Aviation Crash Map

Douglas DC-3C N781T

7 October 1993 · San Juan · No injuries

Summary

On 7 October 1993 at about 23:40 local time, a Douglas DC-3C registered N781T was involved in an accident near San Juan. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 23:40
Classification
Accident
Location
San Juan
Nearest airport
Luis Munoz Marin Int'l (SJU)
Coordinates
Not recorded
Aircraft
Douglas DC-3C
Registration
N781T
Category
Airplane
Engines
2
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Santiago → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Dusk
NTSB number
MIA94LA003

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 0 2

Probable cause

PARTIAL FAILURE OF A WING RIB DUE TO EXFOLIATION CORROSION AND INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING WHILE TAXIING, THE CAPTAIN NOTICED THAT A SECTION OF THE LEFT WING WAS BENT UP. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT RIB NO. 19 IN THE LEFT WING FAILED CHORDWISE MIDPOINT BETWEEN A ROW OF RIVETS AND NUTPLATES ON THE LOWER ATTACH ANGLE DUE TO EXFOLIATION CORROSION. THE FAA APPROVED 50-HOUR INSPECTION REQUIRES VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ATTACH ANGLE AND BOLTS BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE REMOVAL OF THE WING TIP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Douglas DC-3C accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
20 Apr 1993 Douglas DC-3C
N8056
Zephyrhills, Florida, United States Phoenix Air Inc. No injuries -
15 Dec 1994 Douglas DC-3C
N96BF
Lobito, Central African Republic
no coordinates
Sl-Aviation Services, Inc. Fatal 2
18 Mar 1994 Douglas DC-3C
N3433Y
Spokane, Washington, United States
no coordinates
Salair Inc. Fatal 2
10 Mar 1992 Douglas DC-3C
N135FS
San Juan
no coordinates
Four Star Aviation Inc. No injuries -
20 Jul 1991 Douglas DC-3C
N96H
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
no coordinates
B&M Enterprises No injuries -
10 Dec 1996 Douglas DC-3C
N75142
Boise, Idaho, United States Desert Air Transport, Inc. Fatal 2

All 55 records for this type