ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-39 (DC-2) 38-524 Coamo
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Status:
Date:Thursday 1 October 1942
Time:09:30
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC2 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas C-39 (DC-2)
Operator:United States Army Air Force - USAAF
Registration: 38-524
MSN: 2081
First flight: 1939
Crew:Fatalities: / Occupants:
Passengers:Fatalities: / Occupants:
Total:Fatalities: 22 / Occupants: 22
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:24 km (15 mls) NW of Coamo (   Puerto Rico)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Juana Díaz-Losey AAF, Puerto Rico
Destination airport:San Juan-Isla Grande Airport (SIG/TJIG), Puerto Rico
Narrative:
Slammed into a hill at high speed, about 60 m below the crest (~18.1749N 67.3875W) ,with engines running roughly. The throttles were found jammed in the closed position. Pilot Francis H. Durant.
PROBABLE CAUSE: attempted emergency landing in a small valley...unknown malfunction...low overcast...top of the hills in clouds.

Sources:
» Military Aviation Disasters/David Gero, p21/22
» Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research (AAIR)


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Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Juana Díaz-Losey AAF to San Juan-Isla Grande Airport as the crow flies is 65 km (41 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-2

  • 200 built
  • 75th loss
  • 31st fatal accident
  • The worst accident
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 Puerto Rico
  • The worst accident (at the time)
  • 3rd worst accident (currently)
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