Last updated: 12 May 2021
| Status: | |
| Date: | Tuesday 1 March 1938 |
| Time: | ca 21:30 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-2-112 |
| Operator: | Transcontinental & Western Air - TWA |
| Registration: | NC13789 |
| MSN: | 1299 |
| First flight: | 1935 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 13 km (8.1 mls) ENE Wawona, CA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | San Francisco Municipal Airport, CA (SFO/KSFO), United States of America |
| Winslow Airport, AZ (INW/KINW), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 8 |
Crashed into mountain in poor weather. The wreckage found on Buena Vista Crest, Yosemite Nat'l Park, June 12, 1938. The three crew and six passengers died.
Probable Cause:
It is the opinion of the Investigating Board that the probable cause of this accident was a change in wind direction and a sharp increase in velocity, unknown to the pilot, together with the pilot's confusion as to his position with reference to the Fresno Radio Range station, which combined to bring about flight over mountainous terrain, ending in a crash at near his reported cruising altitude.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
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 Municipal Airport, CA to Winslow Airport, AZ as the crow flies is 1075 km (672 miles).
Distance from San Francisco Municipal Airport, CA to Winslow Airport, AZ as the crow flies is 1075 km (672 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.
