Flight History
Flight 901A, a Lockheed Constellation operated by Paradise Airlines, departed Oakland, California at 08:43. The aircraft flew to Salinas, arriving at 09:11, and departed at 09:27 with 18 passengers. It then proceeded to San Jose, arriving at 09:46. The Constellation departed San Jose at 10:40 on a VFR flight plan. Shortly after becoming airborne, the crew requested and received an IFR clearance to fly via airways Victor 6 South to Sacramento, then Victor 6 to the Lake Tahoe VOR, maintaining 11,000 feet. The company's flight plan, however, called for a VFR flight to Tahoe Valley Airport because no approved IFR approach existed for that destination.
Communications and Weather
At 10:57, Flight 901A was in radio contact with Paradise Flight 802, which was outbound from Tahoe Valley. The captain of Flight 802 reported encountering icing at 12,000 feet, snow showers over the lake, and clouds topping the mountains. In response, Flight 901A climbed to a cruising altitude of 15,000 feet. At 11:27, the crew contacted the Paradise Airlines passenger agent at Tahoe Valley, who provided the 11:00 weather: estimated ceiling 2,000 feet overcast, 3 miles visibility, snow showers, temperature and dewpoint both 32°F, wind from 210° at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots, altimeter 29.97. The agent also asked the crew to call the company if they decided to divert to Reno, Nevada; the crew acknowledged.
Accident Sequence
The crew apparently decided to abandon the approach to Tahoe Valley. They turned east toward the high terrain east of Lake Tahoe. Investigators believed that from their position over the Tahoe VOR, the crew could observe VFR conditions on the leeward side of the mountains. Additionally, investigators assumed that the first officer was aware of Daggett Pass and considered it an access to VFR conditions beyond. An altitude of 9,000 feet would provide about 1,500 feet of terrain clearance through the pass. Either because they believed they had sufficient altitude or were unable to climb higher due to structural ice, the aircraft leveled off. At that time, the airplane struck several trees on the west slope of a ridge of Genoa Peak at approximately 8,675 feet, slightly right-wing-low in a nearly level flight attitude. The aircraft broke up, killing all 18 passengers and the crew.
Probable Cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause was the pilot's deviation from prescribed VFR flight procedures in attempting a visual landing approach in adverse weather conditions, resulting in an abandoned approach and geographical disorientation while flying below the minimum altitude prescribed for operations in mountainous areas.