Narrative:
Northeast Airlines Flight 792 originated at Boston, Massachusetts, for Berlin, New Hampshire, with stops at Concord and Laconia, New Hampshire.
Departure from Laconia was on schedule at 10:39. The IFR flight proceeded at a cruising altitude of 8000 feet towards Berlin.
At 11:03 the flight called the company station at the Berlin Airport and asked for local weather. The station agent immediately gave the 10:45 observation: Estimated 3,000 feet overcast; visibility 2-1/2 miles; light snow showers. The agent then made a special weather observation at 11:10 which added scattered clouds at 2,300 feet to the previous weather information. Airport minimums at Berlin were a 2,300 ft ceiling and 2 miles visibility. This information was acknowledged by the crew.
Meanwhile the flight was descending to get beneath the overcast for a straight-in approach. The captain was able to recognize visual references on the ground until the moment the flight entered overcast. The airplane impacted the snow-covered southern slope of Mount Success, 100 feet below the top, at an elevation of
3,440 feet.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A pre-mature and unauthorized instrument descent to an altitude that did not permit terrain clearance.."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 30 November 1954 |
| Time: | 11:15 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-3A |
| Operator: | Northeast Airlines |
| Registration: | N17891 |
| MSN: | 11745 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 26000 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 21 km (13.1 mls) SE of Berlin Airport, NH (BML) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Laconia Municipal Airport, NH (LCI/KLCI), United States of America |
| Berlin Airport, NH (BML/KBML), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 792 |
Northeast Airlines Flight 792 originated at Boston, Massachusetts, for Berlin, New Hampshire, with stops at Concord and Laconia, New Hampshire.
Departure from Laconia was on schedule at 10:39. The IFR flight proceeded at a cruising altitude of 8000 feet towards Berlin.
At 11:03 the flight called the company station at the Berlin Airport and asked for local weather. The station agent immediately gave the 10:45 observation: Estimated 3,000 feet overcast; visibility 2-1/2 miles; light snow showers. The agent then made a special weather observation at 11:10 which added scattered clouds at 2,300 feet to the previous weather information. Airport minimums at Berlin were a 2,300 ft ceiling and 2 miles visibility. This information was acknowledged by the crew.
Meanwhile the flight was descending to get beneath the overcast for a straight-in approach. The captain was able to recognize visual references on the ground until the moment the flight entered overcast. The airplane impacted the snow-covered southern slope of Mount Success, 100 feet below the top, at an elevation of
3,440 feet.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A pre-mature and unauthorized instrument descent to an altitude that did not permit terrain clearance.."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest, Circular 47-AN/42 (180-184)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 Laconia Municipal Airport, NH to Berlin Airport, NH as the crow flies is 112 km (70 miles).
Distance from Laconia Municipal Airport, NH to Berlin Airport, NH as the crow flies is 112 km (70 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.
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2023 Flight Safety Foundation