Los Angeles - Santa Ana

Following an uneventful flight from Los Angeles, the crew started the descent to Santa Ana Airport when he encountered poor visibility due low clouds and fog. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a 30 feet steel light pole located along the Costa Mesa Freeway. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames 1,8 mile short of runway 20R threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and none of the nine occupants survived the crash.

Flight / Schedule

Los Angeles - Santa Ana

Registration

N7666

MSN

148

Year of Manufacture

1968

Date

November 23, 1968 at 07:59 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Santa Ana-John Wayne California

Region

North America • United States of America

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On November 23, 1968 at 07:59 PM, Los Angeles - Santa Ana experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by Cable Commuter Airlines, with the event recorded near Santa Ana-John Wayne California.

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

9 people were known to be on board, 9 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 7, passenger fatalities: 7, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Los Angeles, the crew started the descent to Santa Ana Airport when he encountered poor visibility due low clouds and fog. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a 30 feet steel light pole located along the Costa Mesa Freeway. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames 1,8 mile short of runway 20R threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and none of the nine occupants survived the crash.

Aircraft reference details include registration N7666, MSN 148, year of manufacture 1968.

Fatalities

Total

9

Crew

2

Passengers

7

Other

0

Crash Summary

Following an uneventful flight from Los Angeles, the crew started the descent to Santa Ana Airport when he encountered poor visibility due low clouds and fog. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a 30 feet steel light pole located along the Costa Mesa Freeway. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames 1,8 mile short of runway 20R threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and none of the nine occupants survived the crash.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

7

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 9

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Los Angeles - Santa Ana

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

N7666

MSN

148

Year of Manufacture

1968

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