50 PERSONS DEAD IN U.S. CRASH

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26510, 27 August 1951, Page 7

50 PERSONS DEAD IN U.S. CRASH

F. 8.1. To Investigate

Cause

(Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, Auguat 25. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is to investigate the crash of a United Airlines DC6B in which all the 50 persons on board were killed, to determine whether it was caused by sabotage. The plane, which was on its way from Boston to San Francisco with 44 passengers and a crew of six. burst Into flames when it hit a hilltop near Dacota, 20 miles south of Oakland, California, yesterday. DC6B aircraft were the cause of a recent strike by United Airlines pilots. The strike 1 was called off wit Presi- ’ dent Truman’s request, but the pilots* claims, including higher pay for flying DCOB’s, are still under consideration. The claim was made because the faster speed of the planes reduces flying time, on which their pay is based. The airliner crashed only 10 minutes before it was due to land. Three , minutes before, the pilot had reported that he was making a routine instrument approach to the Oakland airport through a 600 ft cloud layer extending from an altitude of 1400 ft to 2000 ft. The aeroplane missed clearing the top of the 1500 ft hill by 20ft. Striking the hill, it careered over the top. plunged 400yds down the slope, and then fell into a canyon about 500 ft deeo. All the bodies are believed to be in the canyon with the exception of the body of a boy of four who was thrown clear when the airliner plunged down the slope. The blaze from, the burning wreckage set fire to several acres of dry grass and scrub land. • It was the first crash of this type of aeroplane, which is 25 miles an hour faster than the earlier DCS.