Crash-aerien 15 AUG 1949 d'un Douglas C-54A-DO (DC-4) N79998 - Lurga Point
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Statuts:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:lundi 15 août 1949
Heure:02:40
Type/Sous-type:Silhouette image of generic DC4 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas C-54A-DO (DC-4)
Compagnie:Transocean Air Lines
Immatriculation: N79998
Numéro de série: 3076
Année de Fabrication: 1943
Moteurs: 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2000
Equipage:victimes: 1 / à bord: 9
Passagers:victimes: 7 / à bord: 49
Total:victimes: 8 / à bord: 58
Dégats de l'appareil: Perte Totale
Conséquences: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Lieu de l'accident:13 km (8.1 milles) NW de Lurga Point (   Irlande)
Phase de vol: En vol (ENR)
Nature:Charter International
Aéroport de départ:Roma-Ciampino Airport (CIA/LIRA), Italie
Aéroport de destination:Shannon Airport (SNN/EINN), Irlande
Détails:
The Transocean Air Lines DC-4 departed from Rome, Italy, at 16:08, August 14, 1949 and proceeded towards Marseille, France, at an altitude of 8,500 feet, then direct to Shannon, Ireland. Except for the fact that the number 3 engine operated roughly when the mixture was in auto lean, the flight progressed without incident. At approximately 23:00, the flight descended to 3,500 feet, which was above a layer of stratus clouds. The original ETA (estimated time of arrival) of 00:21 over Shannon was revised several times en route, but all such times passed without the flight observing the Shannon Airport. Actually, although unknown to the crew, at 23:00 the aircraft had been flown beyond Shannon and was over the North Atlantic. It was not until 00:50 or later that a turn was made for the return course to Shannon. At 01:06 the flight alerted Air-Sea Rescue facilities at Shannon and gave its position as 100 miles west of Shannon, flying inbound on a track of 80 degrees. The ground speed was estimated to be 140 knots. The flight continued toward Shannon until 02:40 when all fuel was exhausted, and at which time the aircraft was ditched, seven miles northwest of Lurga Point on the Irish Coast. The aircraft remained afloat for about 15 minutes, during which time the crew and the passengers removed and manned all but one of the life rafts. Aircraft circling over the life rafts were able to direct the British trawler "Stalberg" to the scene. Seven passengers and one crew member died as a result of exposure or drowning, all others were successfully rescued.
One of the surviving passengers was female American aviation pioneer and record holder Ruth Nichols.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the captain to exercise the proper supervision over his crew during flight planning and while en route."

Accident investigation:

Investigating agency: CAB
Status: Investigation completed
Accident number: final report
Download report: Final report

Sources:
» The Miracle on Galway Bay (1949)
» CAB File No: 1-0086


Photos

photo of Douglas-C-54A-DO-N79998
accident date: 15-08-1949
type: Douglas C-54A-DO (DC-4)
registration: N79998
 

Plan
Ce plan montre l'aéroport de départ ainsi que la supposée destination du vol. La ligne fixe reliant les deux aéroports n'est pas le plan de vol exact.
La distance entre Roma-Ciampino Airport et Shannon Airport est de 2000 km (1250 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

Les informations ci-dessus ne représentent pas l'opinion de la 'Flight Safety Foundation' ou de 'Aviation Safety Network' sur les causes de l'accident. Ces informations prélimimaires sont basées sur les faits tel qu'ils sont connus à ce jour.
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