Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 7 February 1943
Aircraft Type: Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 41-23903
Location: off Canton Island Airport (CIS) –
ÿ Kiribati
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 18 / Occupants: 21
Component Affected: C-87 aircraftC-87 aircraft
Category: Accident
A United Airlines C-87 aircraft was operating on final approach to Canton Island when it rolled and dived into the water. The flight was deemed possible due to an asymmetric flap deployment.A United Airlines C-87 aircraft was operating on final approach to Canton Island when it rolled and dived into the water. The flight was deemed possible due to an asymmetric flap deployment.
Description
The C-87 rolled and dived into the water while turning on final approach to Canton Island. The flight was being operated by United Airlines under contract to the Army Air Transport Command. It was deemed possible that an asymmetric flap deployment caused the accident.
Primary Cause
Asymmetric flap deploymentAsymmetric flap deploymentShare on:
