Détails:
National Airlines flight 601 was scheduled nonstop Boeing 707 jet flight from New York-Idlewild to Miami. The 707, which was leased from PanAm, suffered a maintenance issue and was substituted by a Lockheed L-188 Electra and a Douglas DC-6.
The DC-6 was re-designated flight 2511 and departed Idlewild at 23:34 hours. The flight proceeded routinely in accordance with its flight plan until shortly after passing Wilmington, North Carolina.
At 02:31 the crew contacted the company radio station at Wilmington while over Carolina Beach at 18000 feet, and transmitted a routine progress report. Shortly after the completion of this radio contact a dynamite explosion occurred in the passenger cabin. This explosion severely impaired the structural integrity of the aircraft and after making a wide descending right turn, it experienced in flight disintegration and crashed 1,5 miles northwest of Bolivia at 02:38 some 16 miles west of its intended flight path.
An investigation showed that the dynamite was detonated by means of dry cell batteries and that the device was placed at a point beneath the extreme right seat of seat row 7. Part of the fuselage broke away, striking the no.3 propeller.
Mr. Julian A. Frank (32) was in close proximity to the dynamite charge when the detonation occurred. He had lost several hundred thousand dollars in bad investments in 1959 and was under investigation on charges of defrauding his clients. In the six months before his death he bought nearly $900,000 in life insurance, with his wife and children as beneficiaries.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was caused by the detonation of dynamite within the passenger cabin."
» Bomber's deed stings 50 years after crash (newsobserver.com)
| Statuts: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | mercredi 6 janvier 1960 |
| Heure: | 02:38 |
| Type/Sous-type: |  Douglas DC-6B |
| Compagnie: | National Airlines |
| Immatriculation: | N8225H |
| Numéro de série: | 43742/300 |
| Année de Fabrication: | 1952 |
| Heures de vol: | 24836 |
| Moteurs: | 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16 |
| Equipage: | victimes: 5 / à bord: 5 |
| Passagers: | victimes: 29 / à bord: 29 |
| Total: | victimes: 34 / à bord: 34 |
| Dégats de l'appareil: | Détruit |
| Conséquences: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Lieu de l'accident: | 2,4 km (1.5 milles) NW of Bolivia, NC ( Etats-Unis d'Amérique)
|
| Phase de vol: | En vol (ENR) |
| Nature: | Transport de Passagers Nat. |
| Aéroport de départ: | New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY (IDL/KIDL), Etats-Unis d'Amérique |
| Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA), Etats-Unis d'Amérique | |
| Numéro de vol: | 2511 |
National Airlines flight 601 was scheduled nonstop Boeing 707 jet flight from New York-Idlewild to Miami. The 707, which was leased from PanAm, suffered a maintenance issue and was substituted by a Lockheed L-188 Electra and a Douglas DC-6.
The DC-6 was re-designated flight 2511 and departed Idlewild at 23:34 hours. The flight proceeded routinely in accordance with its flight plan until shortly after passing Wilmington, North Carolina.
At 02:31 the crew contacted the company radio station at Wilmington while over Carolina Beach at 18000 feet, and transmitted a routine progress report. Shortly after the completion of this radio contact a dynamite explosion occurred in the passenger cabin. This explosion severely impaired the structural integrity of the aircraft and after making a wide descending right turn, it experienced in flight disintegration and crashed 1,5 miles northwest of Bolivia at 02:38 some 16 miles west of its intended flight path.
An investigation showed that the dynamite was detonated by means of dry cell batteries and that the device was placed at a point beneath the extreme right seat of seat row 7. Part of the fuselage broke away, striking the no.3 propeller.
Mr. Julian A. Frank (32) was in close proximity to the dynamite charge when the detonation occurred. He had lost several hundred thousand dollars in bad investments in 1959 and was under investigation on charges of defrauding his clients. In the six months before his death he bought nearly $900,000 in life insurance, with his wife and children as beneficiaries.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was caused by the detonation of dynamite within the passenger cabin."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
» ICAO Circular 64-AN/58 (96-99)» Bomber's deed stings 50 years after crash (newsobserver.com)
Photos
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 New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY et Miami International Airport, FL est de 1745 km (1091 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
La distance entre New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY et Miami International Airport, FL est de 1745 km (1091 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.
languages: 
Share
Douglas DC-6
- 704 built
- 42ème loss
- 30ème accident fatal
- le accident 14ème le plus grave (à ce moment là)
- le accident 28ème le plus grave (en ce moment)
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2023 Flight Safety Foundation