Date: | Monday 5 November 1951 |
Time: | 09:29 |
Type: | Martin 2-0-2 |
Owner/operator: | Transocean Air Lines |
Registration: | N93039 |
MSN: | 9160 |
Total airframe hrs: | 6790 hours |
Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA18 |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 29 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
Category: | Accident |
Location: | Tucumcari Airport, NM (TCC) -
United States of America
|
Phase: | Approach |
Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
Departure airport: | Oakland International Airport, CA (OAK/KOAK) |
Destination airport: | Albuquerque International Airport, NM (ABQ/KABQ) |
Investigating agency: | CAB |
Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:Flight CAM5763, a military contract flight, originated in Oakland, California, with Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, as its destination. It was scheduled to depart Oakland at 02:00 but due to a mechanical delay, departure was not made until 03:52. The flight was routine and on reaching Acomita, New Mexico, at 07:55, reported that it was 500 on top at 12,000 feet and was estimating Albuquerque at 08:11. Following this report the flight asked to change its flight plan to Tucumcari with Amarillo, Texas, the alternate. The flight passed over Albuquerque under broken clouds in the clear at 12,000 feet MSL at 08:13. At 08:31, the flight reported being over Anton Chico, New Mexico, at 13,000 feet, estimating Tucumcari at 08:52. At this time the 08:28 Tucumcari weather was given the flight as; ceiling estimated 1,000 feet, overcast, visibility 3 miles, snow and fog. Near Tucumcari a descent to 8,000 feet was initiated. In the meantime weather at Tucumcari Airport was deteriorating, with the visibility now being one mile, which was less than the CAA and company minimums of 1 1/2 miles for the Tucumcari Airport. At 09:07 CAM5763, clearance was given for a standard instrument approach. During the descent the visibility had decreased to half a mile. Suggestions by Tucumcari to divert to Amarillo or another airport nearby were turned down by the pilot. During the first approach the aircraft was then seen to cross the field in a northwesterly direction at very low altitude. At 09:25, the flight advised it was landing downwind. This was the last report received from the flight. After several passes over the airport at altitudes varying from 500 feet to as low as 50 feet, the aircraft crashed near the northeast end of runway 21 at approximately 09:29. A flash fire which occurred immediately after impact quickly subsided.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the captains attempt to land during less than minimum visibility, rather than proceed to his alternate."
Accident investigation:
|
| |
Investigating agency: | CAB |
Report number: | final report |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | |
Download report: | Final report |
|
Sources:
CAB File No. 1-0094
Location
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation