Juana Díaz-Losey Field – San Juan

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.

Flight / Schedule

Juana Díaz-Losey Field – San Juan

Registration

38-524

MSN

2081

Year of Manufacture

1939

Date

October 1, 1942 at 09:30 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Coamo All Puerto Rico

Region

Central America • Puerto Rico

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On October 1, 1942 at 09:30 AM, Juana Díaz-Losey Field – San Juan experienced a crash involving Douglas C-39 (DC-2), operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF, with the event recorded near Coamo All Puerto Rico.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

22 people were known to be on board, 22 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: 17, passenger fatalities: 17, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration 38-524, MSN 2081, year of manufacture 1939.

Fatalities

Total

22

Crew

5

Passengers

17

Other

0

Crash Summary

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.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

17

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 22

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Juana Díaz-Losey Field – San Juan

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Central America • Puerto Rico

Aircraft Details

Registration

38-524

MSN

2081

Year of Manufacture

1939