What happened
On February 1, 1959, a Douglas DC-3 operated by General Airways crashed in the vicinity of Kerrville, Texas. The flight was performing a civil air movement to transport 25 military personnel from Boise, Idaho, to Lack and Air Force Base (Kelly AFB) in San Antonio, Texas.
The aircraft's final leg began in Pueblo, Colorado, where the crew received weather briefings indicating that icing conditions were present and expected to persist. The flight was operating under an IFR flight plan with an initial cruise altitude of 9,000 feet. At approximately 19:16, the crew requested a descent to 7,000 feet due to light icing. Shortly after receiving approval for the altitude change, the aircraft reported further icing.
As the flight progressed, ice accumulation on the airframe increased from light to critical levels, eventually becoming incapacitating. During this period, the crew engaged in multiple radio communications regarding the deteriorating situation. The pilot attempted an emergency landing at a lighted, staffed airport in Kerrville, but the maneuver was unsuccessful, resulting in a crash-landing near the airfield. The accident resulted in 3 fatalities and 25 injuries, with four individuals sustaining serious wounds.
Findings
Post-accident investigations confirmed that there were no mechanical failures or unexpected weather patterns involved in the accident. The investigation concluded that the primary factor was the decision to continue flight operations into known and hazardous icing conditions.