Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 17 April 1980
Aircraft Type: Lockheed P-3C Orion
Owner/operator: United States Navy
Registration Number: 158213
Location: Pago Pago –
ÿ American Samoa
Phase of Flight: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: Vertical stabilizerVertical stabilizer
Category: Accident
A US Navy P-3 Orion aircraft was involved in a crash near Samoa’s Flag Day celebration. During a second run, the aircraft clipped a mile-long tramway line across Pago Pago Harbor, resulting in a vertical stabilizer separation and subsequent crash into an area in front of the Rainmaker Hotel.A US Navy P-3 Orion aircraft was involved in a crash near Samoa’s Flag Day celebration. During a second run, the aircraft clipped a mile-long tramway line across Pago Pago Harbor, resulting in a vertical stabilizer separation and subsequent crash into an area in front of the Rainmaker Hotel.
Description
The US Navy P-3 Orion was taking part in Samoa’s Flag Day celebration. The airplane was dropping skydivers near the reviewing area. During the second run the airplane clipped a mile-long tramway line running across Pago Pago Harbor to Mount Alava. The vertical stabilizer separated and the airplane crashed into an area in front of the two-storey Rainmaker Hotel.
Source of Information
http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/navyserials.html, https://www.vpnavy.com/vp50mem_17apr1980.html, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eXRkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c34NAAAAIBAJ&dq=pago%20pago&pg=2422%2C5214936http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/navyserials.html, https://www.vpnavy.com/vp50mem_17apr1980.html, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eXRkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=c34NAAAAIBAJ&dq=pago%20pago&pg=2422%2C5214936Primary Cause
Vertical stabilizer separation during a high-speed maneuver.Vertical stabilizer separation during a high-speed maneuver.Share on:
