibility, they again climbed to 15500 feet northwest of Palmdale.
The Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) was operating the radar in the mapping mode, but, due to the extremely degraded air-to-air detection capability, no airborne targets were seen.
Collision
At 18:11 both crew members of the Phantom jet suddenly noticed the DC-9 on their right hand side. The pilot initiated an evasive roll but a collision could not be avoided.
The Phantom struck the forward fuselage of the DC-9, causing the nose section of the DC-9 the separate from the fuselage.
The F-4 began to tumble violently about the lateral axis and the RIO ejected from the aircraft. He parachuted to the ground without injury.
The DC-9 crashed in a wooded canyon with approximately 60° slopes
PROBABLE CAUSE: The failure of both crews to see and avoid each other but it is recognized that they had only marginal capability to detect, assess, and avoid the collision. Other causal factors include a very high closure rate, comingling of IFR and VFR traffic in an area where the limitation of the ATC system precludes effective separation of such traffic, and failure of the crew of BuNo458 to request radar advisory service, particularly considering the fact that they had an inoperable transponder."
Loss of control
accident date: 06-06-1971
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
registration: N9345
accident date: 06-06-1971
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
registration: N9345
Closing diagram of Airwest DC-9 and F-4 Phantom near Duarte, CA
View from Airwest DC-9 flight deck prior to collision with F-4 Phantom
View from F-4 Phantom flight deck prior to collision with Airwest DC-9
accident date: 06-06-1971
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
registration: N9345
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 6 June 1971 |
| Time: | 18:11 |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 |
| Operator: | Hughes Airwest |
| Registration: | N9345 |
| MSN: | 47441/503 |
| First flight: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5542 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 44 / Occupants: 44 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 49 / Occupants: 49 |
| Collision casualties: | Fatalities: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 7 km (4.4 mls) N of Duarte, CA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America |
| Salt Lake City International Airport, UT (SLC/KSLC), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | RW706 |
Hughes Airwest Flight 706, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, and a US Marine Corps McDonnell F-4B Phantom both crashed following a mid-air collision 7 km north of Duarte, California, USA.
All 49 on board the DC-9 and the pilot of the Phantom were killed in the accident.
Flight 706
Hughes Airwest Flight 706 was a regularly scheduled flight from Los Angeles, California, to Seattle, Washington, with intermediate stops at Salt Lake City, Utah, Boise and Lewiston, Idaho, and Pasco and Yakima, Washington.
The flight departed Los Angeles International Airport at 18:02 local time and following radar vectors from Los Angeles Departure Control, contacted the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) at 18:06. The flight reported leaving 12,000 feet at 18:09, and the controller advised, "Air West seven zero six red, turn left heading zero four zero until receiving Daggett proceed direct." RW706 acknowledged, "OK. zero four zero direct to Daggett." This was the last recorded transmission from the flight.
Phantom
The U.S. Marine Corps F-4B Phantom, 151458, was part of a two-ship formation that had departed the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro, California on June 4, 1971 on an overnight cross-country return flight to McChord Air Force Base (AFB), Washington. During a refueling stop at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, on the way back, 151458 was grounded for repairs to have mechanical difficulties checked out. The radar and transponder were inoperative, there as an oxygen system leak and the radar system were degraded. Meanwhile the flight leader continued back to MCAS El Toro.
Maintenance personnel replaced a fuse to fix the radio, but they did not have the personnel to check the transponder. They confirmed the oxygen leak, but could not repair it. No attempt was made to restore the radar to peak performance at that time. The crew of 151458 then flew to Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Fallon, Nevada, for further repairs.
The maintenance personnel on duty at NAAS Fallon were unable to provide the appropriate repairs, so it was decided that the Phantom should continue to MCAS El Toro at low altitude.
The flight departed at 17:16, climbed initially to 7500 feet, and then climbed to 15500 feet to clear mountains and some clouds. After crossing the mountains, they descended to 5500 feet and later further down to 1000 feet. Due to deteriorating visibility, they again climbed to 15500 feet northwest of Palmdale.
The Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) was operating the radar in the mapping mode, but, due to the extremely degraded air-to-air detection capability, no airborne targets were seen.
Collision
At 18:11 both crew members of the Phantom jet suddenly noticed the DC-9 on their right hand side. The pilot initiated an evasive roll but a collision could not be avoided.
The Phantom struck the forward fuselage of the DC-9, causing the nose section of the DC-9 the separate from the fuselage.
The F-4 began to tumble violently about the lateral axis and the RIO ejected from the aircraft. He parachuted to the ground without injury.
The DC-9 crashed in a wooded canyon with approximately 60° slopes
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: The failure of both crews to see and avoid each other but it is recognized that they had only marginal capability to detect, assess, and avoid the collision. Other causal factors include a very high closure rate, comingling of IFR and VFR traffic in an area where the limitation of the ATC system precludes effective separation of such traffic, and failure of the crew of BuNo458 to request radar advisory service, particularly considering the fact that they had an inoperable transponder."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Mid air collisionLoss of control
Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 10 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
accident date: 06-06-1971
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
registration: N9345
accident date: 06-06-1971
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
registration: N9345
Closing diagram of Airwest DC-9 and F-4 Phantom near Duarte, CA
View from Airwest DC-9 flight deck prior to collision with F-4 Phantom
View from F-4 Phantom flight deck prior to collision with Airwest DC-9
accident date: 06-06-1971
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
registration: N9345
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 Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Salt Lake City International Airport, UT as the crow flies is 943 km (589 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Salt Lake City International Airport, UT as the crow flies is 943 km (589 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.
languages: 
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DC-9-30
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