Investigation Summary
The collision occurred at approximately 400 feet above ground level, roughly 1.3 kilometers northwest of the runway. American Airlines Flight 910 was a multi-stop service originating from San Francisco International Airport; the accident occurred during the final leg from its last intermediate stop in El Paso to Dallas. The First Officer was flying the aircraft from the right seat, using the ILS localizer and glidepath for guidance while maintaining visual lookout. Simultaneously, a Temco Swift piloted by a 19-year-old private pilot who had received his license only three days prior was approaching from Denton, Texas. The Swift pilot requested a straight-in approach but did not provide his position, heading, or speed, and failed to confirm landing clearance. A controller at Love Field spotted the Swift but misidentified it as a larger Beechcraft Bonanza, leading to an error in depth perception; he initially believed the aircraft was safely behind the DC-6. By the time the controller realized the Swift was actually a smaller, closer aircraft on a collision course and issued a turn command, it was too late to prevent the impact.
Final Conclusions
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) released its final report on March 3, 1953. The primary cause was determined to be the Swift pilot's failure to exercise reasonable prudence and caution during his approach, specifically by failing to establish proper communication and continuing a straight-in approach without clearance. A contributing factor was the air traffic controller's error in judgment and misidentification of the Swift, which delayed corrective instructions. Investigators also noted that the Swift's radio system had corroded wiring, which likely hampered the pilot's ability to communicate effectively with the tower.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Private N3858K — Temco Swift GC-1B · N3858K
Crew Experience
Pilot
Paul Brower
Systems & Failure Modes
Radio Communication
Corroded wiring was found between the Swift's radio and antenna, potentially explaining the pilot's failure to maintain two-way contact with the tower.
ILS Glidepath
The DC-6 crew was using the Instrument Landing System for guidance during a VFR approach to ensure a stabilized path to Runway 13.
Interesting Facts
- 01The Swift pilot had logged only 250 total flight hours and had held his private license for just three days.
- 02The DC-6 was almost unscathed, suffering only minor damage to a propeller and a fuselage-mounted radio antenna.
- 03The post-crash fire in the Swift wreckage was caused by a spectator's discarded cigarette igniting leaking fuel, not the impact itself.
- 04The Swift was positioned below and to the right of the DC-6, placing it in a potential blind spot for the airliner crew.
- 05Both occupants of the Swift were employees of Central Airlines at Love Field.
Safety Actions & Advisories
VFR Approach Procedures
The investigation emphasized that under VFR, if a pilot cannot establish clear radio contact, they must operate under the assumption that conflicting traffic exists and exercise extreme caution.