What happened
On January 9, 1975, at approximately 4:07 p.m. PST, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter operating as Golden West Airlines Flight 261 was involved in a mid-air collision with a Cessna 150 aircraft. The private plane, identified by the registration N11421 and owned by CessnAir Aviation, Inc., struck the commercial flight near Whittier, California.
The timing of the incident played a critical role in the event. The collision took place while the sun was positioned just 9 degrees above the western horizon. This specific alignment placed the sun directly into the line of sight for the pilots flying Golden West Airlines Flight 261, creating intense glare that likely impaired their visibility during the encounter.
Investigation
The circumstances surrounding the accident were heavily influenced by environmental factors rather than mechanical failure or crew error alone. The investigation highlighted the challenging visual conditions caused by the low angle of the sun. The direct sunlight entering the cockpit of the Twin Otter created a situation where detecting the smaller Cessna 150 was exceptionally difficult for the flight crew.
Findings
The primary contributing factor to this accident was the severe visual impairment caused by solar glare. The pilots of Golden West Airlines Flight 261 were flying directly toward the setting sun, which obscured their view of the other aircraft. This environmental hazard prevented the timely detection and avoidance of the Cessna 150, leading to the collision.