ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-3C N37AP San Juan-Isla Grande
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Thursday 31 October 1996
Time:03:30 AST
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC3 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas DC-3C
Operator:Flamenco Airways
Registration: N37AP
MSN: 4430
First flight: 1942
Total airframe hrs:16179
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:3 km (1.9 mls) from San Juan-Isla Grande (   Puerto Rico)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:San Juan-Isla Grande Airport (SIG/TJIG), Puerto Rico
Destination airport:San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU/TJSJ), Puerto Rico
Narrative:
The nr2 engine began backfiring while climbing through 1000 feet following a runway 09 takeoff. An unsuccessful attempt was made to feather the right propeller, while attempting to position the airplane for a landing at the origin airport. The copilot reported that the airplane arrived at a position that was abeam the approach threshold for runway 09, at 500 feet above the ground, with an airspeed of about 95-100 knots. The airplane was turned south toward the departure runway. A decision was then made to divert to the international airport. According to the copilot, the throttle was placed in the maximum power position without increasing the propeller control. The airplane then turned right, back to a westerly heading, and subsequently crashed beside a canal about three miles west of the departure runway.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "Failure of the #11 cylinder on the right (#2) engine, which resulted in an in-flight fire and loss of power in that engine; and a malfunction/failure of the #2 feathering system, which led to a subsequent forced landing before the flight crew could return to the airport. A factor related to the accident was failure of the flight crew to increase the left (#1) engine rpm (in accordance with emergency procedures) after loss of power in the #2 engine.
Full narrative available."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 11 months
Accident number: ATL97LA012
Download report: Summary report

Classification:

Forced landing outside airport

Sources:
» NTSB ATL97LA012
» Scramble 212


Photos

photo of Douglas-DC-3C-N37AP
accident date: 31-10-1996
type: Douglas DC-3C
registration: N37AP
 

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 Juan-Isla Grande Airport to San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport as the crow flies is 10 km (6 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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