New York – Seattle – Anchorage – Cold Bay – Tokyo – Naha – Manila

While the flight was en route between Okinawa and the Philippine Islands, the No. 2 engine experienced an appreciable power loss followed by overspeeding of the propeller. The crew instituted emergency procedures but was unable to control or feather the propeller. The propeller separated from the engine with a resulting nose section fire. Attempts to extinguish the fire failed, and the crew elected to ditch the aircraft. The ditching was accomplished at night during a rainstorm and while under Instrument conditions. All 58 occupants, including the 7 crew members, successfully evacuated the aircraft. Of these, 44 suffered minor injuries and one woman passenger died.

Flight / Schedule

New York – Seattle – Anchorage – Cold Bay – Tokyo – Naha – Manila

Aircraft

Douglas DC-7

Registration

N292

MSN

45462

Year of Manufacture

1958

Date

July 14, 1960 at 04:30 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Philippines Sea All World

Region

World • World

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On July 14, 1960 at 04:30 AM, New York – Seattle – Anchorage – Cold Bay – Tokyo – Naha – Manila experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-7, operated by Northwest Airlines, with the event recorded near Philippines Sea All World.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

58 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 57 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 1.7%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 51, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. While the flight was en route between Okinawa and the Philippine Islands, the No. 2 engine experienced an appreciable power loss followed by overspeeding of the propeller. The crew instituted emergency procedures but was unable to control or feather the propeller. The propeller separated from the engine with a resulting nose section fire. Attempts to extinguish the fire failed, and the crew elected to ditch the aircraft. The ditching was accomplished at night during a rainstorm and while under Instrument conditions. All 58 occupants, including the 7 crew members, successfully evacuated the aircraft. Of these, 44 suffered minor injuries and one woman passenger died.

Aircraft reference details include registration N292, MSN 45462, year of manufacture 1958.

Fatalities

Total

1

Crew

0

Passengers

1

Other

0

Crash Summary

While the flight was en route between Okinawa and the Philippine Islands, the No. 2 engine experienced an appreciable power loss followed by overspeeding of the propeller. The crew instituted emergency procedures but was unable to control or feather the propeller. The propeller separated from the engine with a resulting nose section fire. Attempts to extinguish the fire failed, and the crew elected to ditch the aircraft. The ditching was accomplished at night during a rainstorm and while under Instrument conditions. All 58 occupants, including the 7 crew members, successfully evacuated the aircraft. Of these, 44 suffered minor injuries and one woman passenger died.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

7

Passengers On Board

51

Estimated Survivors

57

Fatality Rate

1.7%

Known people on board: 58

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

New York – Seattle – Anchorage – Cold Bay – Tokyo – Naha – Manila

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

World • World

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Douglas DC-7

Registration

N292

MSN

45462

Year of Manufacture

1958

Similar Plane Crashes

April 27, 1920 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

Compagnie Générale Transaérienne - CGT

Nieuport-Delage NiD-30

The pilot, sole on board, departed Paris-Le Bourget on a mail flight to Hounslow Heath, London. While cruising over The Channel, he encountered thick fog when the airplane crashed in the sea in unknown circumstances. The pilot was killed.

April 24, 1924 at 02:00 PM3 Fatalities

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij

Fokker F3

The aircraft departed Croydon Airport at 1043LT on a regular schedule service to Amsterdam with an intermediate stop in Rotterdam, carrying two passengers and one pilot. En route, the pilot encountered technical problems and diverted to Lympne Airport, Kent. After several repairs were made, he continued the flight with an unserviceable radio. While cruising over the North Sea (between The Channel and the North Sea), the pilot encountered foggy conditions when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Rotterdam, SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was found. Crew: Adriaan Pijl, pilot. Passengers: Mr. W. J. van Hien, Mr. C. Modderman.

August 21, 1924 at 12:00 AM

Regia Aeronautica

Dornier Do J Wal

The crew departed Pisa, Italy, last 25 July to perform a transatlantic flight to Canada on behalf of the 'Commissariato Aeronautica', the ancient name of the Italian Air Force. The seaplane made stops in Saint-Raphaël, south of France, Lausanne (quai of Ouchy on Lake of Geneva), Strasbourg, Rotterdam, Hull, Stromness (Orkneys Islands), Feroe Islands and Reykjavik. While flying over the Sea of Labrador, some 180 km south of Cape Farewell, Greenland, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing. The twin engine seaplane landed safely and the crew sent several mayday message. All five occupants were later rescued and evacuated by the crew of 'USS Richmond' which deviated from his route to the accident site. In a rough sea, the seaplane sank later and was lost and not recovered. Crew: Lt Antonio Locatelli, pilot, Lt Crosio, Lt Marescalchi, Mr. Braccini, flight engineer, Mr. Falcinelli, flight engineer.

February 9, 1925 at 12:00 AM

Compagnie Générale d'Entreprises Aéronautiques - CGEA

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-13

En route from Oran to Alicante, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing following an engine failure. The crew was rescued few hours later and the aircraft sank and was lost.

March 14, 1925 at 12:00 AM

Compagnie Générale d'Entreprises Aéronautiques - CGEA

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-13

En route from Alicante to Oran, a structural failure occurred on the buckle, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft. The aircraft sank and both crew members (who were slightly injured) were rescued by the crew of the British boat named 'Egyptian'. Crew: Léon Givon, pilot, François Urvoy, mechanic.

April 11, 1925 at 12:00 AM

Compagnie Générale d'Entreprises Aéronautiques - CGEA

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-13

The crew was performing a mail flight from Oran to Alicante when an engine failed while overflying the Mediterranean Sea. The crew ditch the aircraft in the sea. Both pilots were rescued 15 hours later by a the crew of a Spanish speedboat. The aircraft sank and was lost.