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4. Aircraft NC 15376 was certificated as airworthy at the time of the accident.
5. Trip 203 was cleared in accordance with proper procedure from Miami, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, via Antilla, Cuba, Port au Prince, Haiti and San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Repubilc.
6. At the time of departure from Miami, Florida and at the time of the accident, the gross weight of the airplane did not exceed the permissible gross weight and the usable load was properly distributed with reference to the location of the center of gravity.
7. At the time of departure from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, the aircraft carried more than three times as much fuel as would normally be required, at cruising flight, to proceed to its next scheduled stop, San Juan. San Pedro de Macoris was the alternate port.[1]
8. Until the time of the attempted landing at San Juan Harbor, Trip 203 had proceeded normally throughout its entire route except for becoming increasingly behind schedule.
9. Weather reports for San Juan had consistently indicated variable light winds and good ceiling and visibility. This condition prevailed during the flight and at the time of the landing.
10. After arriving near San Juan, Captain Lorber began a contact approach.
11. The aircraft did not receive landing conditions transmitted over the radiotelephone because the aircraft's voice apparatus was not functioning.
12. The ground station's attempt to transmit, via CW, landing conditions to the incoming aircraft was so belated that the message was not received.
13. Captapn Lorber was flying the aircraft at the time of the accident.
14. Aircraft NC 15376, its engines, and all of its equipment, with the exception of the radiotelephone, were functioning normally until contact with the water.
15. Following the approach NC 15376 contacted the water in an unduly nose—low attitude while moving sideways relative to the water.
16. Almost immediately after first contact with the water the aircraft swerved violently to the right and broke into several major sections.
PROBABLE CAUSE
On the basis of the foregoing findings and the entire record available to us at this time, we find that the probable cause of the accident involving aircraft NC 15376 ( Pan American's Trip 203) on October 5, 1941, was the failures of the captain to exercise requisite caution and skill in landing. The smooth surface of the water which rendered difficult the captain's depth perception as well as the exact determination of any lateral movement of the aircraft, constituted a substantial contributing factor.
- ↑ The subject flight was, during its latter stage, actually without an alternate as San Pedro de Macoris was not equipped for night landings.
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