Accident
A cargo flight from Los Angeles to Chicago ended when a four-engine aircraft struck mountainous terrain in Colorado. The airplane was flying at night at its assigned cruising altitude of 13,000 feet when it collided with the south face of California Peak, elevation 13,849 feet, about 21 miles northeast of Alamosa, Colorado. The wreckage was discovered one day later, 150 feet below the summit. All three crew members were killed.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause: the crew failed to modify their route over Alamosa VORTAC according to the flight plan and failed to turn to the VA10 route for an undetermined reason.