# NTSB SEA65A0053: Douglas DC-6A, N6541C, Mt Rainier, WA, April 23, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 23, 1965
- Place: Mt Rainier, WA · MT RAINIER, WA
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1966
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 179735
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA65A0053
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA65A0053

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0016  65/4/23    MT RAINIER WASH     DOUGLAS DC-6A       CR-  5  0  0  MILITARY CTR CARGO DOM    ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1423                    N6541C              PX-  0  0  0                            40, 6862 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            4088 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        OPERATOR - AMERICAN AIR EXPORT & IMPORT CO.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - OTHER
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- PLT WX BRIEFED BY MILITARY.ACFT STRUCK MTN.POSITION DISORIENTATION DURING VFR CLIMB IN IFR WX.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6541C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6541C-1965-06-25), registration cancelled 1965-06-25, S/N 45369 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-6A
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-6a) (registry code 3021706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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