1952 — Apr 18, Robin Airlines C-46 charter crash on LAX approach ~Whittier, CA –all 29

— 29 AirDisaster.com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 04181952.
— 29 Aviation Safety Network, Accident Description. Robin Airlines Flight 416W, 18 Apr 1952.
— 29 Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 11-6-2011 revision.
— 29 CAB. AIR. Robin Airlines, Inc., Near Whittier, California, April 18, 1952.
— 29 Eckert. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” AJFM&P, 3/1, Mar 1982, Table 1.
— 29 Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1950s.” Oct 23 2008 update.

Narrative Information

AirDisaster.com: “The aircraft, on a flight from New York to Burbank, crashed during an ILS approach at Los Angeles International Airport after being diverted. Air Traffic Control cleared the pilot to an unsafe altitude, but the pilot complied with the instruction and the aircraft could not maintain terrain clearance.” (AirDisaster.com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 04181952.)

[Blanchard note: See US Civil Aeronautics Board Accident Investigation Report below which does not support contention that the plane was cleared to an unsafe altitude.]

Baugher: “Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando….78643 (c/n 22466) to N8404C North Continent Airlines, ex Robin Airlines. Crashed into hill April 18, 1952 Whittier, CA during landing approach. All 29 on board killed.” (Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 11-6-2011.)

Civil Aeronautics Board, Accident Investigation Report: “The Accident

“At approximately 0334 PST [Pacific Standard Time] April 18, 1952, a C-46 aircraft, N 8404C, crashed and burned near Whittier, California, resulting in destruction of the aircraft and death to all persons aboard – 26 passengers and three crew members. The aircraft was op4ratied by Robin Airlines, Inc., an irregular carrier, under a lease agreement with its recorded owner, Air Charters, Inc., of Carson City, Nevada.

“History of the Flight

“N 8404C departed New York, New York, at 1809, April 16, as Trip 416W. After making a scheduled stop at Chicago, Illinois, it arrived at Kansas City, Missouri, at 0208, April 17. At this point the flight was taken over by a new crew consisting of Captain Lewis R. Powell, Reserve Captain John D. Treher, Copilot Charles K. Waldron, and Hostess Delores A. Bradford. The flight time requirements specified by the Civil Air Regulations (Part 42.48) made it necessary to have a three-man flight crew between Kansas City and Burbank because of the expected flight time involved. For this purpose Reserve Captain Treher had deadheaded from Chicago to Kansas City.

“Departure from Kansas City was delayed approximately eleven hours when it was found necessary to replace the right engine oil cooler which had developed a leak. The flight departed Kansas City on a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight plan at 1338, with Reserve Captain Treher occupying the left pilot seat and Copilot Waldron, the right. Captain Powell occupied a seat in the main cabin.

“…. Upon arriving in the vicinity of Tucumcari, New Mexico, a severe thunderstorm condition was encountered, whereupon the flight turned eastward and landed at Amarillo, Texas, at 1814. Reserve Captain Treher deplaned at this point, and at 2102 the flight again proceeded westward on an IFR flight plan to Phoenix, Arizona, with Captain Powell occupying the left pilot seat and Copilot Waldron still occupying the right….

“At 0313 the flight requested and was furnished the Burbank and Los Angeles 0228 weather, which was as follows: Burbank closed, visibility 1/8 mile, and Los Angeles measured 700 overcast, visibility 2¼ with haze and smoke, temperature 57⁰ dew point 54, wind southeast 1, altimeter 29.91. At this time the flight advised it would file an IFR flight plan later. At 0317 the flight reported over Riverside Range Station at 6,000 feet and requested an IFR approach to Los Angeles, estimating over Downey at 0336. The Los Angeles low-frequency radio range was not in operation, which fact was known to the pilot. At 0323, ARTC (Air Route Traffic Control) gave the following clearance to the aircraft: ‘From present position to Downey radio beacon cruise at least 500 on top – Descent VFR and cross Downey and maintain 3,000 – Contact Los Angeles Approach Control over La Habra – No delay expected.’ The pilot repeated this clearance….

“Findings:
….
“5. The flight was not conducted in accordance with the ARTC approach clearance, in that it descended considerably lower than the minimum altitude prescribed between Riverside range and Downey fan marker.

“6. The flight was in clear weather until reaching the Puente Hills, which were clear on the east slope but in fog to the west.

“7. Weather conditions at Los Angeles International Airport were satisfactory for the ILS approach for which the flight had been cleared, but were not satisfactory for a visual approach.

“Probable Cause

“The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in voluntarily descending below the minimum altitude for which he was cleared, and attempting an approach at an altitude too low to clear the terrain.”

Notable California Aviation Disasters:
“1952 Date / Time: Friday, April 18, 1952 / 3:34 a.m.

“Operator / Flight No.: North Continent Airlines (Robin Airlines) / Flight 416W

“Location: Puente Hills, near Whittier, Calif.

“Details and Probable Cause: The North Continent Airlines twin-engine Curtiss C-46F-1CU aircraft (N8404C) was on a flight from New York City to Burbank, having made intermediate stops at Chicago, Illinois; Kansas City, Missouri; Wichita, Kansas; Amarillo, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona.

“Due to poor visibility and fog at Burbank, the flight was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport. The airliner was on an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to LAX with its landing gear extended when the left wheel of the plane struck a fog-shrouded ridge at 1,046 feet in an undeveloped area of the Puente Hills near Turnbull Canyon.

“The aircraft plowed down an embankment, careened across a ravine and crashed against a steep hillside, exploding into flames. All 26 passengers and the crew of three were killed.

“Officials attributed the crash to the pilot’s voluntary descent below the minimum altitude for which he was cleared. As a result, the plane was flying too low to clear the hill.

“Several hours after the crash the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) in Washington D.C. grounded Robin Airlines (which was doing business as North Continent Airlines) with an emergency suspension founded ‘on an operating history involving violations of Civil Air Regulations and the Civil Aeronautics Act, and by accidents to aircraft operated by the company.’

“A CAA spokesman noted that the company, while operating under the Robin Airlines name, had allegations of more than 40 violations listed against it, including charges of overweight planes, demanding and excessive flying time for crews, and failure to use approved seats and safety belts.

“It later surfaced that the pilot in command of the airplane involved in the Puente Hills crash, Captain Lewis R. Powell, was flying with a restricted medical certificate.

“Fatalities: 29 — all 26 passengers and the crew of 3.” (Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1950s” Oct 23 2008 update.)

Newspaper

“….CAA records show that Norman D. Kessler of Houston, Texas, is president of the air line. The line operates three two-engined ships.” (Long Beach Press-Telegram. “All on Board Plane Perish, Wreck Burns,” April 18, 1952.)

Sources

AirDisaster.com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 04181952. Accessed at: http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=04181952&reg=N8404C&airline=North+Continental+Airlines

Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. Robin Airlines Flight 416W, 18 Apr 1952. Accessed 2-19-2009 at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19520418-0

Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). Nov 6, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-29-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_5.html

Civil Aeronautics Board. Accident Investigation Report. Robin Airlines, Inc., Near Whittier, California, April 18, 1952 (File No. 1-0027). Washington, DC: CAB, 8-21-1952, 12 pages. Accessed 6-6-2023 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=fxcjh17EG6AC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true

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.

Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA. “All on Board Plane Perish, Wreck Burns,” April 18, 1952. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/freepdfviewer.aspx?img=46271598

Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1950s.” Oct 23 2008 update. Accessed at: http://www.jaydeebee1.com/crash50s.html