Narrative:
Engine no.2 failed during takeoff, forcing the crew to return to the airport. Emergency landing clearance was given and the DC-3 approached Burbank in an excessive nose-high attitude, not aligned with the runway. Some 500 feet short of the airport boundary, the aircraft struck power lines with the left wing. The plane stalled and crashed into a parked US Air Force Douglas C-54 airplane. The DC-3 then cartwheeled into a hangar.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captain's irrevocable commitment to a landing without radio or visual confirmation of his runway alignment following engine failure immediately after takeoff. A contributing factor was engine malfunction immediately after takeoff in near minimum visibility."
Loss of control
» San Bernardino Sun, 9 September 1955 (p.1)
Flight path.
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 8 September 1955 |
| Type: |  Douglas R4D-1 (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Currey Air Transport |
| Registration: | N74663 |
| MSN: | 6257 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 30 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 33 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA (BUR) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA (BUR/KBUR), United States of America |
| Oakland Municipal Airport, CA (OAK/KOAK), United States of America |
Engine no.2 failed during takeoff, forcing the crew to return to the airport. Emergency landing clearance was given and the DC-3 approached Burbank in an excessive nose-high attitude, not aligned with the runway. Some 500 feet short of the airport boundary, the aircraft struck power lines with the left wing. The plane stalled and crashed into a parked US Air Force Douglas C-54 airplane. The DC-3 then cartwheeled into a hangar.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captain's irrevocable commitment to a landing without radio or visual confirmation of his runway alignment following engine failure immediately after takeoff. A contributing factor was engine malfunction immediately after takeoff in near minimum visibility."
Accident investigation:
 |
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Classification:
Collision with pole or wiresLoss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 50-AN/45 (177-180)» San Bernardino Sun, 9 September 1955 (p.1)
Photos
Flight path.
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 Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA to Oakland Municipal Airport, CA as the crow flies is 520 km (325 miles).
Distance from Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal, CA to Oakland Municipal Airport, CA as the crow flies is 520 km (325 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.
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