Key West - Key West

While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet under visual flight rules, the Kansan collided with a Cubana de Aviación DC-4 registered CU-T188 and christened 'Estrella de Cuba' en route to Havana. On impact, the Kansan dove into the sea and crashed few miles off shore while the DC-4 continued for few seconds and then crashed into the sea 1,7 miles from the initial point of impact. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 43 occupants were killed. Weather conditions were good at the time of the collision.

Flight / Schedule

Key West - Key West

Registration

39939

MSN

3671

Year of Manufacture

1943

Date

April 25, 1951 at 11:49 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Key West Florida

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

24.5548°, -81.8021°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On April 25, 1951 at 11:49 AM, Key West - Key West experienced a crash involving Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan, operated by United States Navy - USN, with the event recorded near Key West Florida.

The flight was categorized as training 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: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet under visual flight rules, the Kansan collided with a Cubana de Aviación DC-4 registered CU-T188 and christened 'Estrella de Cuba' en route to Havana. On impact, the Kansan dove into the sea and crashed few miles off shore while the DC-4 continued for few seconds and then crashed into the sea 1,7 miles from the initial point of impact. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 43 occupants were killed. Weather conditions were good at the time of the collision.

Aircraft reference details include registration 39939, MSN 3671, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 24.5548°, -81.8021°.

Fatalities

Total

4

Crew

4

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet under visual flight rules, the Kansan collided with a Cubana de Aviación DC-4 registered CU-T188 and christened 'Estrella de Cuba' en route to Havana. On impact, the Kansan dove into the sea and crashed few miles off shore while the DC-4 continued for few seconds and then crashed into the sea 1,7 miles from the initial point of impact. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 43 occupants were killed. Weather conditions were good at the time of the collision.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 4

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Key West - Key West

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

39939

MSN

3671

Year of Manufacture

1943