The aircraft took off from Burbank Airport for Las Vegas, Nevada, where the aircraft was to be formally turned over to Northwest Airlines, and then it was to be flown to St. Paul, Minnesota to the airline's headquarters. The plane was flying in fog above the Mint Canyon when it crashed at 3,300 feet in the Sierra Pelona Mountains, 27 minutes after taking off from Burbank.
The plane took off from Burbank Airport bound for Las Vegas, Nevada, where it was to be handed over to Northwest Airlines. It was then scheduled to fly to St. Paul, Minnesota, the airline's headquarters. The aircraft encountered fog above Mint Canyon at 3,300 feet in the Sierra Pelona Mountains, 27 minutes after takeoff from Burbank, when it crashed.