The four crew failed to see a Northrop F-89 Scorpion, also on a test flight, in time to avoid a mid-air collision.

The fighter, coming out of 90-degree turn, struck the DC-7B almost head-on at 1118 hrs., ~1–2 miles NE of the Hansen Dam spillway, severing ~8 1/2 feet of the transport's port wing outboard of station 613.

The CAB accident report states that "At 1118 activity in the Douglas radio room was interrupted by an emergency transmission from N 8210H.

Radio Operator Nakazawas voice was recognized and he concluded the tragic message with, 'We are spinning in the valley.'

"[4] Airliner impacted across the street from Pacoima Junior High School – debris killed three students and injured some 74 others.