Pan Am Flight 806 Crash in Pago Pago (N454PA)

Overview and Flight Details On January 30, 1974, Pan Am Flight 806, a Boeing 707-321B named “Clipper Radiant,” was operating a scheduled service from Auckland, New Zealand, to Los Angeles, California, with en route stops at Pago Pago, American Samoa, and Honolulu, Hawaii. The flight departed Auckland at 2014 and was cleared to Pago Pago on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. Radio communications with Pago Pago Approach Control began at 2311, when the aircraft reported its position 160 miles south of the airport. Approach control provided weather information and later cleared the aircraft to the Pago Pago VORTAC at 2313. The flight reported leaving flight level 330 three minutes later and leaving flight level 200 at 2324. At 2324, the aircraft was cleared for the ILS DME runway five approach via the 20-mile arc south-southwest, with instructions to report the arc and leaving 5,000 feet. At 2333, the flight requested wind direction and velocity and was told winds were 360 degrees variable from 020 degrees at 10 to 15 knots. At 2334, the flight reported out of 5,500 feet and intercepted the 226-degree radial of the Pago Pago VOR. The approach controller acknowledged the aircraft was inbound on the localizer and requested a report about three miles out. At 2338, approach control advised that a power failure had occurred at the airport. The first officer responded that the VOR, ILS, and lights were still showing. The controller asked whether the runway lights were visible, and the flight replied that they were. The controller noted a bad rain shower and said the lights could not be seen from the controller’s position. The first officer reported the aircraft was five DME and the lights still looked bright. Approach control provided updated wind information and requested the aircraft advise when clear of the runway. At 23:39:41, the flight acknowledged with “wilco,” which was the last radio transmission from the aircraft.