Date:	Tuesday 24 December 1946
Time:	19:19
Type:	Douglas DC-3A
Owner/operator:	Western Air Lines
Registration:	NC45395
MSN:	11642
Year of manufacture:	1943
Total airframe hrs:	3699 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3-G
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	80 km E of San Diego, CA -   United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Holtville Airport, CA
Destination airport:	San Diego International Airport, CA (SAN/KSAN)
Investigating agency:	CAB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The flight departed Holtville at 18:50 and was cleared to San Diego on a contact flight plan to cruise at 7,000 feet. En route at 19:09, the flight made a position report to the company radio at Los Angeles advising that it was over Mt. Laguna at 7,000 feet. Ten minutes later the crew had initiated a descent. At an altitude of 6120 feet the DC-3 flew into the east slope of Cuyapaipe Mountain, 75 feet below the crest. The wreckage was found three days later.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the conduct of the flight at an altitude which would not clear obstructions, due to an error by the pilot in determining his position with respect to Laguna Mountain."

Air Britain Casualty compendium (pt. 45)
CAB File No. 5565-46

photo (c) Olivia Taylor; San Diego, CA; 30 December 1946

Date/time	Contributor	Updates