ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-54A-15-DC (DC-4) N90433 Honolulu, HI, USA
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Saturday 24 September 1955
Time:06:41 UTC
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC4 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas C-54A-15-DC (DC-4)
Operator:Flying Tiger Line
Registration: N90433
MSN: 10410
First flight: 1944
Total airframe hrs:25590
Crew:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 5
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 5
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:1600 km (1000 mls) W off Honolulu, HI, USA (   Pacific Ocean)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:Honolulu International Airport, HI (HNL/PHNL), United States of America
Destination airport:Wake Island Airport (AWK/PAWK), U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
Flightnumber:7413-23
Narrative:
While on a cross-Pacific flight from Wake Island to Honolulu, the no. 1 engine stopped. The crew then placed the no. 2 and 3 fuel selectors to the near empty auxiliary tanks. The no. 2 and 3 engines then also stopped, forcing the crew to feather the no.1, 2 and 3 propellers. Full power was applied to the remaining no. 4 engine as the DC-4 descended. Separate attempts were made to restart the no. 1 and 2 engines, but of no avail. When trying to restart the no. 3 engine, the aircraft struck the water.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the loss of power in three engines due to incorrect fuel system management and faulty restarting methods which resulted in the ditching of the aircraft."

Accident investigation:

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

Classification:
Fuel exhaustion
Ditching

Sources:
» CAB report File No. 1-0160


Photos

photo of Douglas-C-54A-N90433
accident date: 24-09-1955
type: Douglas C-54A (DC-4)
registration: N90433
 
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.
languages: languages

Share

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org