San Juan - Ponce
Flight / Schedule
San Juan - Ponce
Aircraft
De Havilland DH.114 HeronRegistration
N554PR
MSN
14085
Year of Manufacture
1955
Date
June 24, 1972 at 11:17 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Ponce All Puerto Rico
Region
Central America • Puerto Rico
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On June 24, 1972 at 11:17 PM, San Juan - Ponce experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.114 Heron, operated by Prinair - Puerto Rico International Airlines, with the event recorded near Ponce All Puerto Rico.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
20 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 15 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 25.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 18, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. On a night approach to Ponce-Mercedita Airport, the crew decided to make a go-around when control was lost. The airplane overrotated then crashed 2,200 feet past the runway 29 threshold and 260 feet to the south. Both pilots and three passengers were killed while all other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Aircraft reference details include registration N554PR, MSN 14085, year of manufacture 1955.
Fatalities
Total
5
Crew
2
Passengers
3
Other
0
Crash Summary
On a night approach to Ponce-Mercedita Airport, the crew decided to make a go-around when control was lost. The airplane overrotated then crashed 2,200 feet past the runway 29 threshold and 260 feet to the south. Both pilots and three passengers were killed while all other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
18
Estimated Survivors
15
Fatality Rate
25.0%
Known people on board: 20
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
San Juan - Ponce
Flight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Central America • Puerto Rico
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
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.
United States Army Air Corps - USAAC
Sikorsky S-43
Crashed into the sea shortly after take off following an engine failure. Crew fate unknown.
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Sikorsky S-42
Following an uneventful flight, the crew completed the approach to the San Juan harbor in good weather conditions. Upon landing on water in a nose down attitude, the seaplane plunged into the water and came to rest. Two passengers were killed while all 25 other occupants were rescued. Crew: Charles A. Lorber, pilot, Harvey E. Breaux, copilot, John Donovan Donnelley, flight engineer, W. P. Mahoney, radio navigator, Joe Catala, steward, A. E. Calligari, steward. Source & photos: http://www.webstart.com/jed/house/NC15376/
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
After touchdown at Borinquen Airport, the aircraft went out off control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames into an airport building. The crew fate remains unknown.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Douglas C-39 (DC-2)
While flying in a valley in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit a mountain shrouded in clouds. All 22 occupants were killed, among them three civilians. According to USAF, the aircraft hit the mountain slope sixty metres from the summit and the cloud base was around 1,200 metres. The twin engine aircraft was following a 150° heading and was flying at a cruising speed at the time of the accident. Crew: Francis H. Durant, pilot, 4.