Zone
All World

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-50-LO Orion into the Pacific Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152155
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Moffett - Moffett
MSN:
185-5125
YOM:
1965
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Pacific Ocean, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants was found.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 2D into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1972 at 2144 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.114 Heron
Operator:
Registration:
N19D
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Francisco - Hilo
MSN:
14109
YOM:
1956
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11980
Captain / Total hours on type:
2500.00
Circumstances:
On a ferry flight from San Francisco to Hilo, while cruising by night, all four engines stopped simultaneously. The crew informed ATC about his position and attempted to ditch the aircraft that came to rest in water about 219 miles off the Hawaiian coast. Both pilots were rescued and evacuated while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew who miscalculated the fuel consumption and the flight time to check point. The following factors were reported:
- The crew became lost and disoriented.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing C-135B Stratolifter into the Pacific Ocean: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1971 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing C-135 Stratolifter
Operator:
Registration:
61-0331
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Hickam
MSN:
18238/C16
YOM:
1962
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
11062
Circumstances:
The crew departed Pago Pago on a flight to Hickam Field, Honolulu, taking part to an observation mission of the French atmospheric nuclear tests in the Pacific. While flying in good weather conditions at an altitude of 33,000 feet and at a speed of 870 km/h, a crew member contacted ATC but the content of the message was inaudible. Five minutes later, the airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Pacific Ocean some 1,100 km southwest of Hawaii. Few debris were found floating on water and none of the 24 occupants survived the crash.
Occupants:
Donald E. Ashland,
Cpt Byron C. Burnett,
Rola F. Blanchard,
John P. Cahill,
Thomas R. Connor,
Charles V. Dito,
1st Lt James M. Gilbert,
Dean L. Hoar,
S/Sgt Kenneth Steven Kowal,
Maj John R. McGinn,
T/Sgt Hubert Miles Jr.,
Allen Moriffette,
Maj William Edward Page Jr.,
David Penney,
Lt Col Victor John Reinhart,
Cpt Perry Thomas Rose,
Col Billy L. Skipworth,
Edward M. Slagel,
Anthony J. Theriault,
John B. Tumas,
Maj william Herman Unsderfer Jr.,
Maj Joseph B. William,
S/Sgt Elno Roe Weimer.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the aircraft was intact until impact with water surface. Also, it is believed that the recent technical modification did not have any incidence with the accident. Few days prior to the mishap, the aircraft was equipped with 11 additional portholes and a radome.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon into the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1970 at 2320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair
Operator:
Aircraft Facilities
Registration:
N91110
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kansas City – Los Angeles – Honolulu
MSN:
207-0076
YOM:
1969
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6276
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Kansas City on a delivery flight to Honolulu with an intermediate stop in Los Angeles. While cruising by night over the Pacific Ocean, the pilot declared an emergency and reported his position about 646 miles northeast from the Oahu Island. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. Engine failure in flight caused by a lubricating issue and oil exhaustion. No prove was made for extra oil, engine lost oil pressure then failed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1969 at 1840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N65134
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
19025
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed California on a delivery flight to Indonesia via Hawaii, the aircraft being delivered to its new operator Zamrud Aviation. While cruising about 370 km off Hilo, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and elected to ditch the aircraft. All three occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines due to the lubricating system malfunction. Loss of oil pressure for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-2H Neptune into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
140964
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
726-7066
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to ditch the aircraft 769 km west of Guam Island. The crew of the ship SS President Cleveland was quickly on the scene and was able to evacuate all occupants. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Tiley Dove into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1969 at 0315 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Trans Isle Air
Registration:
N880JG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
04491
YOM:
1957
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
26000
Captain / Total hours on type:
175.00
Circumstances:
While on a ferry flight from Hawaii to California, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure. He reduced his altitude and attempted to ditch the aircraft near a boat approximately 140 miles west of Long Beach. The pilot was quickly rescued while the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reason. At the time of the accident, weather conditions includes sleet and freezing rain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-35-LO Orion into the Pacific Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1968 at 0310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
151350
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
185-5063
YOM:
1963
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kadena AFB on a night patrol flight over the Pacific Ocean. While cruising at low height in a flat attitude some 320 km east of Okinawa, the aircraft struck the water surface, crashed and broke in three pieces that sank by a depth of 1,600 meters. Four crew members were found alive while eight others were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed the accident may have been caused by an accidental disconnection of the automatic pilot system.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon into the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Registration:
N7266C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bethel - Kodiak
MSN:
15-1191
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2640
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Bethel to Kodiak, the airplane disappeared in the North Pacific Ocean. SAR were conducted but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the possible cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1967 at 2314 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Skyway Air Cargo
Registration:
N74034
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
AF-798
YOM:
1954
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2800
Captain / Total hours on type:
250.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a ferry flight from California to Hawaii. While cruising by night, the pilot lost his orientation and was unable to locate his position with certainty. While cruising, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft. USCG personnel was able to rescue both occupants who were evacuated. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined, However, it is confirmed that both engines stopped due to a fuel exhaustion.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Pacific Ocean