Investigation Summary
The flight departed Newark and made a scheduled stop in Camden, where the crew received weather reports indicating heavy clouds and icing below 15,000 feet. During the leg to Pittsburgh, the aircraft encountered a significant southerly drift that went unnoticed by the crew. At 10:09 a.m., the pilot reported being 10 miles east of the airport at 3,000 feet, but he was actually 30 miles south near Connellsville. Investigators determined that the pilot likely realized he was lost and attempted to navigate visually by following a creek bed. However, the valley he entered led toward a steep ridge. The Bureau of Air Commerce report noted that while icing was present, there was no evidence it affected the aircraft's flying characteristics; rather, the pilot faced an impossible climb of 650 feet in just 0.75 miles after emerging from the fog at low altitude. The aircraft struck the ridge at cruising speed, indicating the crew did not realize they were in immediate danger of impact until the final seconds.
Final Conclusions
The Bureau of Air Commerce concluded that the primary cause was pilot error and poor judgment. The pilot descended to a dangerously low altitude in an attempt to establish visual contact with the ground under conditions that required strict adherence to instrument procedures. Contributing to the impact was the accumulation of ice on the wings, which prevented the aircraft from gaining sufficient altitude once the pilot realized he was heading toward a mountain.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Radio Beacon Navigation
The primary navigation method for the flight, which TWA claimed was unreliable. Investigators found the pilot had drifted off the Harrisburg radio beam.
De-icing Equipment
While the DC-2 was certified for icing, heavy accumulation during the low-altitude flight reduced the aircraft's climb rate, preventing it from clearing the ridge.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was named 'The Sun Racer' and was part of TWA's premier transcontinental service.
- 02Flight attendant Nellie Granger walked 4 miles through a blizzard and freezing rain to summon help.
- 03The crash site was 30 miles off course due to an 8-degree southerly drift.
- 04The aircraft cut a swath over 200 feet long through the trees, indicating it was at cruising speed rather than landing speed.
- 05TWA initially alleged a faulty radio beacon was to blame, but government and independent tests found the beacon was functioning correctly.
- 06The aircraft was flying at approximately 160 miles per hour before the pilot lost his bearings and attempted visual navigation.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Expansion of Air Traffic Control
Following the crash, the Bureau of Air Commerce took over the existing airline-run traffic centers and began expanding the national air traffic control network.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Radio Beacon Reliability
TWA and several pilots claimed the Pittsburgh radio beacon was faulty and gave false 'on-course' signals. The Bureau of Air Commerce and independent testers maintained the beacon was fully operational.