Norfolk – Dallas – China Lake

On February 3, 1963 at 12:07 PM, Norfolk – Dallas – China Lake experienced a crash involving Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, operated by Slick Airways, with the event recorded near San Francisco California.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

8 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. A Slick Airways Lockheed 1049H, N9740Z, crashed and burned during an ILS approach to runway 28R at the San Francisco International Airport at approximately 1207 P.s.t., February 3, 1963. Due to an inoperative glide slope receiver, the crew was listening radar advisories on the localizer receiver for altitude information. The aircraft struck approach lights 1,170 feet from the runway threshold, climbed to about 200 feet and then crashed approximately 1,900 feet beyond the threshold and on the left edge of runway 28L. Of the three crew members and five passengers aboard, the captain, first officer, and two passengers received fatal injuries. The remaining persons aboard received serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by subsequent fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration N9740Z, MSN 4851, year of manufacture 1958.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 37.7879°, -122.4075°.