1953 — Oct 29, British Commonwealth Pacific Air 304 S.F. approach crash in fog ~Half Moon Bay, CA–19
–19 AirDisaster.com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 10291953.
–19 CAB AIR. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Ltd., Near Half Moon Bay… 10-20-1953.
— 8 crew
–11 passengers
–19 Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1950s.”
Narrative Information
Civil Aeronautics Board, Accident Investigation Report:
“The Accident
“A Douglas DC-6, VHBPE owned and operated by British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Ltd., crashed near Half Moon Bay, California, at approximately 0844 [Pacific Standard Time]. The eight crew members and 11 passengers were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and subsequent fire.
History of the Flight
British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines’ Flight 304/44 of October 28, 1953, was scheduled between Sydney, Australia, and San Francisco, California, with intermediate stops at Nadi, Fiji Island, Canton Island, and Honolulu, T.H. The flight to Honolulu was without incident.
“A routine crew change was effected at Honolulu and the new crew consisted of Captain B.N. Dickson, First Officer F.A. Campbell, Navigator G.R. Murtagh, Radio Officer V.A. Walker, Flight Engineer C.N. Cattanach, Purser W. Knight and Hostesses J.F. Elder and A.K. Lewis….
“Flight 3-4/44 departed Honolulu at 2259 hours, October 28, 1953, with 10 adult passengers and one child…. [p.1]
“At 0839, the flight called San Francisco Approach Control…identified itself as ‘Air Pacific Echo’ and advised that it was over Half Moon Bay…Approach Control acknowledged and gave the following clearance: ‘Cleared for an ILS [instrument landing system] to the airport, Runway 28, wind west 15; cross the outer marker initial (ly) at least 500 on top, report when inbound; ceiling 1,200, visibility nine…
“Approximately three minutes later, the flight made a report which was acknowledged by the controller as ‘Air Pacific Easy, Roger, southeast, turning inbound’;….At 0845, a call to the flight was unanswered as were all subsequent calls. Shortly thereafter, appropriate search and rescue agencies were alerted that the flight was overdue. The wreckage was sighted at 1010, approximately seven and one-half miles southeast of the town of Half Moon Bay….
“The investigation was begun immediately after locating the wreckage in the mountainous area southwest of the Dan Francisco airport. The aircraft was almost entirely destroyed by impact and ensuing fire. It had initially struck and topped several large redwood trees, continued across a narrow ravine and crashed against the side of a steeply rising slope approximately one-half mile beyond the first tree struck. The elevation of this tree at the point of contact was 2,030 feet MSL. First contact was made by the left wind, at which time 13 feet four inches of the wing, inboard from the tip, was severed. The severed portion of the wing was found 475 feet beyond the tree in a northeasterly direction. The left stabilizer, also sheared in flight, was located about 300 feet farther north. The main wreckage area, at an elevation of about 1,950 feet MSL, was approximately one-fourth mile farther to the north. It was determined the aircraft was flying on an approximate heading of northeast by north when it first struck the trees.
“Examination revealed the landing gear was down and locked at impact….
“Though severely fire damaged, the major portions of the control surfaces were located with the main wreckage. Many broken and burned control cables were examined and these, together with other components of the control system, failed to reveal any evidence of failure or malfunction prior to impact. As far as could be determined from an examination of the damaged airframe components, there was no evidence to indicated that the aircraft was not airworthy prior to the crash….
“Company records disclosed during the investigation that both pilots had made more than 100 approaches to the San Francisco Airport, many of which were actual instrument approaches….
“In the course of the investigation, many ground witnesses were interviewed and written statements taken from seven. These persons not only pointed out significant factors concerning the accident but were generally in agreement on them. All agreed the crash site and surrounding terrain were covered by a dense fog and the aircraft could not be seen in flight. Also the aircraft, when heard, was flying very low with the engines sounding normal….” [pp.2-4]
Analysis
“….As the flight neared the coast, it was given its approach clearance which was acknowledged and repeated back. This clearance required the flight to maintain at least 500 feet above all clouds from the Half Moon Bay Fan Marker to the ILS outer marker. The accident site was between these two points. It is obvious the flight did not maintain at least 500 on top and descended in weather conditions which precluded visual reference to the ground.
“The flight reported over the Half Moon Bay Fan Marker at 0839 and then reported, ‘Southeast, turning inbound,’ at approximately 0842. The crash took place between 0842 and 0845. It seems impossible in this time interval for the flight to have flown from the Half Moon Bay Fan Marker to the ILS outer marker, made the required turn and returned to the crash site, assuming a normal speed. This is especially true considering that a part of the distance was flown with the landing gear down and 25 degrees of flaps extended. Thus it is likely that when the pilot reported ‘Southeast, turning inbound,’ his actual position was southwest of the airport. It is therefore probable that the captain after reporting over Half Moon Bay either saw the terrain momentarily through an unreported break in the overcast or because of a radio navigational error became convinced that his position was farther northeast, and started to let down over what he believed was the proper area for this descent…. (p. 5)
“Probable Cause
“The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the crew to follow prescribed procedures for an instrument approach.” [p.6] (CAB AIR. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Ltd., Near Half Moon Bay, California, October 29, 1953. Adopted 4-12-1954.)
Notable California Aviation Disasters: “Date / Time: Thursday, October 29, 1953 / 8:44 p.m.
“Operator / Flight No.: British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines / Flight 304-44
“Location: Near Half Moon Bay, Calif.
“Details and Probable Cause: Named Resolution, the four-engine Douglas DC-6 airliner (VH-BPE) was flying to San Francisco from Sydney, Australia, via Honolulu, and carrying 11 passengers and a crew of eight.
“Shortly after crossing over the California coast, while flying in fog, the airplane crashed into a redwood forest on a mountain ridge 7-1/2 miles southeast of Half Moon Bay on its initial approach to the San Francisco Airport.
“The plane struck the shoulder of King’s Mountain at an altitude of 1,950 feet and broke up, scattering burning wreckage over a half-mile area in Corte Madera Canyon.
“Rescuers sighted the wreckage at approximately 10:10 a.m. the next morning and determined that all 19 persons aboard the British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines DC-6 had perished in the crash.
“Among those killed was American pianist William Kapell, 31, who was thought by many to be one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Kapell was returning to the United States following a three-month concert tour in Australia.
“The accident was attributed to human error: The flight crew failed to follow the appropriate procedures for an instrument approach to the airport.
“The worst aviation disaster in San Mateo County history.
“Fatalities: 19 — all 11 passengers and 8 crew members.” (Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1950s.”)
Sources
AirDisaster.com. Accident Database. “Accident Synopsis 10291953.” Accessed at: http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=10291953®=VH-BPE&airline=British+Commonwealth+Pacific+Airlines
Civil Aeronautics Board, Accident Investigation Report. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Ltd., Near Half Moon Bay, California, October 29, 1953 (File No. F-112-53). Adopted April 12, 1954, released June 15, 1954. Accessed 5-15-2023 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=jN9WQSmBbDsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1950s.” Oct 23 2008 update. Accessed at: http://www.jaydeebee1.com/crash50s.html