Los Angeles – Chicago

The pilot, sole on board, departed Los Angeles on a flight to Chicago, the aircraft having to be delivered to its new owner, the General Tire & Rubber Company. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity. Due to severe turbulences, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and disintegrated. The pilot Virgil Cline was killed.

Flight / Schedule

Los Angeles – Chicago

Aircraft

Lockheed 5 Vega

Registration

NC393H

MSN

85

Year of Manufacture

1929

Date

August 4, 1929 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Delivery

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Randsburg California

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

35.3694°, -117.6599°

Crash Cause

Weather

Narrative Report

On August 4, 1929 at 12:00 AM, Los Angeles – Chicago experienced a crash involving Lockheed 5 Vega, operated by General Tire %26 Rubber Company, with the event recorded near Randsburg California.

The flight was categorized as delivery and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. The pilot, sole on board, departed Los Angeles on a flight to Chicago, the aircraft having to be delivered to its new owner, the General Tire & Rubber Company. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity. Due to severe turbulences, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and disintegrated. The pilot Virgil Cline was killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC393H, MSN 85, year of manufacture 1929.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 35.3694°, -117.6599°.

Fatalities

Total

1

Crew

1

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The pilot, sole on board, departed Los Angeles on a flight to Chicago, the aircraft having to be delivered to its new owner, the General Tire & Rubber Company. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity. Due to severe turbulences, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and disintegrated. The pilot Virgil Cline was killed.

Cause: Weather

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 1

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Los Angeles – Chicago

Flight Type

Delivery

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Lockheed 5 Vega

Registration

NC393H

MSN

85

Year of Manufacture

1929

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