Date:	Thursday 17 April 1980
Time:	10:10
Type:	Lockheed P-3C Orion
Owner/operator:	United States Navy
Registration:	158213
MSN:	185-5558
Year of manufacture:	1971
Engine model:	Allison T56-A14
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Other fatalities:	2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Pago Pago -   American Samoa
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:
Destination airport:

Narrative:
The US Navy P-3 Orion was taking part in Samoa's Flag Day celebration. The airplane was dropping skydivers near the reviewing area. During the second run the airplane clipped a mile-long tramway line running across Pago Pago Harbor to Mount Alava. The vertical stabilizer separated and the airplane crashed into an area in front of the two-storey Rainmaker Hotel.

P-3 Orion Aircraft Location Report (P-3 Orion Research Group - The Netherlands)
U.S. Navy
US Crashes 1950-2002 / Jan van Waarde
US Navy and US Marine Corps Aircraft Serial Numbers and Bureau Numbers--1911 to Present / Joe Baugher
VPNavy.com
The Calgary Herald - Apr 18, 1980

photo (c) Peter Barr; Pago Pago; 17 April 1980

photo (c) Peter Barr; Pago Pago; 17 April 1980

photo (c) Peter Donaldson; San Diego-Miramar NAS, CA (NKX/KNKX); 05 October 1975

Date/time	Contributor	Updates