1951 — Dec 29, Continental Charters C-46, #44-2 flies into terrain near Salamanca, NY– 26

–26 AirDisaster.com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 12291951.
–26 Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. Continental Charters 44-2, 29 Dec 1951.
–26 Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-91974 to 42-110188). 10-28-2011 revision.
–26 CAB. AIR. Continental Charters, Inc., Near Little Valley, New York, December 29, 1951.
–26 Eckert. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” AJFM&P, 3/1, Mar 1982, p.53.

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando….96804 (c/n 30466) to XT Reg. China National Aviation Corp., to N8394C. To N3944C Riddle Airlines, to Flying W Airways to Trans Arctic Air, to XB-HUE, HK-331 Aaxico Airlines, (Continental Charters). Crashed Dec 29, 1951 Salamanca, NY. Departed Pittsburgh on a VFR flight plan. The crew flew at a low altitude in order to maintain visual reference. Near Little Valley, NY the aircraft flew into a wooded area on a hill, some 15mls off the direct route to Buffalo. 26 out of 40 on board killed.” (Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-91974 to 42-110188). 10-28-2011 rev.)

Civil Aeronautics Board Accident Investigation Report: “At approximately 2225, December 29, 1951, a C-46A, N 3944C, operated as Flight 44-2 by Continental charters, Inc., a large irregular air carrier, crashed about 5 miles southwest of Little Valley, New York, while en route from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Buffalo, New York. Twenty-six of the 40 persons on board lost their lives and the remaining 14 sustained injuries varying from minor to serious. The aircraft was demolished but there was no fire.

Flight 44-2 originated at Miami, Florida, and was scheduled to depart there for Buffalo, New York, via Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at 1000, December 29, 1951. Because of a mechanical delay actual takeoff was not made until 1540….

“At 2152 the flight called Pittsburgh Tower… this was the last radio contact. When the flight failed to arrive at Buffalo within a reasonable time after its ETA (2247), a search was initiated. It was not until 1433, December 31, however, that a report was confirmed to the Sheriff’s office, Cattaraugus County, New York, that the aircraft wreckage had been located in a heavily wooded area near Little Valley, New York. A survivor, who had made his way from the wreckage to a farmhouse to obtain help, reported that the crash occurred at 2225 December 29, approximately 38 minutes after the flight departed Pittsburgh….

“Investigation at the scene indicated that the accident occurred about 100 feet below the crest of a hill, at an altitude of 2375 feet…while the aircraft was in level flight… Indications were that first contact was with small branches of a tree 60 feet above the ground. From this point on, as forward travel continued, disintegration of the aircraft progressed along a path 933 feet beyond the point of initial impact. All major components were accounted for along this path. Disintegration of the aircraft was complete with the exception of the aft part of the passenger compartment which came to rest at the most distant end of the line of travel. It was in this section that all those who survived had been seated. Detailed examination of the wreckage disclosed no evidence of structural failure or mechanical malfunctioning of any part of the aircraft or its components. Both engines were developing appreciable power at impact, and both propellers were found in approximately the 30 degrees setting, which is within the cruising range….

“Investigation disclosed that no member of the Flight crew made any attempt to obtain weather briefing from Flight Advisory Weather Service for the route Pittsburgh to Buffalo. It was known by the weather briefer at this tame that VFR [visual flight rules] conditions did not exist over the direct route and that weather was considerably worse over the higher ridges to the east….

“In its Flight Information Manual which was effective on December 29 1951, the Civil Aeronautics Administration classifies this area as mountainous terrain, requiring a VFR night flight to maintain an altitude of not less than 2,000 feet above the highest point within a horizontal distance of 5 miles either side of the center of a direct course. In non-mountainous terrain, an altitude of not less than 1,000 feet above the highest point is required for VFR night flight. The airport at Jamestown, New York, which lies at the extreme western edge of this area, has an elevation of 1,719 feet; the accident occurred about 12 miles east of the direct course in terrain which is considerably higher than that at Jamestown. Continental Charters operations over this route were being conducted on the premise that the terrain is not considered mountainous; further, the company had been so advised by the CAA Aviation Safety District Office, Miami, and the agent assigned to supervise Continental charters operations so testified at the public hearing on this accident.

“Reports of ground observers and testimony of surviving passengers indicated that Flight 44-2 was conducted at a low altitude all the way from Pittsburgh to the accident scene…. Witnesses at Steamburg, New York, approximately seven miles south-southeast of where the accident occurred and on a direct course from Onoville to the crash site, stated that the aircraft flew over there exceptionally low, and three reported they could distinguish the lighted passenger compartment windows. They stated further that the weather was very foggy and estimated visibility as less than one-half mile. Steamburg is located in a valley 1,410 feet above sea level and the terrain rises sharply to the northeast…

“The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the captain’s poor judgment in attempting a flight by visual reference during instrument weather conditions.” (CAB. AIR. Continental Charters, Inc., Near Little Valley, New York, December 29, 1951.)

Sources

AirDisaster.com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 12291951. Accessed at: http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=12291951&reg=N3944C&airline=Continental+Charters

Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. Continental Charters 44-2, 29 Dec 1951. Accessed at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19511229-0

Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-91974 to 42-110188). Oct 28, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-17-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_5.html

Civil Aeronautics Board. Accident Investigation Report. Continental Charters, Inc., Near Little Valley, New York, December 29, 1951. Washington, DC: CAB, March 13, 1952, 7 pages. At: http://dotlibrary1.specialcollection.net/scripts/ws.dll?file&fn=8&name=*P%3A%5CDOT%5Cairplane%20accidents%5Cwebsearch%5C122951.pdf

Eckert, William G. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, Vol. 3, No. 1, March 1982, Table 1.