Narrative:
Flight 1502, a Boeing 707 named "Flagship Oklahoma", departed New York International Airport for a pilot training flight. Last radio contact was at 11:57, 57 minutes after takeoff. In clear weather, some 23 minutes later the plane was seen in a left-wing low steep dive. The Boeing crashed in the ocean just off Montauk Point. At that moment the flight crew were probably carrying out either an engine shut down and airstart, a canyon approach (requiring 30deg of flaps, which was the probable flap setting when the plane struck the sea), or en route 2 engine climb manoeuvres.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A loss of control for an undetermined reason."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 28 January 1961 |
| Time: | 12:20 |
| Type: |  Boeing 707-123 |
| Operator: | American Airlines |
| Registration: | N7502A |
| MSN: | 17629/8 |
| First flight: | 1958 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 8 km (5 mls) W off Montauk Point, NY ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Maneuvering (MNV) |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY (IDL/KIDL), United States of America |
| New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY (IDL/KIDL), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | AA1502 |
Flight 1502, a Boeing 707 named "Flagship Oklahoma", departed New York International Airport for a pilot training flight. Last radio contact was at 11:57, 57 minutes after takeoff. In clear weather, some 23 minutes later the plane was seen in a left-wing low steep dive. The Boeing crashed in the ocean just off Montauk Point. At that moment the flight crew were probably carrying out either an engine shut down and airstart, a canyon approach (requiring 30deg of flaps, which was the probable flap setting when the plane struck the sea), or en route 2 engine climb manoeuvres.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A loss of control for an undetermined reason."
Classification:
Loss of control
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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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Boeing 707
- 858 built
- 3rd loss
- 3rd fatal accident
- The worst accident (at the time)
- 43rd worst accident (currently)
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