Crash of a Sikorsky S-42 off Antilla: 17 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1944 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC823M
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan – Antilla – Miami
MSN:
4201
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
PA218
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Captain / Total flying hours:
1523
Captain / Total hours on type:
1017.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
380
Copilot / Total hours on type:
45
Aircraft flight hours:
12389
Circumstances:
At about 1318LT, the pilot taxied to the take-off position. The weather was clear and the ceiling unlimited with a wind estimated to be 20 knots from approximately 100 degree. The water was choppy with no ground swells. With a gradual opening of the throttles to 33 1/2 inches of manifold pressure, the plane appeared to go on the step normally and was making approximately 75 knots. The captain then requested an increase in manifold pressure from 33 1/2 inches to 35 inches and upon attaining a speed estimated as between 78 and 80 knots, the plane left the surface of the water. Captain Williams stated that as the plane rose into the air to a height of 10 or 12 feet, he relaxed back pressure slightly, in order to gain speed, whereupon the plane seemed to want to go back on the water so he pulled back on the yoke. When it became obvious to him that the plane was going to go back on the water anyway, he dropped the nose quickly to "flatten out." After striking, bow first, the plane left the water in a slightly nose-high attitude, rose higher than previously, then returned to the water at a much steeper angle. The third time, the plane rose out of control to a height of approximately 25 feet, and in a steeper angle of climb than previously. It then nosed down at a sharp angle and struck the water violently. The nose of the plane struck the water with such force as to cause the hull to fracture and completely separate at a point just aft of the pilot's compartment. The after portion of the plane, which included passenger compartments A, B, C, and D, pitched forward and came to rest in a nearly inverted position with the forward portion fully submerged. Seventeen passengers were killed while all 14 other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
This investigation revealed nothing in the conduct of the flight from the time it left Miami until the time of the plane's leaving the water in the attempted take-off from Antilla, which would indicate a probable cause of the accident. It appears that a degree of laxity characterized this flight as was evidence by the crew's failure to comply with the proper cockpit check procedure and by the lack of an understanding between the crew members regarding the seating arrangement of the passengers. However, as previously stated, these items are not believed to have contributed to the cause of the accident. Considerable significance must be attached to Captain Williams' own description of his handling of the flight and engine controls is during the attempted take-off and subsequent maneuvers of the aircraft. Therefore, in summing up the findings of this investigation, it appears that the pilot failed to keep the airplane airborne after it had attained fixing speed and left the water and that a safe recovery might have been effected at the time the airplane first returned to the water had the pilot used proper technique. These errors in all probability were due largely to the pilot's limited experience in handling S42's. Based on the evidence produced through this investigation, loss of control during take-off was found to be the probable cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-313 off West Palm Beach: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1944 at 1026 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC21788
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Miami - Savannah
MSN:
2187
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Miami Airport bound for Savannah on behalf of the USAAF. After departure, the crew was allowed to climb to 3,000 feet along the east coast of Florida. In the same region was flying a USAAF Consolidated B-24D Liberator registered 41-11889 with a crew of four on board. The crew departed Homestead AFB in the morning for a training exercise. En route, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea, less than one mile from each other. All eight occupants on board both aircraft were killed and the wreckage were found some 6 miles southeast of Lake Worth.
Probable cause:
Investigations determined that both aircraft were flying face to face at the altitude of 1,500 feet when the collision occurred. It appears that both crews did not realize the presence of each other because their attention was focused on cockpit duties and workload.

Crash of a Consolidated 16 Commodore off Miami: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC668M
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12
YOM:
1930
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a test flight when the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances off Miami. A crewmen was killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Miami

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-7421
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - Miami
MSN:
7421
YOM:
1941
Location:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Miami Airport in unknown circumstances. Brand new, the aircraft should be delivered shortly to the Royal Air Force. No casualties.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-38B in the Biscayne Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC21V
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Miami - Miami
MSN:
414-12
YOM:
1929
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a local training flight, the floatplane crashed upon landing in the Biscayne Bay, off Miami. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
 

Crash of a Keystone B-6A in Daytona Beach: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
32-148
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Daytona Beach – Miami
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Daytona Beach Airport on a flight to Miami, carrying three crew members on behalf of the AACMO, the Army Air Corps Mail Operation. After liftoff, while climbing to a height of about 500 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed in a cypress area. Lt Sell was killed and both other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-38A off San Juan

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC5933
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami – San Juan
MSN:
14-A
YOM:
1928
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing off San Juan, the floatplane collided with an undetermined floating object and was damaged beyond repair. All nine occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Collision with floating object upon landing on sea.

Crash of a Stinson SM-8A in Miami: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC235W
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - Miami
MSN:
4062
YOM:
1930
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was engaged in a local demo flight at Miami Municipal Airport, taking part to an airshow (All American Air Meet). While flying in the vicinity of the airfield, the engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with high tension wires and crashed. Three occupants were killed and a fourth was injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Keystone LB-6A in Jacksonville

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
32-168
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jacksonville – Miami
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Jacksonville, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, impacted trees and crashed two miles east from the airfield, coming to rest broken in two. All four crew members were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Curtiss Robin B in Woodbine: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC8326
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Columbia - Miami
MSN:
203
YOM:
1929
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Columbia to Miami, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in a marshy field near Woodbine. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot Neva Estelle Paris was killed.