New York – Miami
Flight / Schedule
New York – Miami
Aircraft
Douglas DC-6Registration
N8225H
MSN
43742
Year of Manufacture
1952
Operator
National AirlinesDate
January 6, 1960 at 02:38 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Bolivia North Carolina
Region
North America • United States of America
Coordinates
34.0677°, -78.1483°
Crash Cause
Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage
Narrative Report
On January 6, 1960 at 02:38 AM, New York – Miami experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-6, operated by National Airlines, with the event recorded near Bolivia North Carolina.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
34 people were known to be on board, 34 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 29, passenger fatalities: 29, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. Flight 2511 departed New York International (Idlewild) Airport at 2334LT on January 5 on an IFR clearance scheduled as a nonstop flight to Miami, Florida. The flight proceeded routinely in accordance with its flight plan until shortly after passing Wilmington, North Carolina. At 0231 Flight 2511 contacted the company radio station at Wilmington while over Carolina Beach at 18,000 feet, and transmitted a routine progress report. Shortly after the completion of this radio contact a dynamite explosion occurred in the passenger cabin. Following this explosion the aircraft entered a wide descending right turn and crashed 1-1/2 miles north-west of Bolivia at 0238 some 16 miles west of its intended flight path. All 29 passengers and the crew of five were killed. It is believed that Julian Frank was the author of this act of sabotage after he contracted a life-insurance for one million US$. But this assumption was not confirmed as he was himself seating in the aircraft when the explosion occurred. No reference is made in this report concerning the placing of the dynamite aboard the aircraft or of the person or persons responsible for its detonation. The malicious destruction of an aircraft is a Federal crime. After the Board's determination that such was involved, the criminal aspects of this accident were referred to the Department of Justice through its Federal Bureau of Investigation
Aircraft reference details include registration N8225H, MSN 43742, year of manufacture 1952.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 34.0677°, -78.1483°.
Fatalities
Total
34
Crew
5
Passengers
29
Other
0
Crash Summary
Flight 2511 departed New York International (Idlewild) Airport at 2334LT on January 5 on an IFR clearance scheduled as a nonstop flight to Miami, Florida. The flight proceeded routinely in accordance with its flight plan until shortly after passing Wilmington, North Carolina. At 0231 Flight 2511 contacted the company radio station at Wilmington while over Carolina Beach at 18,000 feet, and transmitted a routine progress report. Shortly after the completion of this radio contact a dynamite explosion occurred in the passenger cabin. Following this explosion the aircraft entered a wide descending right turn and crashed 1-1/2 miles north-west of Bolivia at 0238 some 16 miles west of its intended flight path. All 29 passengers and the crew of five were killed. It is believed that Julian Frank was the author of this act of sabotage after he contracted a life-insurance for one million US$. But this assumption was not confirmed as he was himself seating in the aircraft when the explosion occurred. No reference is made in this report concerning the placing of the dynamite aboard the aircraft or of the person or persons responsible for its detonation. The malicious destruction of an aircraft is a Federal crime. After the Board's determination that such was involved, the criminal aspects of this accident were referred to the Department of Justice through its Federal Bureau of Investigation
Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
29
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 34
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
New York – Miami
Operator
National AirlinesFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
North America • United States of America
