Last updated: 20 January 2021
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | Thursday 5 September 1946 |
| Time: | 01:32 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47A-5-DL (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Trans-Luxury Airlines |
| Registration: | NC57850 |
| C/n / msn: | 9214 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2137 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 18 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 21 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 4 km (2.5 mls) W of Elko, NV ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Cheyenne Airport, WY (CYS/KCYS), United States of America |
| Elko Airport, NV (EKO/KEKO), United States of America |
The DC-3 lost visual contact in ground fog while approaching Elko. It struck the ground 20 feet below the top of up sloping terrain, cleared the top and disintegrated and burned. Weather at the time of the accident included: ceiling measured 200 feet, thin overcast; lower thin scattered clouds at 100 feet; visibility 7 miles; wind ENE at 6 mph; altimeter setting 30.14.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's action in continuing a landing approach after having lost visual contract with the airport under conditions of dense ground fog. A contributing factor was the pilot's unfamiliarity with the terrain in the immediate vicinity of the airport."
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» CAB File No. 2267-46Photos
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 Cheyenne Airport, WY to Elko Airport, NV as the crow flies is 915 km (572 miles).
Distance from Cheyenne Airport, WY to Elko Airport, NV as the crow flies is 915 km (572 miles).
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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 2383rd loss
- 720th fatal accident
- 68th worst accident (at the time)
- 224th worst accident (currently)