On November 22, 1949, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 42-72474) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Saint Helens, United States of America in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck treetops while flying through hilly terrain at night. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A four-engine aircraft crashed into forested, hilly terrain near Mount Saint Helens during a night flight, resulting in no survivors.
What happened
During a nighttime operation, a four-engine aircraft struck treetops while navigating through hilly landscape. The impact occurred in an area situated approximately 30 miles east of Kelso, within the vicinity of Mount Saint Helens. The collision with the vegetation led to a crash in the rugged terrain.
All six crew members on board the aircraft perished in the accident. There were no other occupants reported in the wreckage.
Findings
- The flight was conducted under night visibility conditions.
- The aircraft's path intersected with treetops during its descent or low-level flight through the hills.
Probable cause
The aircraft struck treetops while flying through hilly terrain at night.