ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed L-049 Constellation NC88845 Mayadine
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Thursday 19 June 1947
Time:01:40
Type:Silhouette image of generic CONI model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Operator:Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)
Registration: NC88845
MSN: 2045
First flight: 1946
Total airframe hrs:2645
Crew:Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 10
Passengers:Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 26
Total:Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 36
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:near Mayadine (   Syria)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Karachi International Airport (KHI/OPKC), Pakistan
Destination airport:Istanbul-Yesilköy Airport (IST/LTBA), Turkey
Flightnumber:PA121
Narrative:
The Constellation, named "Clipper Eclipse", was cruising at FL185 when the no. 1 prop had to be feathered due to engine problems. The remaining three engines overheated, forcing the crew to reduced power. This resulted in a gradual descent. The crew elected to continue to Istanbul instead of landing at the nearby Habbaniya RAF Station in Iraq. While descending through FL100 a fire broke out in the engine no. 2 nacelle. A rapid descent was started during which the no. 2 engine separated from the wing. With the left wing on fire a belly landing was carried out in the desert. It appeared the no. 1 engine failure was due to a broken exhaust rocker arm on the no.18 cylinder. The no. 2 engine failure was due to a failure of the thrust bearing which in turn resulted in blocking the passage of oil from the propeller feathering motor to the propeller dome.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a fire which resulted from an attempt to feather the No. 2 propeller after the failure of the No. 2 engine thrust bearing."

Classification:
Engine separation
Forced landing outside airport

Sources:
» CAB Accident Investigation Report


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Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Karachi International Airport to Istanbul-Yesilköy Airport as the crow flies is 3933 km (2458 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Lockheed L-049

  • 88 built
  • 9th loss
  • 4th fatal accident
  • The worst accident (at the time)
  • 12th worst accident (currently)
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 Syria
  • The worst accident (at the time)
  • 7th worst accident (currently)
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