On May 5, 1944, a Douglas DC-3 (registration NC21788) operated by Pennsylvania Central Air Lines was involved in an aviation accident near West Palm Beach, United States of America in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of both crews to detect each other due to distraction from cockpit duties while flying face-to-face at 1,500 feet. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Two United States Army Air Forces aircraft collided over the Atlantic Ocean near Lake Worth, resulting in the deaths of all eight crew members aboard.
What happened
During a flight from Miami Airport to Savannah, a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft was climbing along the east coast of Florida. At the same time, a Consolidated B-24D Liberator with registration 41-11889 was conducting a training exercise after departing Homestead AFB. Both aircraft were operating in the same airspace when they collided mid-air. The impact caused both planes to break apart and crash into the sea. The wreckage of the two aircraft was located approximately six miles southeast of Lake Worth, with the debris fields situated less than one mile apart. All eight occupants across both airframes perished in the accident.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the collision occurred when both aircraft were flying directly toward each other at an altitude of 1,500 feet. The primary contributing factor was a failure to see and avoid the opposing traffic. Officials noted that the crews' attention was heavily focused on cockpit duties and workload, which prevented them from detecting the presence of the other aircraft in time to take evasive action.
Probable cause
Failure of both crews to detect each other due to distraction from cockpit duties while flying face-to-face at 1,500 feet.
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