CLIPPER DISASTER
WASHINGTON INQUIRY FINDING OF THE BOARD [from our own correspondent] WASHINGTON, April 2 An Air Commerce Bureau investigating board reported to-day that the probable cause of the crash of the Pan Airways airliner Samoan Clipper was fire and explosion occurring during dumping of fuel. The board said it was unable to determine what caused the fuel to ignite. The Samoan Clipper crashed in the sea a short distance from Pago Pago, Samoa, on January 11, with the loss of seven lives. She was flying mail to New Zealand on a new route when the accident occurred. Two possible alternatives as causes of the accident were cited as being apparent. Either the Clipper was crippled by a fire and explosion in the hull during level flight while dumping fuel, or some emergency arose at that time which dictated an immediate landing at sea, during the course of which a fire and explosion occurred in the hull. The investigators said that there was evidence that a landing had been started and almost completed before the explosion wrecked the ship.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19380502.2.116
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 10
Word Count
179CLIPPER DISASTER New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 10
Using This Item
NZME is the copyright owner for the New Zealand Herald. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence . This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of NZME. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries and NZME.