Narrative:
Pan American Flight 214 departed San Juan, Puerto Rico at 16:10 EST for a flight to Philadelphia with an intermediate stop at Baltimore. The aircraft, named 'Clipper Tradewind' arrived at Baltimore at 19:35 and took off again after refueling at 20:24. After contacting Philadelphia Approach Control the crew elected to wait in a holding pattern along with 5 other aircraft because of extreme winds at Philadelphia. Flight 214 entered a holding pattern west of the New Castle VOR on the 270 radial.
At 20:58 the airplane suffered a lightning strike. This caused the initial ignition of flammable fuel vapours inside the left reserve fuel tank. This triggered explosions in the centre and right reserve fuel tanks as well. Fuel spilled and caught fire; the complete left wingtip separated as a result. The aircraft was then seen to crash in flames. A 'Mayday' call was received by Philadelphia Approach as the plane was descending out of control.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Lightning-induced ignition of the fuel/air mixture in the no. 1 reserve fuel tank with resultant explosive disintegration of the left outer wing and loss of control."
Fuel tank explosion
Loss of control
accident date: 08-12-1963
type: Boeing 707-121
registration: N709PA
accident date: 08-12-1963
type: Boeing 707-121
registration: N709PA
accident date: 08-12-1963
type: Boeing 707-121
registration: N709PA
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 8 December 1963 |
| Time: | 20:59 |
| Type: |  Boeing 707-121 |
| Operator: | Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) |
| Registration: | N709PA |
| MSN: | 17588/3 |
| First flight: | 1958 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 15609 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 73 / Occupants: 73 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 81 / Occupants: 81 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Elkton, MD ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Baltimore/Washington International Airport, MD (BWI/KBWI), United States of America |
| Philadelphia International Airport, PA (PHL/KPHL), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | PA214 |
Pan American Flight 214 departed San Juan, Puerto Rico at 16:10 EST for a flight to Philadelphia with an intermediate stop at Baltimore. The aircraft, named 'Clipper Tradewind' arrived at Baltimore at 19:35 and took off again after refueling at 20:24. After contacting Philadelphia Approach Control the crew elected to wait in a holding pattern along with 5 other aircraft because of extreme winds at Philadelphia. Flight 214 entered a holding pattern west of the New Castle VOR on the 270 radial.
At 20:58 the airplane suffered a lightning strike. This caused the initial ignition of flammable fuel vapours inside the left reserve fuel tank. This triggered explosions in the centre and right reserve fuel tanks as well. Fuel spilled and caught fire; the complete left wingtip separated as a result. The aircraft was then seen to crash in flames. A 'Mayday' call was received by Philadelphia Approach as the plane was descending out of control.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Lightning-induced ignition of the fuel/air mixture in the no. 1 reserve fuel tank with resultant explosive disintegration of the left outer wing and loss of control."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
LightningstrikeFuel tank explosion
Loss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest No.15 - Volume II, Circular 78-AN/66 (121-133)Photos
accident date: 08-12-1963
type: Boeing 707-121
registration: N709PA
accident date: 08-12-1963
type: Boeing 707-121
registration: N709PA
accident date: 08-12-1963
type: Boeing 707-121
registration: N709PA
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 Baltimore/Washington International Airport, MD to Philadelphia International Airport, PA as the crow flies is 144 km (90 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
Distance from Baltimore/Washington International Airport, MD to Philadelphia International Airport, PA as the crow flies is 144 km (90 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
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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Boeing 707
- 858 built
- 11th loss
- 10th fatal accident
- 5th worst accident (at the time)
- 18th worst accident (currently)
United States of America- 4th worst accident (at the time)
- 29th worst accident (currently)
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