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18 fatalities

West Coast Flight 956: DC-9 Crash on Salmon Mountain (N9101)

Wemme, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On October 1, 1966, a Douglas DC-9 (registration N9101) operated by West Coast Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Wemme, United States of America during landing or approach. 18 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The descent of the aircraft below its clearance limit and below that of surrounding obstructing terrain, but the Board had been unable to determine the cause of such descent. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary report: the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive (1962-1981)Updated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

West Coast Flight 956, a new DC-9, crashed into Salmon Mountain near Eugene, Oregon, on its way to Portland and Seattle, killing all 18 occupants.

Flight Details and Timeline West Coast Flight 956 departed San Francisco (SFO) at 18:44, bound for Eugene (EUG), Portland (PDX), and Seattle (SEA). The aircraft, a brand-new DC-9 delivered to West Coast Airlines just two weeks prior, arrived at Eugene at 19:34 and departed again 18 minutes later. At 20:04, the crew received clearance to descend from cruising altitude FL140 to 9,000 feet. During a turn to heading 300°, the aircraft descended below the cleared altitude and struck the wooded eastern slope of Salmon Mountain at the 3,830-foot level. The aircraft was in a 30° right bank, climbing at 3–4°, and on a heading of 265° at impact. The plane disintegrated on collision, and all 18 occupants were killed.

Probable cause

The descent of the aircraft below its clearance limit and below that of surrounding obstructing terrain, but the Board had been unable to determine the cause of such descent.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1 Oct 1966 Douglas DC-9 accident near Wemme, United States of America?

West Coast Flight 956, a new DC-9, crashed into Salmon Mountain near Eugene, Oregon, on its way to Portland and Seattle, killing all 18 occupants.

Were there any fatalities in the 1 Oct 1966 Douglas DC-9 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 18 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1 Oct 1966 involved a Douglas DC-9, registration N9101, operated by West Coast Airlines, at Wemme, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The descent of the aircraft below its clearance limit and below that of surrounding obstructing terrain, but the Board had been unable to determine the cause of such descent.

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