Investigation Summary
BCPA Flight 304, operated by a Douglas DC-6 named 'Resolution', was the final leg of a transpacific service from Sydney to San Francisco. After a routine flight from Honolulu, the crew contacted San Francisco Air Route Traffic Control (ARTC) at 08:07 PST and was cleared to descend provided they remained 500 feet above the cloud tops. At 08:39, the crew reported being over the Half Moon Bay fan marker. Just three minutes later, they reported they were southeast and turning inbound for the ILS approach. This report was geographically impossible given the aircraft's speed and the required approach pattern. The aircraft actually struck redwood trees at an elevation of 2,020 feet MSL, roughly 7.5 miles southeast of Half Moon Bay, before crashing into a steep slope. The main wreckage was located at approximately 1,950 feet MSL. The landing gear was found down and locked, and investigators ruled out mechanical failure. The crash claimed the life of renowned American pianist William Kapell, who was returning from an Australian concert tour.
Final Conclusions
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) determined the probable cause was the failure of the crew to follow prescribed procedures for an instrument approach. The board noted that the crew likely became convinced they were further northeast than they actually were, possibly due to a radio navigational error or a brief, deceptive glimpse of the ground through a break in the fog. This led them to descend into terrain before reaching the safe maneuvering area for the San Francisco ILS outer marker.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Captain Bruce N. Dickson, aged 34. Held a first-class air transport pilot license with first instrument rating.
First Officer
First Officer Frank A. Campbell, aged 28. Held a third-class air transport pilot license with a second instrument rating.
Navigation Officer
Navigator G. R. Murtagh.
Radio Officer
Radio Officer V. A. Walker.
Flight Engineer
Flight Engineer C. N. Cattanach.
Systems & Failure Modes
Instrument Landing System (ILS)
A precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather.
Fan Marker
A type of radio beacon used to identify a specific geographic location along an airway, in this case the Half Moon Bay marker used as a transition point for the San Francisco approach.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Douglas DC-6 named 'Resolution', manufactured in 1948 with serial number 43125/131.
- 02All 11 passengers and 8 crew members were killed in the impact and subsequent fire.
- 03The crash site was located in dense woods with the main wreckage at approximately 1,950 feet MSL and initial tree strikes at 2,020 feet MSL.
- 04The investigation found the landing gear was down and locked at the time of impact.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Pioneering Forensic Dentistry
Source ↗This accident marked the first use of a forensic investigation team in the United States to identify remains using dental records, leading to the establishment of standardized forensic identification protocols for mass casualty events.