Fatal Accident (22 – including Carol Lombard) – Douglas DC-3-382, NC1946, 53 km SW of Las Vegas, NV, January 16, 1942
OFFICIAL PRELIMINARY REPORT: Report Not Available Yet
OFFICIAL FINAL REPORT: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/33052/dot_33052_DS1.pdf
SOURCE Report:
TWA Flight 3, operated by a Douglas DC-3-382 (registration NC1946), was a domestic passenger flight operated by Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA). On January 16, 1942, the aircraft departed Las Vegas Airport (now Nellis Air Force Base) en route to Burbank, California, on the final leg of a transcontinental route. Just 15 minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed into a cliff on Potosi Mountain, approximately 32 miles southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, at an elevation of 7,770 feet. All 22 occupants on board, including 19 passengers and three crew members, perished. Among the deceased were actress Carole Lombard, her mother, Elizabeth Knight, and MGM press agent Otto Winkler.
The aircraft was flying off course, deviating 7 miles northwest of its designated airway. The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) investigation concluded that pilot error was the primary cause of the accident. The captain relied on an erroneous compass heading rather than available radio navigation aids, a decision compounded by a lack of familiarity with the Las Vegas-to-Burbank route. Most airway beacons were turned off as a wartime precaution, although one critical beacon, the Arden beacon, was operational but not utilized correctly by the crew.
The crash also highlighted operational lapses. A flight plan form completed before takeoff indicated an incorrect magnetic heading of 218 degrees, potentially a result of confusion with navigation from Boulder City Airport, an alternate stop that had no runway lighting at the time. The CAB noted that this error may have influenced the crew’s navigation decisions, leading them directly into high terrain.
Carole Lombard’s presence on the flight drew significant public attention. She was returning to Los Angeles after a successful war bond drive in the Midwest, during which she raised over $2 million for the war effort. Her insistence on staying aboard the flight, despite being asked to deplane to accommodate U.S. Army personnel, became a poignant detail in the aftermath. Her husband, actor Clark Gable, was reportedly devastated by the loss, and he later joined the U.S. Army Air Forces, a decision influenced by her death.
The tragedy was one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the United States at the time and underscored the risks of wartime aviation. The CAB’s recommendations following the accident emphasized stricter adherence to navigational protocols and improved pilot training to prevent similar occurrences. The incident also led to increased scrutiny of airline operational procedures during the wartime blackout period.
In the years since, the crash site on Potosi Mountain has become a point of historical interest. Wreckage from the aircraft remains at the site, preserved as a somber reminder of the accident. Tributes to Lombard and the other victims have been established, including in popular culture and through commemorations of her life and contributions.
The crash remains a key example of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), a type of accident that occurs when an airworthy aircraft, under the control of the crew, inadvertently flies into the ground. It highlights the importance of utilizing all available navigational aids and the consequences of operational oversights. The loss of TWA Flight 3 served as a critical moment in the evolution of aviation safety during World War II, influencing policies that prioritized the balance between wartime precautions and civilian aviation safety.
NC1946 Seating Chart:
Seat 1: Sgt. A. Belejchak
Seat 2: Cpl. M. Affrime
Seat 3: 2nd. Lt. K. Donaghue
Seat 4: 1st. Lt. H. Browne
Seat 5: 2nd. Lt. J. Barham
Seat 6: 2nd. Lt. S. Swenson
Seat 7: Pvt. N. Varsamino
Seat 8: C. Lombard
Seat 9: E. Peters
Seat 10: 2nd. Lt. C. Nelson
Seat 11: O. Winkler
Seat 12: Sgt. R. Nygren
Seat 14: 2nd. Lt. F. Dittman
Seat 15: 1st. Lt. R. Crouch
Seat 16: SSgt. E. Nygren
Seat 17: L. Hamilton
Seat 18: SSgt. D. Tilghman
Seat 19: Sgt. F. Cook
Seat 20: Pvt. M. Tollkamp
Aircraft Operator:
Transcontinental & Western Air – TWA
Video(s):
n/a
Accident Location:
Potosi Mountain, Nevada,
35.9510°N 115.4914°W (https://g.co/kgs/i38QYgf)
Carol Lombard:
Carole Lombard, born Jane Alice Peters on October 6, 1908, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was an iconic American actress known for her roles in screwball comedies and her vibrant on-screen presence. Lombard’s career began at an early age when she was discovered by director Allan Dwan, leading to her debut in A Perfect Crime (1921). Despite a setback in 1926 due to a severe facial injury from a car accident, Lombard overcame adversity, transitioning from silent films to talkies. She gained widespread recognition in the 1930s for her comedic talents in films like Twentieth Century (1934), My Man Godfrey (1936), for which she earned an Academy Award nomination, and To Be or Not to Be (1942), her final completed film.
Her personal life was as captivating as her career. Lombard was first married to actor William Powell, a union that ended amicably in 1933. In 1939, she married Hollywood legend Clark Gable, a relationship that became one of the era’s most celebrated romances. Lombard was known for her wit, generosity, and dedication to her craft. During World War II, she was an outspoken patriot, actively supporting the war effort by participating in bond drives.
On January 16, 1942, at age 33, Lombard’s life ended tragically in a plane crash near Mount Potosi, Nevada, while returning from a successful war bond tour. TWA Flight 3, carrying Lombard, her mother, Elizabeth Peters, and Clark Gable’s press agent, Otto Winkler, crashed into the mountain due to navigational errors and wartime restrictions on beacon usage. All 22 passengers and crew members perished. The accident was a significant national loss, as Lombard was one of the first Hollywood stars to lose her life in service to the country during the war effort.
Lombard’s death left a profound impact on Hollywood and the nation. Clark Gable was reportedly devastated and later joined the U.S. Army Air Forces, a decision attributed partly to his grief. Lombard’s legacy endures as a trailblazer in comedy and a symbol of patriotism and resilience. Her contributions to cinema and her selfless dedication to supporting the war effort have ensured her place as one of Hollywood’s most enduring legends. Today, she is remembered for her groundbreaking performances, her advocacy for humanitarian causes, and her indomitable spirit.
ASN:
https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/341570
FAA/International Registration:
NC1946
Year of Manufacture:
1941
SN/Military Registration/BUNO:
3295
Facebook:
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X/Twitter (reports+videos):
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ADS-B Exchange:
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FlightAware:
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flightradar24:
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AirNav.radar:
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National Report(s):
Archived
Local Report(s):
Archived
Image Reference(s):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_3
https://www.lostflights.com/Commercial-Aviation/11642-TWA-TWA-Douglas-DC-
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