Hollywood - Hollywood

The crew was conducting a test flight after the left engine has been replaced. Few minutes after takeoff, a failure occurred on the 8th cylinder in the left engine and the crew shut off this engine and returned to Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal Airport. Due to low visibility caused by foggy conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to go around. During the second attempt to land, the captain decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit an eucalyptus and crashed near Lorne Street, North Hollywood. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Hollywood - Hollywood

Aircraft

Douglas DC-3

Registration

NC33621

MSN

3286

Year of Manufacture

1941

Date

April 24, 1946 at 01:57 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Test

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Hollywood California

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

34.0980°, -118.3295°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On April 24, 1946 at 01:57 AM, Hollywood - Hollywood experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by Western Airlines, with the event recorded near Hollywood California.

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

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was conducting a test flight after the left engine has been replaced. Few minutes after takeoff, a failure occurred on the 8th cylinder in the left engine and the crew shut off this engine and returned to Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal Airport. Due to low visibility caused by foggy conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to go around. During the second attempt to land, the captain decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit an eucalyptus and crashed near Lorne Street, North Hollywood. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC33621, MSN 3286, year of manufacture 1941.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 34.0980°, -118.3295°.

Fatalities

Total

3

Crew

3

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew was conducting a test flight after the left engine has been replaced. Few minutes after takeoff, a failure occurred on the 8th cylinder in the left engine and the crew shut off this engine and returned to Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal Airport. Due to low visibility caused by foggy conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to go around. During the second attempt to land, the captain decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit an eucalyptus and crashed near Lorne Street, North Hollywood. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 3

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Hollywood - Hollywood

Flight Type

Test

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

Aircraft

Douglas DC-3

Registration

NC33621

MSN

3286

Year of Manufacture

1941