ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-3D N15HC Houston-Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Saturday 1 February 1975
Time:08:58
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC3 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas DC-3D
Operator:Horizon Properties
Registration: N15HC
MSN: 43080
First flight: 1944
Crew:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 14
Total:Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 16
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:Houston-Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH) (   United States of America)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Lawton Municipal Airport, OK (LAW/KLAW), United States of America
Destination airport:Huntsville Airport, TX (HTV/KUTS), United States of America
Narrative:
Weather at Huntsville was below minima, so the flight was diverted to Houston Intercontinental Airport. The runway 08 ILS approach was abandoned due to intermittent operation of the aircraft ILS localizer receiver instruments. The crew then tried an NDB approach with Houston TRICON monitoring on surveillance radar. The DC-3 continued descent below minimum descent altitude until the left wing collided with a 23 m high power line tower, located 3 km short of the runway. About 5 m of wing was torn off; the aircraft continued 195 m before striking the ground in a 30-degree nose down and inverted attitude.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE:
pilot in command - improper in-flight decisions or planning
pilot in command - improper ifr operation
FACTORS:
weather - low ceiling
weather - fog
terrain - high obstructions
miscellaneous acts,conditions - pilot fatigue

Classification:
Insufficient rest / fatigue
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground

Sources:
» NTSB


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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 Lawton Municipal Airport, OK to Huntsville Airport, TX as the crow flies is 497 km (311 miles).

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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