# NTSB DCA74AZ016: Boeing 707, N454PA, Pago Pago, Antarctica, January 30, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 30, 1974
- Place: Pago Pago, Antarctica · PAGO PAGO, American Samoa
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 96 fatal, 5 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 1975
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79463
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA74AZ016
- Board report AAR7416 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7416.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA74AZ016-79463

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0001  74/1/30    PAGO PAGO,SAMOA     BOEING 707          CR- 10  0  0  SCHED INTERNATL PASSG SRV AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 2341                    N454PA              PX- 86  5  0                            52, 17414 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            7414 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PAGO PAGO INTL
        OPERATOR - PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND        LOS ANGELES,CALIF            HONOLULU,HAWAII
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CREW COORDINATION-POOR
           WEATHER - RAIN
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - COMPANY DISPATCH
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 293-337 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           20                                                       13
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT AFTR DH.VISUAL ILLUSIONS PRODUCED BY ENVRNMNT.VASI APPARENTLY NOT USED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N454PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N454PA-1974-04-23), registration cancelled 1974-04-23, S/N 19376, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 707
- Registry model: [Boeing 707-321B](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-707-321b) (registry code 138366B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Pago Pago Intl

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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