Page:BCPA Flight 304 accident investigation report.djvu/1

 SA-287

CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Adopted: April 12, 1954

BRITISH COMMONWEALTH PACIFIC AIRLINES, LTD., NEAR HALF MOON BAY,  CALIFORNIA, OCTOBER 29, 1953

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 October 29, 1953. 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 Fransisco, 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. Following a briefing on expected en route and terminal weather by U.S. Weather Bureau personnel, the crew filed an IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) flight plan with ARTC (Air Route Traffic Control) which indicated a rhumb line course was to be flown to San Francisco with Sacramento, California, the alternate airport. The estimated flying time was nine hours and 25 minutes and there was 12 hours and 53 minutes of fuel on board. Flight 304/44 departed Honolulu at 2259, October 28, 1953, with 10 adult passengers and one child. According to company records, the gross takeoff weight of the aircraft was 90,166 pounds which was below the allowable gross takeoff weight of 95,200 pounds and the load was properly distributed with respect to the center of gravity of the aircraft.

Following departure from Honolulu, the flight called the tower and requested to leave tower frequency. This request was granted. At 2302, the flight again called the tower and reported that it was over Diamond Head requesting permission to return to the airport. At this time the pilot stated, "We're having a little trouble with one of the props." The IFR flight plan was then cancelled. Three minutes later when over the airport, the flight reported: "The relay is working okay now; desire to continue flight." Upon receipt of this message, ARTC revalidated the original clearance and the flight proceeded on course.

As the flight proceeded toward San Francisco, hourly routine position