1955 — Feb 19, off course TWA flight 260 flies into Sandia Mt., near Albuquerque, NM–16

–16 Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. Trans World Airlines, 19 Feb 1955.
–16 CAB AAR. Trans World Airlines, Inc., Sandia Mountain, Near Albuquerque…Feb, 1955
–16 Eckert. “Fatal commercial air transport crashes, 1924-1981.” AJFM&P, 3/1, Mar 1982, Table 1.
–16 NFPA. “Summary of Large Loss Aircraft Fires [1955].” Vol. 49, No. 4, April 1956, p. 395.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:

“Date: Saturday 19 Feb 1955
“Time: 07:13 MST
“Type: Martin 4-0-4
“Operator: Trans World Airlines – TWA
“Registration: N40416
“MSN: 14120
….
“Crew: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
“Passengers: Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13
“Total: Fatalities: 16 / Occupants: 16
….
“Phase: En route (ENR)
“Nature: Domestic Scheduled Passenger
“Departure airport: Albuquerque Municipal Airport, NM
“Destination airport: Santa Fe Airport, NM
“Flight number: TWA260
“Narrative:

“Flight 260 received an IFR clearance from the tower at 0703 hours: “ATC clears TWA260 for approach at the Santa Fe Airport via Victor 19 climb northbound on the back course of the ILS localizer”. The flight departed Albuquerque at 0705 hours. The tower requested the flight to report over-the Weiler Intersection (formerly the Alameda Intersection), however, after taking off there were no further radio contacts with the flight.

“The aircraft was last seen at an estimated altitude of 3000 feet (8300 feet mean sea level) in a high speed shallow climb continuing its heading towards Sandia Ridge, the upper portion of which was obscured by clouds. The wreckage was sighted the following morning at 9243 feet mean sea level, just below the crest of Sandia Mountain, approximately 13 miles north-east of the Albuquerque Airport and almost directly on a straight line course of 30 degrees magnetic from that airport (elevation 5340 feet mean sea level) to the Santa. Fe Airport (elevation 6,344 feet mean sea level)….” (ASN. Accident Description. Trans World Airlines, 19 Feb 1955.)

Civil Aeronautics Board:

“The Accident
“Trans World Airlines Flight 260, a Martin 404, N 40416, struck, Sandia Mountain, near Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 19, 1955, about 0713. All 16 occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.
….
2. Airplane Heading.

“During the third visit to the crash site, on November 24, 1958, the heading at the time of impact was determined to be 249 degrees magnetic. This direction was determined by a sun compass not subject to magnetic forces or their local variations. Previously the direction was believed to be 320 degrees as determined by a magnetic compass.

“From this it is evident that the aircraft must have been turned to the left from about 35 degrees magnetic, the direction in which it approached the mountain, through some 145 degrees, when it struck. This is nearly a reversal of course must have been brought about by the pilot’s sudden realization of proximity to the high land. This realization could have come from a glimpse of the ground, from warning by the terrain warning indicator, or from sudden awareness of curse error by reference to the flight instruments and the indications of radio navigational aids.
….
“5. Use of Available Navigational Aids.

“The Board believes that the crew intended to follow the route prescribed in the ATC clearance. This is confirmed by their car in verifying the location of the Weiler intersection, a reporting point in their clearance, by the airplane’s radio receivers being found set properly for this route of flight and because the crash occurred at about 9,000 feet, the planned cruising altitude. Further, it is inconceivable that a crew familiar with the terrain features in the Albuquerque area, as was this crew, would have taken a direct route to Santa Fe at an altitude of 9,000 feet….

“Probable Cause

“The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a deviation from the prescribed flight path for reasons unknown.”

(CAB AAR 1. TWA Inc., Sandia Mountain, Near Albuquerque…Feb, 1955.”)

National Fire Protection Association: “Feb 19, Sandia Mountain, N.M.

“Trans World Airlines Martin 404 power-on impact with mountain followed by fire…16 killed.”

(NFPA. “Summary of Large Loss Aircraft Fires [1955].” Vol. 49, No. 4, April 1956, p. 395.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Accident Description. Trans World Airlines, Flight 260, 19 Feb 1955. Accessed 2-21-2009 at:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19550219-0

Civil Aeronautics Board. Supplemental Aircraft Accident Report. Trans World Airlines, Inc., Sandia Mountain, Near Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 19, 1955 (File No. 1-0063). Washington, DC: CAB, Released 6-15-1960. Accessed 4-12-2023 at: file:///C:/Users/Wayne/Downloads/dot_33522_DS1.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.

National Fire Protection Association. “Summary of Large Loss Aircraft Fires [1955].” Vol. 49, No. 4, April 1956, pp. 393-395.