Apia - Apia
Flight / Schedule
Apia - Apia
Aircraft
Douglas DC-3Registration
5W-FAB
MSN
13996/25441
Year of Manufacture
1944
Date
May 11, 1966 at 06:10 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Training
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Apia All Samoa Islands
Region
Oceania • Samoa Islands (Western Samoa)
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On May 11, 1966 at 06:10 PM, Apia - Apia experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by Polynesian Airline of Samoa - Polynesian Airlines, with the event recorded near Apia All Samoa Islands.
The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The crew departed Apia-Faleolo Airport around 1735LT for a local training flight, carrying three pilots. After several circuits in the area, the crew decided to return to the airport when, at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and eventually crashed into the Apolima Strait, few km off shore. Few debris were found floating on water while the main wreckage was not recovered. All three crew members were killed, among them the Chief Pilot and General Manager of the company.
Aircraft reference details include registration 5W-FAB, MSN 13996/25441, year of manufacture 1944.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
3
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew departed Apia-Faleolo Airport around 1735LT for a local training flight, carrying three pilots. After several circuits in the area, the crew decided to return to the airport when, at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and eventually crashed into the Apolima Strait, few km off shore. Few debris were found floating on water while the main wreckage was not recovered. All three crew members were killed, among them the Chief Pilot and General Manager of the company.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Apia - Apia
Flight Type
Training
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
Oceania • Samoa Islands (Western Samoa)
Aircraft Details
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