Incident Overview
On December 4, 1965, at approximately 1619 e.s.t., Trans World Airlines Flight 42 (TW 42), a Boeing 707 registered N748TW, and Eastern Air Lines Flight 853 (EA 853), a Lockheed 1049C Constellation registered N6218C, collided in midair over the Carmel, New York VORTAC. Both flights were en route to the New York City area.
Flight Paths
TW 42 had departed San Francisco, California, and was approaching the New York area from the northwest for an approach and landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The flight was operating under an IFR flight plan at an assigned altitude of 11,000 feet mean sea level (m.s.l.).
EA 853 had departed Boston, Massachusetts, and was approaching the New York area from the northeast for an approach and landing at Newark Airport. This flight was also on an IFR flight plan, at an assigned altitude of 10,000 feet m.s.l.
Collision Sequence
As EA 853 approached the Carmel VORTAC on a southwesterly heading, the first officer observed TW 42 at his two o'clock position. Believing the jet was at his altitude and on a collision course, he called out "Look Out" and grasped the control wheel to assist the captain in a pull-up maneuver.
At approximately the same time, the captain of TW 42 observed EA 853 at his ten o'clock position, also believing it to be on a collision course. He initiated a right turn and pulled back on the yoke. Deciding this maneuver would not clear the other aircraft, he, assisted by his first officer, attempted to reverse the turn by rolling to the left and pushing on the yoke.
The two aircraft collided at an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet m.s.l.
Emergency Landings and Casualties
The Boeing 707 sustained damage, including a section of the left wing measuring 7.5 meters being torn off. Despite this, the crew managed to complete an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The crew of the Constellation initially lost control of their aircraft but subsequently regained control and executed an emergency landing in a prairie on Titicus Mountain, near Carmel. Three passengers died, and the captain of EA 853, Charles J. White, also perished after returning to the aircraft cabin to assist the last passenger.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was a misjudgment of altitude separation by the crew of EA 853 because of an optical illusion created by the up-slope effect of cloud tops, resulting in an evasive maneuver by the EA 853 crew and a reactionary evasive maneuver by the B 707 crew as well.