Incident Overview
Date: Monday 4 October 1948
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47B-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator: New England Air Express
Registration Number: NC58121
Location: Haines Bay –
ÿ Bahamas
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Accident
A DC-3 aircraft experienced a forced belly landing due to insufficient fuel to reach Nassau. The crew was believed to have been asleep and autopilot control contributed to a westward turn.A DC-3 aircraft experienced a forced belly landing due to insufficient fuel to reach Nassau. The crew was believed to have been asleep and autopilot control contributed to a westward turn.
Description
The DC-3 left Teterboro for a flight to Miami and San Juan. They passed the US coast near Atlantic City and the flight continued over sea to Miami. The Florida coast was not sighted however. After heading west, the crew observed the Berry Group Islands (Bahamas). Since they didn’t have enough fuel to reach Nassau, a forced belly landing was carried out on a beach. The surf later damaged the aircraft beyond repair. Although it cannot be proven, it was thought that the crew were asleep during part of the flight and that the autopilot precessed and turned the plane westward.
Primary Cause
Insufficient fuel to reach Nassau.Insufficient fuel to reach Nassau.Share on:
