Narrative:
The pilot was forced to ditch the plane as he had become lost due to a failure of the Loran navigation equipment. The wreckage was never recovered.
PROBABLE CAUSE:
pilot in command - became lost/disoriented
miscellaneous acts,conditions - fuel exhaustion
FACTORS:
instruments/equipment and accessories - communications and navigation equipment: other
instruments/equipment and accessories - communications and navigation equipment: loran receiver
miscellaneous acts,conditions - communications failure
miscellaneous acts,conditions - failure of two or more engines
miscellaneous acts,conditions - aircraft came to rest in water
complete power loss - complete engine failure/flameout-2 engines
Ditching
» NTSB
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 20 July 1979 |
| Time: | 19:30 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47B-50-DK (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Trans National Airlines |
| Registration: | N63250 |
| MSN: | 34329/17062 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Missing |
| Aircraft fate: | Presumed damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | off Honolulu, HI, USA ( Pacific Ocean)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | San Jose Municipal Airport, CA (SJC/KSJC), United States of America |
| Honolulu International Airport, HI (HNL/PHNL), United States of America |
The pilot was forced to ditch the plane as he had become lost due to a failure of the Loran navigation equipment. The wreckage was never recovered.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE:
pilot in command - became lost/disoriented
miscellaneous acts,conditions - fuel exhaustion
FACTORS:
instruments/equipment and accessories - communications and navigation equipment: other
instruments/equipment and accessories - communications and navigation equipment: loran receiver
miscellaneous acts,conditions - communications failure
miscellaneous acts,conditions - failure of two or more engines
miscellaneous acts,conditions - aircraft came to rest in water
complete power loss - complete engine failure/flameout-2 engines
Classification:
Loss of situational awarenessDitching
Sources:
» Douglas DC-3 Dakota Historical Society» NTSB
Photos
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 San Jose Municipal Airport, CA to Honolulu International Airport, HI as the crow flies is 3860 km (2413 miles).
Distance from San Jose Municipal Airport, CA to Honolulu International Airport, HI as the crow flies is 3860 km (2413 miles).
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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