Flight and Incident
The flight was routine while receiving radar advisories until the aircraft was approximately 15 miles east of the destination airport. After radar service was terminated, the aircraft turned toward the northwest and subsequently flew into rising terrain at an elevation of about 3,000 feet.
Discovery
The aircraft was reported missing but was not found until April 1, 1986. The crash site was located about 10 miles northeast of the airport.
Conditions
Darkness and marginal weather existed at the crash site at the time of the accident. Approximately 18 miles south at Ontario, California, the 1945 weather conditions were reported as: sky partially obscured, 1,300 feet broken, 5,000 feet overcast, visibility 4 miles with haze, wind from 270 degrees at 10 knots. The elevation at Ontario was 952 feet.