Flight Details
Flight 282 was a scheduled domestic cargo flight from San Francisco International Airport, California, to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York. Originally scheduled to depart at 2100 Pacific Standard Time on 23 December, the flight was delayed due to the non-availability of a flight engineer. An engineer obtained from Los Angeles arrived at 2315 hours, and the flight departed at 0028 hours on 24 December.
Departure and Takeoff
While taxiing to runway 28L, the flight requested and received approval to proceed via the GAP Radio Beacon to Golden Gate Intersection and then Victor 150 to Sacramento, instead of the originally filed direct route. The crew was advised of a heavy left crosswind from 210° at 18 to 25 knots for takeoff. After switching to clearance delivery frequency, the flight was cleared to Kennedy Airport via Victor one fifty Sacramento, Victor six north, with instructions to climb outbound on the San Francisco 287° radial to Golden Gate Intersection to intercept Victor 150. The Local Controller noted the aircraft became airborne at 0030 hours. An eyewitness observed the landing lights retracting as the aircraft crossed the end of the runway, though several witnesses along the flight path saw both landing lights on. After takeoff, witnesses reported a slight right turn, then a steeper left turn, followed by a return to wings-level attitude as it entered clouds.
Radar and Communications
At 0030:22, the flight was advised to contact Departure Control and did so immediately. The Departure Controller advised radar contact at 0030:57 and requested altitude reports. At 0031:05, the crew inquired about their tracking toward the GAP. The controller switched his radar to the 10-mile setting and asked for altitude; the crew replied they were at 900 feet. At 0031:20, the controller advised they were left of the San Francisco 287° radial. He received no acknowledgement and repeated the message. Seconds later, the radar target stopped, bloomed, and disappeared. Repeated attempts to communicate were unsuccessful. A time hack was placed at 0032:30.
Crash and Aftermath
Ground impact was computed to have occurred at approximately 0031:30. Main impact occurred at 860 feet above sea level on Sweeney's Ridge, approximately 4.3 miles on the 257° radial of the SFO TVOR (coordinates 122° 28' 00" W, 37° 38' 28" N). The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all three crew members were killed.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause stated: The pilot, for undetermined reasons, deviated from departure course into an area of rising terrain where downdraught activity and turbulence affected the climb capability of the aircraft sufficiently to prevent terrain clearance.