Narrative:
PanAm Flight 507 departed Miami, at 07:00 and made a routine scheduled stop at Camagüey, Cuba. The flight departed there on schedule at 09:00, cleared under visual flight rules direct to Kingston, Jamaica. At 10:03 Flight 507 reported its position to Palisadoes Airport Tower, Kingston, as 20 miles north and a little later was cleared into the traffic pattern for runway 14. The flight acknowledged this clearance and shortly thereafter reported that the field was in sight. Palisadoes Tower then advised Flight 507 of the presence of a local squall between Kingston and the approach end of runway 14, with heavy rain at the airport, and suggested a low approach. The first approach was abandoned due to the bad weather. The Convair circled the airport and descended into the water of Kingston Harbour about 800 feet short of the runway. A motor launch from a nearby salvage vessel arrived alongside the wrecked aircraft in a matter of minutes and took the survivors ashore. The wreckage floated for a short time, then sank, leaving only a part of the tail group and one wing visible above the surface of the water.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The serious error in judgement and piloting technique on the part of the co-pilot and the failure of the captain to recognize the error and take over the controls in sufficient time to take corrective action."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 2 September 1951 |
| Time: | 10:10 EST |
| Type: |  Convair CV-240-2 |
| Operator: | Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) |
| Registration: | N90662 |
| MSN: | 49 |
| First flight: | 1948 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4146 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA18 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 30 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 34 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | off Kingston ( Jamaica)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Camagüey-Ign Agramonte International Airport (CMW/MUCM), Cuba |
| Kingston Airport (KIN/MKJP), Jamaica | |
| Flightnumber: | PA507 |
PanAm Flight 507 departed Miami, at 07:00 and made a routine scheduled stop at Camagüey, Cuba. The flight departed there on schedule at 09:00, cleared under visual flight rules direct to Kingston, Jamaica. At 10:03 Flight 507 reported its position to Palisadoes Airport Tower, Kingston, as 20 miles north and a little later was cleared into the traffic pattern for runway 14. The flight acknowledged this clearance and shortly thereafter reported that the field was in sight. Palisadoes Tower then advised Flight 507 of the presence of a local squall between Kingston and the approach end of runway 14, with heavy rain at the airport, and suggested a low approach. The first approach was abandoned due to the bad weather. The Convair circled the airport and descended into the water of Kingston Harbour about 800 feet short of the runway. A motor launch from a nearby salvage vessel arrived alongside the wrecked aircraft in a matter of minutes and took the survivors ashore. The wreckage floated for a short time, then sank, leaving only a part of the tail group and one wing visible above the surface of the water.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The serious error in judgement and piloting technique on the part of the co-pilot and the failure of the captain to recognize the error and take over the controls in sufficient time to take corrective action."
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Water
Sources:
» CAB File No. 1-0074Photos
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 Camagüey-Ign Agramonte International Airport to Kingston Airport as the crow flies is 401 km (250 miles).
Distance from Camagüey-Ign Agramonte International Airport to Kingston Airport as the crow flies is 401 km (250 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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