Accident Overview
On May 7, 1964, at approximately 0649, Pacific Air Lines Flight 773, a Fairchild F-27 registered as N2770R, crashed near San Ramon, California. The flight was en route from Reno, Nevada, to San Francisco, California. The aircraft was destroyed by impact, and none of the 44 occupants—including three crew members and 41 passengers—survived.
Flight History
The flight proceeded routinely until approximately 26 nautical miles from its destination, San Francisco International Airport. At that point, Oakland Approach Control received a message from the flight, and the radar target associated with Flight 773 disappeared from the controller's radar scope. The recorded message, later determined to be from the copilot of N2770R, stated: "... Skippers shot. We're ben shot. (I was) Try'in ta help."
Wreckage and Evidence
A .357 Smith and Wesson Magnum revolver, identified as having belonged to one of the passengers on the flight, was found in the wreckage area. The revolver contained six empty cartridges, all of which had been fired from the weapon.
Probable Cause
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the shooting of the captain and first officer by a passenger during flight.