Holtville – San Diego – Long Beach – Los Angeles

On December 24, 1946 at 07:19 PM, Holtville – San Diego – Long Beach – Los Angeles experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by Western Airlines, with the event recorded near Mt Cuyapaipe California.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

12 people were known to be on board, 12 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: 9, passenger fatalities: 9, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While cruising at the altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew informed ATC he just overflew Mt Laguna and then reduced his altitude when the aircraft, at a height of 6,120 feet, hit the east slope of Mt Cuyapaipe. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire, and all 12 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 75 feet below the summit. Photos: Craig Fuller and Brad Gray. http://www.AviationArchaeology.com

Aircraft reference details include registration NC45395, MSN 11642, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 32.8583°, -116.4212°.