Torrance

The pilot contacted the arsa controller for advisories after losing power on the right engine over an air force base. The controller advised the pilot that his position was near a civilian airport with limited maintenance facilities and an air force base. The pilot advised that he desired to continue to a larger civilian airport along his route where he could obtain service. The pilot then informed the controller that he could barley see the ground and that he was unable to maintain altitude due to the propeller not feathering. The aircraft overflew a small civilian airport and the pilot told the unicom operator that he would attempt to land on an interstate highway. The aircraft overflew the highway and impacted an electrical transmission line and collided with a residence. Post accident inspection revealed the right engine #3 cylinder head fractured allowing the head to displace outward 3/8 inch. Fracture resulted from fatigue at threaded area between head and cylinder. The propeller governor operated normally during functional testing after the accident. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The crew departed Long Beach Airport on a test flight. While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the pilot initiated a series of stall in accordance to the test program. During the descent, a section of the right wing broke off and separated. All four crew members (civilian employees of Douglas Company) bailed out and parachuted to safety while the airplane dove into the ground and crashed on a Texaco Oil refinery property at Carson avenue and Avalon boulevard in north Wilmington, near Torrance. The airplane disintegrated on impact.
Crew:
Russell Thaw Jr., pilot,
George Jansen, copilot,
Chris Nielsen, flight engineer,
H. H. Lane, technician.