San Juan – Antilla – Miami

On August 8, 1944 at 01:20 PM, San Juan – Antilla – Miami experienced a crash involving Sikorsky S-42, operated by Pan American World Airways - PAA, with the event recorded near Antilla Holguín.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

31 people were known to be on board, 17 fatalities were recorded, 14 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 54.8%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 26, passenger fatalities: 17, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. At about 1318LT, the pilot taxied to the take-off position. The weather was clear and the ceiling unlimited with a wind estimated to be 20 knots from approximately 100 degree. The water was choppy with no ground swells. With a gradual opening of the throttles to 33 1/2 inches of manifold pressure, the plane appeared to go on the step normally and was making approximately 75 knots. The captain then requested an increase in manifold pressure from 33 1/2 inches to 35 inches and upon attaining a speed estimated as between 78 and 80 knots, the plane left the surface of the water. Captain Williams stated that as the plane rose into the air to a height of 10 or 12 feet, he relaxed back pressure slightly, in order to gain speed, whereupon the plane seemed to want to go back on the water so he pulled back on the yoke. When it became obvious to him that the plane was going to go back on the water anyway, he dropped the nose quickly to "flatten out." After striking, bow first, the plane left the water in a slightly nose-high attitude, rose higher than previously, then returned to the water at a much steeper angle. The third time, the plane rose out of control to a height of approximately 25 feet, and in a steeper angle of climb than previously. It then nosed down at a sharp angle and struck the water violently. The nose of the plane struck the water with such force as to cause the hull to fracture and completely separate at a point just aft of the pilot's compartment. The after portion of the plane, which included passenger compartments A, B, C, and D, pitched forward and came to rest in a nearly inverted position with the forward portion fully submerged. Seventeen passengers were killed while all 14 other occupants were rescued.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC823M, MSN 4201, year of manufacture 1934.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 20.8275°, -75.7400°.