Docket No. 84-98 File No. 119-45
CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT
Adopted: September 17, 1945 Released: September 24, 1945
AMERICAN AIRLINES - BURBANK - JANUARY 10, 1945
Summary
Following a night instrument approach to the Burbank Airport American Airlines' Flight 6001 crashed against the nearby Verdugo Hills. All of the 21 passengers and the three crew members were killed and the Douglas DC3 was destroyed by impact and fire.
After making the standard instrument let-down approach to the Burbank Airport the airplane was observed to cross the airport at the ragged base of the clouds and was seen to start a left turn as if circling for a landing. Soon after making the turn the captain radioed the control tower that he could not maintain visual contact with the ground and as proceeding to his alternate, Palmdale. The United States Weather Bureau observations disclosed that below minimum whether conditions exist at Burbank at the time. The pilot had not been properly advised of the latest weather reports. The plane was not heard from or seen again until after daylight at which time the wreckage was sighted in the nearby foothills approximately 2-3/4 miles northeast of the airport.
It is evident that after making this left turn the pilot decided to execute the standard "missed-approach" * procedure but in so going failed to modify the procedure in keeping with his position and heading. As a result he made a climbing turn toward the nearby foothills instead of any from them as would have been the case had the standard "missed-approach" procedure been executed from the normal position.
The possibility of an accident became a potentiality when the company ground personnel failed to obtain and transmit important weather information to the pilot. Failure to obtain and transmit this information to the pilot constitutes negligence on the part of the company. This, however, did not relive the pilot of his responsibility to conduct a safe flight although at did place him in a disadvantageous position. Had lie properly executed the "missed-approach" procedure it is unlikely that the accident would have occurred. The Board, therefore, determines that the probable cause of this accident was "the pilot's attempt to use the standard 'missed-approach' procedure after having followed another course up to a point there it was impossible to apply this procedure safely."
This report is based upon evidence acquired in the board's investigation and the hearing which was held at Los Angeles, California, January 17, and 18, 1945.
- "missed-approach" procedure described in detail on Page 3.
