Last updated: 21 September 2020
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | Friday 18 April 1952 |
| Time: | 03:34 |
| Type: |  Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando |
| Operating for: | Robin Airlines |
| Leased from: | Air Charters |
| Registration: | N8404C |
| C/n / msn: | 22466 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-75 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 26 / Occupants: 26 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 29 / Occupants: 29 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 3 km (1.9 mls) E of Whittier, CA ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ (PHX/KPHX), United States of America |
| Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA (BUR/KBUR), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 416W |
The Curtiss C-46 had been cleared for a straight-in instrument approach. The crew were told to maintain 3000 feet until leaving the Downey marker. The aircraft descended below this altitude and crashed into a hill at 980 feet altitude. At the time of this accident Robin Airlines, Inc., was doing business as North Continent Airlines, although no authorization to change its name had been obtained from the Civil Aeronautics Board.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The action of the pilot in voluntarily descending below the minimum altitude for which he was cleared, and attempting an approach at an altitude too low to clear the terrain."
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Air Britain Casualty compendium (pt. 54)» CAB File No. 1-0027
Follow-up / safety actions
Robin Airlines was grounded the day after the accident because of 40 violations. The airline had gone out of business following a Dec. 20, 1951 crash but started trading as 'North Continent Airlines'.
Photos
accident date: 18-04-1952
type: Curtiss C-46F Commando
registration: N8404C
accident date: 18-04-1952
type: Curtiss C-46F Commando
registration: N8404C
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 Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ to Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA as the crow flies is 589 km (368 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ to Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA as the crow flies is 589 km (368 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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Curtiss C-46
- 3341 built
- 737th loss
- 142nd fatal accident
- 17th worst accident (at the time)
- 29th worst accident (currently)