Accident Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3) N61451,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 335052

Date:	Sunday 22 August 1954
Time:	16:50
Type:	Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator:	Braniff International Airways
Registration:	N61451
MSN:	4630
Year of manufacture:	1942
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 19
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	26 km S of Mason City, IA - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Waterloo Airport, IA (ALO/KALO)
Destination airport:	Mason City Airport, IA (MCW/KMCW)
Investigating agency:	CAB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The aircraft operated on a flight from Memphis to Minneapolis with some scheduled stops in between. The flight departed Memphis at 08:35 CST and departed Waterloo, one of the stops, at 16:41. Eyewitnesses near Mason City saw the DC-3 make a left turn proceeding toward a light spot in a thunderstorm. The aircraft entered and disappeared into the thunderstorm at a height of 400-500 feet, crashing into the ground about a mile further on.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flight while endeavouring to traverse a thunderstorm area encountered very heavy rain, divergent winds, and strong downdrafts that forced the aircraft to the ground."

Accident investigation: