Flight Details
Western Air Lines Flight 314 departed Los Angeles, California, on a scheduled flight to Minneapolis, Minnesota, with intermediate stops at Las Vegas, Nevada; Cedar City and Salt Lake City, Utah; Casper, Wyoming; and Rapid City, South Dakota. The flight was routine until Salt Lake City, where a relief crew took over: Captain M. R. Cawley, First Officer R. E. Crowther, and Stewardess Mary Grace Creagan. The aircraft was refueled to 1,000 gallons, filling all tanks.
Departure Delay
Flight 314 departed the Salt Lake City ramp at 0721 but returned minutes later due to a broken nose wheel steering cable. The cable was replaced, and the flight departed at 0850. At takeoff, the gross weight was 36,990 pounds, 2,144 pounds below the maximum allowable weight of 39,134 pounds. The load was properly distributed, and the center of gravity was within approved limits.
Flight Plan and Weather
The flight plan specified Instrument Flight Rules at 15,000 feet via Green 3 and Blue 76 Airways. Casper weather went below company minimums, so the flight overflew that stop. Air Route Traffic Control issued a new clearance to descend to 13,000 feet via Blue 37 and Red 2 Airways, but the flight requested and received authorization to climb to 17,000 feet. At 1010, the aircraft reported over Casper at 17,000 feet, estimating the Wright intersection at 1027. The flight reported over Wright at 1025 at 17,000 feet, estimating Rapid City at 1050. The Casper company radio operator gave the flight the 0930 en route weather and the 1010 Rapid City Special #2 terminal weather. This was the last radio contact, acknowledged at 1027.
Loss of Contact and Search
At 1041, the Rapid City radio operator unsuccessfully attempted to contact the flight to deliver an instrument approach clearance. Attempts continued until 1053, when the Denver company dispatcher was advised that contact was lost. Emergency procedures were initiated at 1106. Intermittent snow and restricted visibility hampered search efforts. The wreckage was sighted by a Western Air Lines pilot on the afternoon of February 28, and ground parties reached the scene that night. The aircraft had crashed in an isolated ranch area, and all nine occupants were killed.
Findings and Probable Cause
The investigation determined that a sudden emergency of undetermined origin occurred under adverse weather conditions, resulting in a rapid descent and high-speed impact. Weather was a major factor, with heavy to possibly severe turbulence and heavy icing in the area. The flight was routine until approximately five minutes before the crash. Both engines were developing power at impact. Due to wreckage disintegration, it was impossible to determine if structural failure or control malfunction occurred prior to impact.