What happened
The incident occurred shortly after takeoff during a test flight conducted following the replacement of the left engine. A mechanical issue developed involving the eighth cylinder of that engine, prompting the crew to shut down the powerplant and initiate a return to Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal Airport.
Upon arrival, dense fog significantly reduced visibility, preventing the crew from locating the runway for their first approach attempt. During the second landing attempt, the pilot lowered the aircraft's altitude in an effort to regain visual contact with the ground. While descending through the fog, the airframe struck a eucalyptus tree near Lorne Street in North Hollywood.
The impact forces and subsequent post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft. All three crew members were killed in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation identified the pilot's decision to descend to an excessively low altitude as the primary cause of the crash. This action was taken to maintain visual contact while navigating through ground fog during an emergency approach.
Two contributing factors were also cited:
- The initial failure of the left engine, which resulted from excessive oil accumulation in the number eight cylinder before startup.
- A maintenance error where proper precautions were not taken to drain this accumulated oil prior to starting the engine.