# NTSB MIA79DA001: Douglas DC-3, N74Z, Ft Walton Bch, FL, October 1, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 1, 1978
- Place: Ft Walton Bch, FL · FT WALTON BCH, FL
- Location: 30.4249° N, 86.6218° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Walton Beach, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4249&lon=-86.6218&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139220
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA79DA001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79DA001

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3634   78/10/1 NR.FT WALTON BCH,FL   DOUGLAS DC-3        CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             CERTIFICATE UNKNOWN, AGE
        TIME - 1754                    N74Z                PX-  0  0  3  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED      UNK/NR, UNK/NR TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   UNK/NR INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MIAMI,FL                    SAN JUAN,PR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ELECTRICAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
                                  LOW ON FUEL
        REMARKS- ELECTRICAL FAILURE FOR UNKNOWN REASON.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N74Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74Z-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N 25953, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-3
- Registry model: [Douglas DC3C 1830-94](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3c-1830-94) (registry code 3021469) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1830 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-series) (registry code 52020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19781001040549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781001040549A), Oct 1, 1978: Doug C52B, Ft Walton Bch, AL, Destroyed. Electrical failure for unknown reason.

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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