| Date: | Wednesday 11 May 1966 |
| Time: | 18:10 |
| Type: |  Douglas R4D-5 (DC-3) |
| Owner/operator: | Polynesian Airlines |
| Registration: | 5W-FAB |
| MSN: | 25441/13996 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1944 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Apolima Strait -
 Samoa
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Apia-Faleolo Airport (APW/NSFA) |
| Apia-Faleolo Airport (APW/NSFA) |
The DC-3 left Faleolo at 17:45 for a training flight. While descending back for Faleolo, a door was seen to separate from the aircraft, striking the tail. The DC-3 lost control and crashed into the sea.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The in-flight opening and separation from the structure of the air-stair door which struck the aircraft's tail and so damaged it that uncontrollable pitch-down of the nose resulted in the aircraft diving into the sea."
Sources:
Douglas DC-3 Production List (Issue no. 28)
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
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