73 Years ago today: On 19 June 1947 a PanAm Lockheed L-049 Constellation crashed near Meyadine; killing 14 out of 36 on board.
| Date: | Thursday 19 June 1947 |
| Time: | 01:40 |
| Type: | Lockheed L-049 Constellation |
| Operator: | Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) |
| Registration: | NC88845 |
| C/n / msn: | 2045 |
| First flight: | 1946 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2645 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 10 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 26 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 36 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Mayadine ( |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Karachi International Airport (KHI/OPKC), Pakistan |
| Destination airport: | Istanbul-Yesilköy Airport (IST/LTBA), Turkey |
| Flightnumber: | PA121 |
Narrative:
The Constellation, named “Clipper Eclipse”, was cruising at FL185 when the no. 1 prop had to be feathered due to engine problems. The remaining three engines overheated, forcing the crew to reduced power. This resulted in a gradual descent. The crew elected to continue to Istanbul instead of landing at the nearby Habbaniya RAF Station in Iraq. While descending through FL100 a fire broke out in the engine no. 2 nacelle. A rapid descent was started during which the no. 2 engine separated from the wing. With the left wing on fire a belly landing was carried out in the desert. It appeared the no. 1 engine failure was due to a broken exhaust rocker arm on the no.18 cylinder. The no. 2 engine failure was due to a failure of the thrust bearing which in turn resulted in blocking the passage of oil from the propeller feathering motor to the propeller dome.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: “The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a fire which resulted from an attempt to feather the No. 2 propeller after the failure of the No. 2 engine thrust bearing.”
