131:
27:
1240:
1224:
1205:
1191:
1169:
1152:
1129:
1113:
1092:
1075:
429:
The aircraft left with the batteries charged only enough to satisfy two-way radio communication with the tower, with the understanding that an in-flight flight plan would be filed before they left the vicinity of San Juan. This was not done, and the plane continued on a course for Miami. It was noted
356:
Miami weather was clear, but the wind had moved from northwest to northeast. The accident investigation report said that Miami transmitted the wind change information, but neither Miami nor New
Orleans "was able to contact the flight". It is therefore unknown whether NC16002 received the information.
322:
Linquist taxied NC16002 to the end of runway 27 for takeoff, but stopped at the end of the apron due to lack of two-way radio communication. Although capable of receiving, Linquist reported to the head of Puerto Rican
Transport, who had driven out to the aircraft, that the radio could not transmit
425:
Captain
Linquist told San Juan that his landing gear down indicator lamps did not work. This led to the discovery that his batteries were low on water and electrical charge. While he ordered the refilling of the batteries with water, he ordered the reinstallation of the batteries on board the
663:
338:, but the aircraft did not respond to subsequent calls from San Juan. At 23:23, the Overseas Foreign Air Route Traffic Control Center at Miami heard a routine transmission from NC16002, wherein Linquist reported they were at 8,300 ft (2,500 m) and had an
410:
The aircraft was given a partial overhaul, including the replacement of both engines, in
November 1948. An in-flight test was conducted to judge the results of the overhaul, including flying to New Jersey and back. Again, the aircraft was certified to be
323:
because of the low batteries. After agreeing to stay close to San Juan until they were recharged enough to allow two-way contact, NC16002 finally lifted off at 22:03. After circling the city for 11 minutes, Linquist received confirmation from
656:
649:
1638:
1287:
406:
The aircraft was originally built on 12 June 1936, and had a total of 28,257 flying hours prior to the landing in San Juan. It had been inspected several times in the previous two years and certified to be
1643:
44:
479:
315:
were discharged and low on water. Unwilling to delay the aircraft's scheduled takeoff for Miami for several hours, Linquist said the batteries would be recharged by the aircraft's generators
436:
A message was sent to the plane concerning a change in wind direction that could have been strong enough to push the plane off course. It was not known if the plane received the message.
456:
hours of flight; at the time the last transmission was intercepted, the flight had gone on for 6 hours and 10 minutes after takeoff, and thus "an error in location would be critical."
1280:
1648:
417:
The company's maintenance records were incomplete. In one case, a subcontractor working on an engine in
October 1948 completed the task but did not save any records proving it.
414:
The report noted that although the carrier, aircraft, and crew were certified, at the time of takeoff, the aircraft did not meet the requirements of the operating certificate.
342:
of 04:03. His message placed the flight about 700 miles (1,100 km) from Miami. Transmissions were heard sporadically throughout the night by Miami, but all were routine.
1658:
1609:
1603:
1273:
1211:
324:
376:, Cuba. It is unknown if this was connected to the missing plane. (Since the last message from the missing DC-3 was heard not in Miami but New Orleans, if the bodies
759:
287:. The aircraft carried 29 passengers and three crew members. No probable cause for the loss was determined by the official investigation and it remains unsolved.
387:. In subsequent years, researchers into unexplained disappearances have included the flight among others said to have disappeared in what came to be termed the
394:
A plane similar to the DC-3 has been found by divers in the
Bermuda Triangle. It is possible that this is the lost aircraft, but this has not been verified.
353:(CAB) said the pilot may have incorrectly reported his position. At this time the plane only had enough fuel for 1 hour and 20 minutes of flying time left.
1518:
753:
1044:
91:
564:
63:
1528:
1445:
1425:
578:
881:
840:
975:
380:
come from the missing plane it could indicate the missing plane actually went down somewhere in the
Straits of Florida between Florida and Cuba.)
70:
357:
Without this knowledge the aircraft could have drifted 40–50 miles (64–80 km) off course, which widened the search area to include hills in
1581:
1395:
515:
216:
77:
641:
1628:
1571:
952:
59:
1561:
1053:
707:
469:
345:
At 04:13, Linquist reported he was 50 miles (80 km) south of Miami. The transmission was not heard at Miami but was monitored at
794:
605:
110:
1478:
1455:
1297:
940:
304:
548:
1508:
1415:
1365:
1037:
981:
928:
48:
1498:
1331:
1246:
1230:
946:
811:
460:
Because of a lack of wreckage and other information, probable cause for the loss of the aircraft could not be determined.
349:, Louisiana, some 600 miles (970 km) away, and was relayed to Miami. The accident investigation report issued by the
571:
993:
987:
875:
84:
934:
887:
869:
823:
817:
730:
701:
230:
1435:
1355:
922:
782:
402:
In a report released 15 July 1949, the board convening the investigation filed several factors about the aircraft:
1663:
1653:
1321:
1030:
916:
684:
339:
1633:
1551:
765:
474:
384:
165:
1405:
1375:
1175:
625:
350:
37:
433:
The aircraft left San Juan with a cargo/passenger weight 118 lb (54 kg) over the allowable limit.
1345:
430:
in the report that the plane's radio transmitter did not function properly due to the low battery charge.
1538:
1488:
328:
312:
300:
280:
276:
203:
910:
846:
1012:
1008:
1265:
130:
1385:
1158:
1135:
1099:
747:
362:
634:
893:
601:
511:
373:
140:
629:
1056:
505:
388:
279:
NC16002, occurred on the night of 28 December 1948 near the end of a scheduled flight from
188:
852:
788:
672:
Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States and U.S. territories in the 1940s
596:
Into the
Bermuda Triangle : Pursuing the Truth Behind the World's Greatest Mystery
439:
The plane's electrical system was not functioning normally prior to departing San Juan.
366:
284:
1622:
1022:
594:
1007:
An asterisk (*) denotes an incident that took place in a U.S. territory, including
724:
372:
On 4 January 1949, two bodies were found 80–90 kilometres (50–56 mi) south of
308:
331:
and told the tower that they were proceeding to Miami on a previous flight plan.
1119:
1081:
346:
272:
220:
136:
26:
1465:
335:
296:
1197:
621:
537:
295:
Captained by pilot Robert
Linquist, assisted by co-pilot Ernest Hill and
1239:
1223:
1204:
1190:
1168:
1151:
1128:
1112:
1091:
1074:
565:
30-Passenger
Airliner Disappears in Flight From San Juan To Miami
358:
1269:
1026:
645:
307:
on 27 December. Linquist informed local repair crewmen that a
20:
1639:
Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 1948
421:
As far as human error, the report cited several occurrences:
383:
Nothing further was heard from Linquist and the aircraft has
600:(1st ed.). International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press.
311:
warning light was not functioning and that the aircraft
139:
from the same production batch and initial operator (
549:
El Tiempo January 5, 1949 .p.5 {in Spanish language}
968:
903:
862:
833:
804:
775:
740:
717:
694:
677:
261:
253:
245:
237:
226:
212:
202:
194:
184:
179:
171:
161:
153:
148:
51:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1644:Accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-3
593:
760:American Airlines Flight 63 (Flagship Missouri)
1281:
1038:
657:
8:
533:
531:
529:
527:
123:
60:"1948 Airborne Transport DC-3 disappearance"
1649:Airliner accidents and incidents in Florida
754:American Airlines Flight 63 (Flagship Ohio)
1288:
1274:
1266:
1066:
1045:
1031:
1023:
664:
650:
642:
122:
1659:December 1948 events in the United States
299:Mary Burke, the aircraft ended its Miami-
111:Learn how and when to remove this message
882:Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 410
841:Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 105
581:," The New York Times, 31 December 1948.
574:," The New York Times, 30 December 1948.
567:," The New York Times, 29 December 1948.
491:
1519:Australian National Airways DC-3 crash
499:
497:
495:
1592:Airborne Transport DC-3 disappearance
1396:British European Airways Flight S200P
959:Airborne Transport DC-3 disappearance
572:Check Cuba Report of Missing Airliner
7:
1529:Royal Air Force Avro Lancaster crash
1446:Keerbergen Fiat G.212 airplane crash
1426:Cebu Philippine Air Lines DC-3 crash
49:adding citations to reliable sources
976:Strato-Freight Curtiss C-46A crash
470:List of Bermuda Triangle incidents
14:
1582:Beechcraft Model 18 disappearance
795:South Portland A-26 Invader crash
426:aircraft without recharging them.
1298:Aviation accidents and incidents
1238:
1222:
1203:
1189:
1167:
1150:
1127:
1111:
1090:
1073:
325:Civil Aeronautics Administration
175:Off the eastern coast of Florida
129:
25:
334:The weather was fine with high
36:needs additional citations for
1366:Northwest Airlines Flight 4422
982:Standard Air Lines Flight 897R
953:Georgia USAF Boeing B-29 crash
929:Northwest Airlines Flight 4422
480:List of people who disappeared
217:San Juan International Airport
1:
1562:Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-12 crash
1499:Northwest Airlines Flight 421
947:Northwest Airlines Flight 421
812:American Airlines Flight 6001
994:American Airlines Flight 157
988:Eastern Air Lines Flight 537
876:Eastern Air Lines Flight 605
16:Early aircraft disappearance
1456:Northwood mid-air collision
941:Lake Mead Boeing B-29 crash
935:United Air Lines Flight 624
888:United Air Lines Flight 608
870:United Air Lines Flight 521
824:National Airlines Flight 16
818:Eastern Air Lines Flight 45
731:American Airlines Flight 28
708:Northwest Airlines Flight 5
702:Eastern Air Lines Flight 21
231:Miami International Airport
1680:
1629:1940s missing person cases
1572:KLM Constellation disaster
1436:United Airlines Flight 624
1356:Delta Air Lines Flight 705
923:Delta Air Lines Flight 705
783:American Airlines Flight 2
442:The aircraft had fuel for
143:) as the accident aircraft
1601:
1509:Sabena Douglas C-47 crash
1416:Sabena Douglas DC-4 crash
1313:
1064:
1003:
685:Lovettsville air disaster
510:. Book-House. p. 6.
128:
1005:This list is incomplete.
475:List of missing aircraft
1212:Airborne Transport DC-3
635:Aviation Safety Network
626:Civil Aeronautics Board
351:Civil Aeronautics Board
271:The disappearance of a
124:1948 DC-3 disappearance
622:Report of the incident
579:Airliner Hunt Extended
1489:Air France Flight 072
592:Quasar, Gian (2003).
281:San Juan, Puerto Rico
1479:Lake Mead B-29 crash
1322:Los Gatos DC-3 crash
1178:Marine Sulphur Queen
1015:prior to statehood..
917:Los Gatos DC-3 crash
911:Mantell UFO incident
847:Mount Tom B-17 crash
558:Newspaper references
507:The Bermuda Triangle
504:West, David (2007).
45:improve this article
1610:► 1949
1604:1947 ◄
1552:Waycross B-29 crash
125:
1607:
1406:Bodaybo Li-2 crash
1386:Pan Am Flight 1-10
1376:Gatow air disaster
1100:Carroll A. Deering
996:(November 29 1949)
896:(October 26 1947)*
748:Pan Am Flight 1104
198:Airborne Transport
185:Aircraft type
1616:
1615:
1346:Heathrow disaster
1263:
1262:
1258:
1257:
1245:
1229:
1210:
1196:
1174:
1157:
1134:
1118:
1097:
1080:
1020:
1019:
990:(November 1 1949)
919:(January 28 1948)
894:Pan Am Flight 923
890:(October 24 1947)
766:Tamaqua, PA crash
517:978-1-905087-64-8
269:
268:
141:American Airlines
121:
120:
113:
95:
1671:
1664:Missing aircraft
1654:Bermuda Triangle
1608:
1308:
1307:
1305:
1290:
1283:
1276:
1267:
1243:
1242:
1227:
1226:
1208:
1207:
1194:
1193:
1172:
1171:
1155:
1154:
1132:
1131:
1116:
1115:
1095:
1094:
1078:
1077:
1067:
1057:Bermuda Triangle
1047:
1040:
1033:
1024:
913:(January 7 1948)
666:
659:
652:
643:
611:
599:
551:
546:
540:
535:
522:
521:
501:
455:
454:
450:
447:
389:Bermuda Triangle
385:never been found
157:28 December 1948
133:
126:
116:
109:
105:
102:
96:
94:
53:
29:
21:
1679:
1678:
1674:
1673:
1672:
1670:
1669:
1668:
1634:1948 in Florida
1619:
1618:
1617:
1612:
1606:
1597:
1596:
1595:
1594:
1589:
1585:
1584:
1579:
1575:
1574:
1569:
1565:
1564:
1559:
1555:
1554:
1549:
1545:
1544:
1536:
1532:
1531:
1526:
1522:
1521:
1516:
1512:
1511:
1506:
1502:
1501:
1496:
1492:
1491:
1486:
1482:
1481:
1476:
1472:
1471:
1463:
1459:
1458:
1453:
1449:
1448:
1443:
1439:
1438:
1433:
1429:
1428:
1423:
1419:
1418:
1413:
1409:
1408:
1403:
1399:
1398:
1393:
1389:
1388:
1383:
1379:
1378:
1373:
1369:
1368:
1363:
1359:
1358:
1353:
1349:
1348:
1343:
1339:
1338:
1329:
1325:
1324:
1319:
1309:
1303:
1301:
1296:
1294:
1264:
1259:
1254:
1216:
1200:
1183:
1144:
1105:
1060:
1051:
1021:
1016:
1006:
999:
964:
961:(December 1948)
931:(March 12 1948)
925:(March 10 1948)
899:
858:
829:
800:
785:(February 1944)
771:
768:(November 1943)
736:
713:
704:(February 1941)
690:
673:
670:
618:
608:
591:
588:
586:Further reading
560:
555:
554:
547:
543:
536:
525:
518:
503:
502:
493:
488:
466:
452:
448:
445:
443:
400:
293:
189:Douglas DST-144
144:
117:
106:
100:
97:
54:
52:
42:
30:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1677:
1675:
1667:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1636:
1631:
1621:
1620:
1614:
1613:
1602:
1599:
1598:
1590:
1587:
1586:
1580:
1577:
1576:
1570:
1567:
1566:
1560:
1557:
1556:
1550:
1547:
1546:
1537:
1534:
1533:
1527:
1524:
1523:
1517:
1514:
1513:
1507:
1504:
1503:
1497:
1494:
1493:
1487:
1484:
1483:
1477:
1474:
1473:
1464:
1461:
1460:
1454:
1451:
1450:
1444:
1441:
1440:
1434:
1431:
1430:
1424:
1421:
1420:
1414:
1411:
1410:
1404:
1401:
1400:
1394:
1391:
1390:
1384:
1381:
1380:
1374:
1371:
1370:
1364:
1361:
1360:
1354:
1351:
1350:
1344:
1341:
1340:
1330:
1327:
1326:
1320:
1317:
1316:
1315:
1314:
1311:
1310:
1295:
1293:
1292:
1285:
1278:
1270:
1261:
1260:
1256:
1255:
1253:
1252:
1236:
1219:
1217:
1215:
1214:
1201:
1186:
1184:
1182:
1181:
1165:
1147:
1145:
1143:
1142:
1125:
1108:
1106:
1104:
1103:
1088:
1070:
1065:
1062:
1061:
1052:
1050:
1049:
1042:
1035:
1027:
1018:
1017:
1004:
1001:
1000:
998:
997:
991:
985:
979:
972:
970:
966:
965:
963:
962:
956:
955:(October 1948)
950:
944:
938:
932:
926:
920:
914:
907:
905:
901:
900:
898:
897:
891:
885:
879:
873:
866:
864:
860:
859:
857:
856:
855:(July 11 1946)
853:TWA Flight 513
850:
844:
843:(January 1946)
837:
835:
831:
830:
828:
827:
826:(October 1945)
821:
815:
814:(January 1945)
808:
806:
802:
801:
799:
798:
792:
789:TWA Flight 277
786:
779:
777:
773:
772:
770:
769:
763:
762:(October 1943)
757:
751:
750:(January 1943)
744:
742:
738:
737:
735:
734:
733:(October 1942)
728:
727:(January 1942)
721:
719:
715:
714:
712:
711:
710:(October 1941)
705:
698:
696:
692:
691:
689:
688:
681:
679:
675:
674:
671:
669:
668:
661:
654:
646:
638:
637:
632:
617:
616:External links
614:
613:
612:
606:
587:
584:
583:
582:
575:
568:
559:
556:
553:
552:
541:
523:
516:
490:
489:
487:
484:
483:
482:
477:
472:
465:
462:
458:
457:
440:
437:
434:
431:
427:
419:
418:
415:
412:
408:
399:
396:
374:Guantánamo Bay
367:Gulf of Mexico
292:
289:
285:Miami, Florida
267:
266:
263:
259:
258:
255:
251:
250:
247:
243:
242:
239:
235:
234:
228:
224:
223:
214:
210:
209:
206:
200:
199:
196:
192:
191:
186:
182:
181:
177:
176:
173:
169:
168:
163:
159:
158:
155:
151:
150:
146:
145:
134:
119:
118:
33:
31:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1676:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1640:
1637:
1635:
1632:
1630:
1627:
1626:
1624:
1611:
1605:
1600:
1593:
1583:
1573:
1563:
1553:
1543:
1541:
1530:
1520:
1510:
1500:
1490:
1480:
1470:
1469:
1466:PBY Catalina
1457:
1447:
1437:
1427:
1417:
1407:
1397:
1387:
1377:
1367:
1357:
1347:
1337:
1336:disappearance
1335:
1323:
1312:
1299:
1291:
1286:
1284:
1279:
1277:
1272:
1271:
1268:
1251:
1250:
1241:
1237:
1235:
1234:
1225:
1221:
1220:
1218:
1213:
1206:
1202:
1199:
1192:
1188:
1187:
1185:
1180:
1179:
1170:
1166:
1164:
1163: (AC-10)
1162:
1153:
1149:
1148:
1146:
1141:
1139:
1130:
1126:
1124:
1123:
1114:
1110:
1109:
1107:
1102:
1101:
1093:
1089:
1087:
1085:
1076:
1072:
1071:
1069:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1055:
1048:
1043:
1041:
1036:
1034:
1029:
1028:
1025:
1014:
1010:
1002:
995:
992:
989:
986:
983:
980:
977:
974:
973:
971:
967:
960:
957:
954:
951:
949:(August 1948)
948:
945:
942:
939:
936:
933:
930:
927:
924:
921:
918:
915:
912:
909:
908:
906:
902:
895:
892:
889:
886:
883:
880:
878:(May 30 1947)
877:
874:
872:(May 29 1947)
871:
868:
867:
865:
861:
854:
851:
849:(July 9 1946)
848:
845:
842:
839:
838:
836:
832:
825:
822:
819:
816:
813:
810:
809:
807:
803:
796:
793:
790:
787:
784:
781:
780:
778:
774:
767:
764:
761:
758:
755:
752:
749:
746:
745:
743:
739:
732:
729:
726:
723:
722:
720:
716:
709:
706:
703:
700:
699:
697:
693:
687:(August 1940)
686:
683:
682:
680:
676:
667:
662:
660:
655:
653:
648:
647:
644:
640:
636:
633:
631:
627:
623:
620:
619:
615:
609:
607:0-07-142640-X
603:
598:
597:
590:
589:
585:
580:
576:
573:
569:
566:
562:
561:
557:
550:
545:
542:
539:
534:
532:
530:
528:
524:
519:
513:
509:
508:
500:
498:
496:
492:
485:
481:
478:
476:
473:
471:
468:
467:
463:
461:
441:
438:
435:
432:
428:
424:
423:
422:
416:
413:
409:
405:
404:
403:
398:Investigation
397:
395:
392:
390:
386:
381:
379:
375:
370:
368:
364:
360:
354:
352:
348:
343:
341:
337:
332:
330:
326:
320:
318:
314:
310:
306:
303:leg at 19:40
302:
298:
290:
288:
286:
282:
278:
274:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
229:
225:
222:
218:
215:
213:Flight origin
211:
207:
205:
201:
197:
193:
190:
187:
183:
178:
174:
170:
167:
166:Disappearance
164:
160:
156:
152:
147:
142:
138:
132:
127:
115:
112:
104:
101:December 2011
93:
90:
86:
83:
79:
76:
72:
69:
65:
62: –
61:
57:
56:Find sources:
50:
46:
40:
39:
34:This article
32:
28:
23:
22:
19:
1591:
1540:Bukken Bruse
1539:
1467:
1333:
1248:
1232:
1177:
1160:
1140: (AC-9)
1137:
1121:
1098:
1086: (AC-4)
1083:
958:
725:TWA Flight 3
639:
595:
544:
506:
459:
420:
401:
393:
382:
377:
371:
355:
344:
333:
321:
316:
309:landing gear
294:
291:Final flight
270:
204:Registration
107:
98:
88:
81:
74:
67:
55:
43:Please help
38:verification
35:
18:
984:(July 1949)
978:(June 1949)
943:(July 1948)
937:(June 1948)
884:(June 1947)
820:(July 1945)
797:(July 1944)
791:(June 1944)
756:(July 1943)
347:New Orleans
273:Douglas DST
227:Destination
221:Puerto Rico
137:Douglas DST
1623:Categories
1468:Miss Macao
1334:Star Tiger
1249:Star Ariel
1233:Star Tiger
538:CAB report
486:References
411:airworthy.
407:airworthy.
363:Everglades
336:visibility
297:stewardess
277:registered
275:airliner,
246:Passengers
149:Occurrence
71:newspapers
1198:Flight 19
1159:USS
1136:USS
1082:USS
1059:incidents
624:from the
365:and even
327:(CAA) at
313:batteries
238:Occupants
233:, Florida
1542:disaster
1176:SS
1122:Cotopaxi
1120:SS
464:See also
369:waters.
329:San Juan
317:en route
301:San Juan
195:Operator
180:Aircraft
1302: (
1300:in 1948
1138:Proteus
1084:Cyclops
1054:List of
451:⁄
262:Missing
208:NC16002
162:Summary
85:scholar
1588:Dec 28
1568:Oct 20
1558:Oct 12
1505:Aug 31
1495:Aug 29
1475:Jul 21
1462:Jul 16
1432:Jun 17
1422:May 17
1412:May 12
1402:Apr 24
1392:Apr 21
1382:Apr 15
1362:Mar 12
1352:Mar 10
1328:Jan 30
1318:Jan 28
1161:Nereus
1013:Hawaii
1009:Alaska
604:
514:
361:, the
87:
80:
73:
66:
58:
1578:Nov 8
1548:Oct 6
1535:Oct 2
1525:Sep 3
1515:Sep 2
1485:Aug 1
1452:Jul 4
1442:Jul 1
1372:Apr 5
1342:Mar 2
1332:BSAA
1247:BSAA
1244:1949:
1231:BSAA
1228:1948:
1209:1948:
1195:1945:
1173:1963:
1156:1941:
1133:1941:
1117:1925:
1096:1921:
1079:1918:
283:, to
92:JSTOR
78:books
1304:1948
1011:and
969:1949
904:1948
863:1947
834:1946
805:1945
776:1944
741:1943
718:1942
695:1941
678:1940
628:- **
602:ISBN
512:ISBN
359:Cuba
254:Crew
172:Site
154:Date
64:news
630:PDF
378:did
340:ETA
305:EST
47:by
1625::
526:^
494:^
391:.
319:.
265:32
249:29
241:32
219:,
135:A
1306:)
1289:e
1282:t
1275:v
1046:e
1039:t
1032:v
665:e
658:t
651:v
610:.
577:"
570:"
563:"
520:.
453:2
449:1
446:+
444:7
257:3
114:)
108:(
103:)
99:(
89:·
82:·
75:·
68:·
41:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
