Narrative:
Crashed into San Francisco Bay while on approach. The co-pilot dropped his microphone which jammed the controls, preventing the pilot from pulling out of the glide. Eight passengers and three crew died.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Accidental jamming of the elevator controls as a result of a microphone being inadvertently dropped and lodging in such a position that the crew was unable to prevent rapid descent of the airplane."
accident date: 09-02-1937
type: Douglas DC-3A-197
registration: NC16073
accident date: 09-02-1937
type: Douglas DC-3A-197
registration: NC16073
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 9 February 1937 |
| Time: | 20:50 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-3A-197 |
| Operator: | United Airlines |
| Registration: | NC16073 |
| MSN: | 1913 |
| First flight: | 1936 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 3 km (1.9 mls) NE off San Francisco Municipal Airport, CA (SFO) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Burbank-Union Air Terminal (BUR/KBUR), United States of America |
| San Francisco Municipal Airport, CA (SFO/KSFO), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | Trip 23 |
Crashed into San Francisco Bay while on approach. The co-pilot dropped his microphone which jammed the controls, preventing the pilot from pulling out of the glide. Eight passengers and three crew died.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Accidental jamming of the elevator controls as a result of a microphone being inadvertently dropped and lodging in such a position that the crew was unable to prevent rapid descent of the airplane."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Loss of control
Photos
accident date: 09-02-1937
type: Douglas DC-3A-197
registration: NC16073
accident date: 09-02-1937
type: Douglas DC-3A-197
registration: NC16073
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 Burbank-Union Air Terminal to San Francisco Municipal Airport, CA as the crow flies is 521 km (326 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Burbank-Union Air Terminal to San Francisco Municipal Airport, CA as the crow flies is 521 km (326 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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.
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