San Francisco – Honolulu
Flight / Schedule
San Francisco – Honolulu
Aircraft
Boeing 377 StratocruiserRegistration
N90944
MSN
15960
Year of Manufacture
30
Operator
Pan American World Airways - PAADate
November 8, 1957 at 01:27 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Pacific Ocean All World
Region
World • World
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On November 8, 1957 at 01:27 AM, San Francisco – Honolulu experienced a crash involving Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, operated by Pan American World Airways - PAA, with the event recorded near Pacific Ocean All World.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
44 people were known to be on board, 44 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 8, crew fatalities: 8, passengers on board: 36, passenger fatalities: 36, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. Clipper 944, 1 a regularly scheduled around-the-world flight, originated at San Francisco with its first stop scheduled at Honolulu. It departed San Francisco at 1951 2 on November 8 estimating arrival at Honolulu at 0550, November 9. There were 36 passengers and a crew consisting of Captain Gordon H. Brown, First Officer William P. Wygant, Second Officer William H. Fortenberry, Flight Engineer Albert F. Pinataro, Purser Oliver E. Crosthwaite, Stewardesses Yvonne L. Alexander and Marie L. McGrath, and Flight Service Supervisor John E. King. The flight plan specified a cruising altitude of 10,000 feet and an airspeed of 226 knots. Gross weight at departure was 147,000 pounds, the maximum allowable, and the weight included fuel for approximately 13 hours. Good weather was forecast for the duration of the flight. All required position reports were made and Clipper 944 reported to Ocean Station vessel "November" at 0030; its position was fixed by radar as 10 miles east of the vessel. The last position report, at 0104, was routine with no indication of anything unusual. The next scheduled position report, due at 0204, was not received and 30 minutes thereafter the flight was designated unreported. Five days later, nine bodies and some debris were find about 147 miles northeast of the estimated point of impact. There were no survivors among the 44 occupants.
Aircraft reference details include registration N90944, MSN 15960, year of manufacture 30.
Fatalities
Total
44
Crew
8
Passengers
36
Other
0
Crash Summary
Clipper 944, 1 a regularly scheduled around-the-world flight, originated at San Francisco with its first stop scheduled at Honolulu. It departed San Francisco at 1951 2 on November 8 estimating arrival at Honolulu at 0550, November 9. There were 36 passengers and a crew consisting of Captain Gordon H. Brown, First Officer William P. Wygant, Second Officer William H. Fortenberry, Flight Engineer Albert F. Pinataro, Purser Oliver E. Crosthwaite, Stewardesses Yvonne L. Alexander and Marie L. McGrath, and Flight Service Supervisor John E. King. The flight plan specified a cruising altitude of 10,000 feet and an airspeed of 226 knots. Gross weight at departure was 147,000 pounds, the maximum allowable, and the weight included fuel for approximately 13 hours. Good weather was forecast for the duration of the flight. All required position reports were made and Clipper 944 reported to Ocean Station vessel "November" at 0030; its position was fixed by radar as 10 miles east of the vessel. The last position report, at 0104, was routine with no indication of anything unusual. The next scheduled position report, due at 0204, was not received and 30 minutes thereafter the flight was designated unreported. Five days later, nine bodies and some debris were find about 147 miles northeast of the estimated point of impact. There were no survivors among the 44 occupants.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
8
Passengers On Board
36
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 44
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
San Francisco – Honolulu
Operator
Pan American World Airways - PAAFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
World • World
Aircraft Details
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