PACIFIC OCEAN, WA, USA
N96361
DOUGLAS C-54/DC-4
THE PLT REPTD THAT HE DITCHED HIS DC-4 IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN ON THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 23 AFTER EXPERIENCING AN UNCONTROLLABLE NO. 3 ENG FIRE AT THE CONCLUSION OF A TNG FLT. THE DITCHING OCCURRED IN DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS WITH MINIMAL 10 FOOT SWELLS HAVING A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS AND THE ACRFT WAS REPTD TO HAVE REMAINED AFLOAT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER THE DITCHING. ALTHOUGH THE FLT PENETRATED THE PACIFIC COASTAL ADIZ ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS NO RADAR EVIDENCE CORROBORATED THE PENETRATIONS NOR WAS THERE ANY RECEIPT OF THE PLTS MAYDAY ON 121.5 MHZ. NO WRECKAGE HAS BEEN OBSERVED ALONG THE WASHINGTON SHORELINE SINCE THE EVENT. WX CONDTNS AT 1750 HRS PST WITHIN 20 MILES OF THE DITCHING WERE REPTD AS MEASURED 900 FOOT OVCST WITH 1.5 MILES VIS IN LIGHT RAIN AND FOG. SFC WINDS PREVAILED FROM THE SOUTHEAST YET THE TWO PLTS REPTDLY DRIFTED NORTHEAST COVERING A DISTANCE OF AT LEAST 14 NAUTICAL MILES VIA RAFT IN 16 HOURS. THE BOARD'S FINDINGS SURROUNDING THIS EVENT REMAIN UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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