Fort-de-France – Saint John’s – Christiansted – San Juan – New York
Flight / Schedule
Fort-de-France – Saint John’s – Christiansted – San Juan – New York
Aircraft
Boeing 707Registration
N708PA
MSN
17586
Year of Manufacture
1957
Operator
Pan American World Airways - PAADate
September 17, 1965 at 07:25 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Mt Soufrière All Montserrat
Region
Central America • Montserrat
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On September 17, 1965 at 07:25 AM, Fort-de-France – Saint John’s – Christiansted – San Juan – New York experienced a crash involving Boeing 707, operated by Pan American World Airways - PAA, with the event recorded near Mt Soufrière All Montserrat.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.
30 people were known to be on board, 30 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 9, crew fatalities: 9, passengers on board: 21, passenger fatalities: 21, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. PanAm Flight PA292 was a scheduled service from Fort-de-France, Martinique to New York with en route stops at Saint John's, Antigua, Christiansted, St Croix, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. An IFR flight plan had been filed for the 30-minute leg to Antigua. Cruising altitude would be FL165. The airplane christened 'Clipper Constitution' departed Fort-de-France's runway 27 at 0704LT. Cruising altitude was reached at 0709. The crew established radio contact with the Antigua controller at 0715. The controller cleared the flight to the Coolidge NDB beacon at 2 500 feet and told the crew to report at the beacon outbound leaving 2 500 feet or field in sight. At approximately 0725 the flight reported through FL40 with the field not yet in sight. At the same time the airplane was observed flying along the coast of the island of Montserrat in rain and below the clouds with landing gear down and flaps partially extended. Shortly afterwards the airplane struck a mountain at an elevation of 2 760 feet asl and 242 feet below the summit. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 30 occupants have been killed. Weather was poor at the time of the accident with thunderstorms activity, towering cumulus and heavy rain falls.
Aircraft reference details include registration N708PA, MSN 17586, year of manufacture 1957.
Fatalities
Total
30
Crew
9
Passengers
21
Other
0
Crash Summary
PanAm Flight PA292 was a scheduled service from Fort-de-France, Martinique to New York with en route stops at Saint John's, Antigua, Christiansted, St Croix, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. An IFR flight plan had been filed for the 30-minute leg to Antigua. Cruising altitude would be FL165. The airplane christened 'Clipper Constitution' departed Fort-de-France's runway 27 at 0704LT. Cruising altitude was reached at 0709. The crew established radio contact with the Antigua controller at 0715. The controller cleared the flight to the Coolidge NDB beacon at 2 500 feet and told the crew to report at the beacon outbound leaving 2 500 feet or field in sight. At approximately 0725 the flight reported through FL40 with the field not yet in sight. At the same time the airplane was observed flying along the coast of the island of Montserrat in rain and below the clouds with landing gear down and flaps partially extended. Shortly afterwards the airplane struck a mountain at an elevation of 2 760 feet asl and 242 feet below the summit. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 30 occupants have been killed. Weather was poor at the time of the accident with thunderstorms activity, towering cumulus and heavy rain falls.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
9
Passengers On Board
21
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 30
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Fort-de-France – Saint John’s – Christiansted – San Juan – New York
Operator
Pan American World Airways - PAAFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Central America • Montserrat
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Loening C-W Air Yacht
While taking off from the bay in Puerto Rico, the seaplane hit an embankment and came to rest. Both crew members were rescued and the aircraft sank.
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Loening C-2 Air Yacht
The airplane was engaged in a survey mission over the Canal zone in Panama and departed San José Airport with two passengers and two crew members, a mechanic and a pilot. As the aircraft was too heavy, one passenger was asked to leave and part of the mail was offloaded as well. On the second attempt to takeoff, the airplane lifted off but was caught by downdrafts, struck trees and crashed. All four occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Fokker F10
Shortly after takeoff from a muddy field, while climbing, the aircraft hit a telephone line and crashed in a field. A passenger and a crew member were killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft named 'Christopher Columbus' was destroyed.
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Sikorsky S-38
Shortly after takeoff from the Miami harbor, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Sikorsky S-38
Upon landing off San Juan, the floatplane collided with an undetermined floating object and was damaged beyond repair. All nine occupants were rescued.
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Loening C-2 Air Yacht
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Montevideo. There were no casualties.