Flying Tiger Line Flight 282 facts for kids
A L-1049H of Flying Tiger Line similar to the aircraft involved
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| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 24, 1964 |
| Summary | Pilot error, Controlled flight into terrain |
| Place | San Bruno, California, United States 37°37′26″N 122°27′53″W / 37.62389°N 122.46472°W |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 3 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Aircraft type | Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation |
| Airline/user | Flying Tiger Line |
| Registration | N6915C |
| Flew from | San Francisco International Airport, California, United States |
| Flying to | John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City, New York, United States |
Flying Tiger Line Flight 282 was a cargo plane that crashed on December 24, 1964. The plane was a Lockheed Super Constellation, a large, four-engine aircraft. It took off from San Francisco International Airport very early in the morning. Sadly, all three crew members on board died in the accident.
Contents
What Happened to Flight 282?
The Flight's Journey
On December 23, 1964, the plane arrived in San Francisco from Japan. It was carrying a lot of cargo, including electronic gear, fabric, scarves, and jewelry. These items were likely gifts for the upcoming Christmas holiday.
After being refueled, the plane took off just after midnight. There were three crew members on board. The plane was also carrying about 41,000 pounds of cargo and 136 pounds of mail. It had 5,000 gallons of fuel.
Weather Conditions
The weather that night was very bad. There was heavy fog and rain. A large cold front was moving into the area. This stormy weather had already caused another accident, where a Coast Guard helicopter was lost.
The Crash
Flight 282 was supposed to fly northwest from San Francisco Bay. Then, it would turn over the ocean to gain altitude. After that, it would head east towards its destination, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
However, shortly after takeoff, the plane turned left from its planned path. The pilot then asked the tower for permission to change his radio frequency. Just seconds later, the plane disappeared from the tower's radar screen.
The "Super Connie" plane crashed near the top of Sweeney Ridge in San Bruno, California. This spot was very close to a Coast Guard radio station. All three crew members on board were killed in the crash. Luckily, no one on the ground was hurt.
Why Did the Crash Happen?
The Civil Aeronautics Board investigated the accident. They found that the main reason for the crash was that the pilot went off course. For reasons that were not fully known, the plane flew into an area with rising land. In this area, there were also strong downdrafts (air moving downwards) and turbulence. These conditions made it hard for the plane to climb safely.
