Narrative:
The aircraft, on a flight from Spokane, was seen flying in and along the Clark Fork Valley. The DC-4 started to descend deeper into the valley; visibility became worse due to light snow showers and the tops of the mountains surrounding the valley were obscured by the overcast. The plane entered a steep left banking turn and the nose was raised in an apparent attempt to turn and climb out through an intersecting valley. The aircraft continued to sink, rolled left and crashed inverted.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the pilot to continue in accordance with his IFR flight plan by attempting a VFR approach during instrument weather conditions."
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 28 October 1960 |
| Time: | 11:39 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-54A-10-DC (DC-4) |
| Operator: | Northwest Orient Airlines |
| Registration: | N48762 |
| MSN: | 10320 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 32 km (20 mls) W of Missoula, MT ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Spokane International Airport, WA (GEG/KGEG), United States of America |
| Missoula Airport, MT (MSO/KMSO), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | 104 |
The aircraft, on a flight from Spokane, was seen flying in and along the Clark Fork Valley. The DC-4 started to descend deeper into the valley; visibility became worse due to light snow showers and the tops of the mountains surrounding the valley were obscured by the overcast. The plane entered a steep left banking turn and the nose was raised in an apparent attempt to turn and climb out through an intersecting valley. The aircraft continued to sink, rolled left and crashed inverted.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the pilot to continue in accordance with his IFR flight plan by attempting a VFR approach during instrument weather conditions."
Accident investigation:
|
Classification:
VFR flight in IMC Loss of control
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 Spokane International Airport, WA to Missoula Airport, MT as the crow flies is 269 km (168 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Spokane International Airport, WA to Missoula Airport, MT as the crow flies is 269 km (168 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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Douglas DC-4
- 1242 built
- 232nd loss
- 136th fatal accident
- 66th worst accident (at the time)
- 86th worst accident (currently)
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