Overview
On a night with good weather and visibility exceeding 15 miles, a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster and a Neptune collided while in flight over Norwalk. The collision occurred in an uncontrolled area. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed.
Aircraft and Crews
The Douglas C-118A Liftmaster, registration 53-3277, was operated by the United States Air Force. It had departed Long Beach Airport five minutes before the accident, en route to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. The aircraft carried 35 passengers and a crew of six.
The Neptune was on a local training flight from Los Alamitos Army Air Field, with eight crew members on board.
Collision and Crash
While the Neptune was cruising at 3,000 feet, it collided with the C-118A. After the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground. The C-118A crashed onto several buildings and a fuel station in Norwalk. The Neptune crashed into a stone pit located approximately 2.5 miles north of the C-118A crash site.
Injuries and Damage
All 41 occupants of the C-118A and one woman on the ground were killed. Of the eight crew members on the Neptune, six were killed and two were seriously injured.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the collision occurred in an uncontrolled area. Both crews were held co-responsible for failing to take appropriate measures to avoid each other and to pay attention to potential traffic. The crew of the C-118 was specifically blamed for not giving priority to the Neptune, which was flying to its right.