Narrative:PanAm flight PA816 was a regular flight from Auckland (AKL) to Los Angeles (LAX) with an intermediate stop at Papeete, Tahiti (PPT).
Boeing 707 "Clipper Winged Racer" took off from runway 04 at Papeete-Faaa Airport for its second leg of the flight. The airplane climbed to a height of 300 feet and initiated a left turn. It began to descend with an excessive bank turn and struck the sea. The wreckage sank into the 700 m deep waters off Papeete. Both CVR and FDR were not recovered.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: Unknown. It is considered possible that an instrument failure may have diverted the crew's attention during the turn. Since it was dark outside and the turn was made towards the sea. No visual references were available.
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | BEA France |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Accident number: | Report n-pa730722 | Download report: | Final report
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Classification:
Cause undetermined
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Water
Sources:
» Aviation Disasters / D. Gero (p. 118)
» Flight International 28 May 1977 (1472)
Photos
accident date:
22-07-1973type: Boeing 707-321B
registration: N417PA
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 Papeete-Faaa Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 6587 km (4117 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few 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.