BCPA Flight 304 History

Date:
Type:
Operator:
Registration:
Msn /C/n:
Year built:
Crew:
Passengers:
Total:
Location:
Phase:
Nature:
Departure airport:
Destination airport:

29 OCT 1953
Douglas DC-6B
British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Ltd.
VH-BPE
3125/131
1948
8 fatalities / 8 on board
11 fatalities / 11 on board
19 fatalities / 19 on board
7,5mls SE Half Moon Bay, CA (USA)
Initial Approach
Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Honolulu International Airport, HI (HNL)
San Francisco-International Airport, CA (SFO)

Remarks:
The aircraft was flying the last leg of a Sydney-San Francisco flight when it crashed in mountainous terrain on approach to San Francisco airport. PROBABLE CAUSE: " The failure of the crew to follow prescribed procedures for an instrument approach."

Source: ICAO Accident Digest Circular 39-AN/34 (126-128)

Copyright © 1996-2003 Aviation Safety Network last updated April 30, 2003

Passenger List

Captain
First Officer
Navigation Operator
Radio Officer
Engineer Office
Purser
Flight Hostess
Flight Hostess
Passengers

B.N. Dickson
F.A. Campbell
G.R. Murtagh
VA. Walker
C.N. Cattanach
W.B. Knighyt
A.K. Lewis
J.F. Elder
J.K. Briscoe
J.W. Butterworth
Mrs. J. Chiverton
W.J. Cox
R.F.K. Eastoe
Janos Feher + John Feher (7 years)
William Kapell
C.G.H. McDonald
Captain Paul Olsen
B.R. Tischler

Crash Map

Douglas DC-6 Data

First Flight
Wingspan
Length
Height
Ceiling
Range
Weight
Power Plant
Speed
Crew
Passengers

February 15th, 1946
117 ft. 6 in.
100 ft. 7 in.
28ft. 5 in.
25000 ft.
4000 nm / 7408 km
52,567 lbs / 23,840 kg
Four 2,400 horsepower Pratt & Whitney " Double Wasp"
270 knots / 500 km/h / 0.41 mach
3
48 to 86 in two or one class configuration