# NTSB MIA81FA057: Douglas C-54B, N98AS, St.Croix, VI (Atlantic Ocean), March 28, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 28, 1981
- Place: St.Croix, VI (Atlantic Ocean) · ST.CROIX,VI, AO
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA81FA057
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA81FA057

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-0004  81/3/28  NR.ST.CROIX,VI        DOUGLAS C-54B       CR-  1  0  1  NS/CTR REVENUE CARGO INTL COMMERCIAL, AGE 36, 9622
        TIME - 1555                    N98AS               PX-  0  0  0                            TOTAL HOURS, 1227 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        OPERATOR - OTHER-FOREIGN FLAG CARRIER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BARBADOS,WEST INDIES        SAN JUAN,PR
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - *ERROR-INVALID CODE*
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FIRE IN ENGINE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- ACFT DITCHED FOL UNCONTROLLABLE FIRE IN NO.3 ENG.COPILOT DROWNED.OPER BY CARIBBEAN AIR CARGO,LMTD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98AS-1989-04-03), registration cancelled 1989-04-03, S/N 10431 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS C-54B
- Registry model: [Douglas C-54B](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-c-54b) (registry code 3021518) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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