Miami - Savannah

The crew left Miami Airport bound for Savannah on behalf of the USAAF. After departure, the crew was allowed to climb to 3,000 feet along the east coast of Florida. In the same region was flying a USAAF Consolidated B-24D Liberator registered 41-11889 with a crew of four on board. The crew departed Homestead AFB in the morning for a training exercise. En route, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea, less than one mile from each other. All eight occupants on board both aircraft were killed and the wreckage were found some 6 miles southeast of Lake Worth.

Flight / Schedule

Miami - Savannah

Aircraft

Douglas DC-3

Registration

NC21788

MSN

2187

Year of Manufacture

1940

Date

May 5, 1944 at 10:26 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

West Palm Beach Florida

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

26.7154°, -80.0533°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On May 5, 1944 at 10:26 AM, Miami - Savannah experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by Pennsylvania Central Air Lines, with the event recorded near West Palm Beach Florida.

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

4 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew left Miami Airport bound for Savannah on behalf of the USAAF. After departure, the crew was allowed to climb to 3,000 feet along the east coast of Florida. In the same region was flying a USAAF Consolidated B-24D Liberator registered 41-11889 with a crew of four on board. The crew departed Homestead AFB in the morning for a training exercise. En route, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea, less than one mile from each other. All eight occupants on board both aircraft were killed and the wreckage were found some 6 miles southeast of Lake Worth.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC21788, MSN 2187, year of manufacture 1940.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 26.7154°, -80.0533°.

Fatalities

Total

4

Crew

2

Passengers

2

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew left Miami Airport bound for Savannah on behalf of the USAAF. After departure, the crew was allowed to climb to 3,000 feet along the east coast of Florida. In the same region was flying a USAAF Consolidated B-24D Liberator registered 41-11889 with a crew of four on board. The crew departed Homestead AFB in the morning for a training exercise. En route, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea, less than one mile from each other. All eight occupants on board both aircraft were killed and the wreckage were found some 6 miles southeast of Lake Worth.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

2

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 4

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Miami - Savannah

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Douglas DC-3

Registration

NC21788

MSN

2187

Year of Manufacture

1940