1960 — Oct 28, Northwest Orient Airlines crash & fire, poor visibility, Missoula, MT–all 12

–12 AirDisaster.com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 10281960.
–12 CAB. AAR. Northwest Airlines…Missoula, Montana, October 28, 1960.
–12 NFPA. “Large Loss of Life Fires of 1960.” Quarterly of the NFPA, 54/3, Jan 1961, p. 258.

Narrative Information

Civil Aeronautics Board: “On October 28, 1960, at 1139 m. s. t., a Douglas C-54A-DC, N 48762, operated by Northwest Airlines, Inc., as Flight 104, crashed and burned approximately 13 nautical miles northwest of the Missoula, Montana Airport. The captain, first officer, two hostesses and all eight passengers died in the crash. “The flight took off from Spokane, Washington, on an instrument flight plan. En route radio reports were routine and indicated the flight was on schedule, and in no difficulty.

“As the aircraft descended deeper into the valley, flight visibility became restricted by light snow showers, and the tops of the mountains surrounding the valley were obscured by the overcast.

“The aircraft entered a steep left banking turn and the nose was raised in an apparent attempt to turn and climb out through an intersecting valley; however, the aircraft continued to sink toward the ground, rolled to the left and crashed inverted….In attempting this turn, the aircraft was maneuvered in a manner wherein control of it was lost and the crash resulted. It is also obvious that the pilot should have made an IFR approach in view of the mountainous terrain and the weather conditions surrounding the accident site which precluded VFR flight….

“Northwest Airlines Flight 104 of October 28, 1960, was a scheduled passenger flight originating in Portland, Oregon, and was scheduled to arrive at Missoula, Montana, at 1155. 1 En route stops were Yakima and Spokane, Washington….

“At 1136, Great Falls Center contacted Flight 104 and issued the following clearance: “Northwest one zero four is cleared for an approach to the Missoula Airport, over.” Flight 104 answered, Northwest one zero four is cleared for an approach to the Missoula Airport, thank you.” This was the last communication heard from the flight. Three minutes later, at 1139, Flight 104 crashed at the foot of Cayuse Mountain at an elevation of 3,140 feet m. s. l….

“The aircraft had entered the area of the crash on a heading of 060 degrees at approximately 500 feet above the valley floor. Within approximately 1/2 mile southwest of the point of :impact, the aircraft began to bank into a left turn, and the bank increased to a left wing-down attitude of near 45 degrees. A mushing and nose-high attitude accompanied the bank and the engines were heard to be running at high speed. The aircraft nosed downward, rolled to the left to an inverted position, and struck the ground. The direction of impact was 037 degrees, magnetic, and the wreckage distribution followed that heading. An intense fire followed….

“The Board believes the accident was caused by the failure of the pilot to continue in accordance with his IFR flight plan by attempting a VFR approach during instrument weather conditions…” (CAB. AAR. Northwest Airlines…Missoula, Montana, October 28, 1960.)

NFPA: “…1960 U.S. Large Loss of Life Aircraft Accidents….Oct. 28…near Frenchtown, Montana…Northwest Airlines DC-4…Crashed into mountain, burned on impact…12 [killed].”
(National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss of Life Fires of 1960.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 54, No. 3, January 1961, p. 258.

Sources

AirDisaster.Com. Accident Database. Accident Synopsis 10281960. Accessed at: http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/view_details.cgi?date=10281960&reg=N48762&airline=Northwest+Orient

Civil Aeronautics Board. Aircraft Accident Report. Northwest Airlines, Inc., Douglas C-54A-DC, N 48762, Missoula, Montana, October 28, 1960. Wash., DC: CAB, released 3-1-1962, 8 pp. Accessed 11-14-2022 at: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/33648

National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss of Life Fires of 1960.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 54, No. 3, January 1961, pp. 233-268.