What happened
On March 24, 1958, the aircraft, registered as N 5904, was being operated by Braniff International Airways. The flight was originally intended to be a leg of a journey from New York to Miami, but due to scheduling and equipment issues, the plane was instead ferried from Dallas to Miami to serve as Flight 971, bound for Panama City.
The aircraft departed Miami at 23:56 after completing standard taxi and engine runup procedures. Shortly after takeoff, while the crew was executing a climbing right turn as cleared by the tower, a malfunction occurred in the number three engine. This failure triggered an onboard fire. As the aircraft continued its turn, it experienced a rapid loss of altitude while traveling in a north-northeasterly direction. The plane eventually impacted an open marsh characterized by underbrush and scattered trees.
Emergency response efforts were launched immediately, though rescuers faced significant delays because large crowds of onlookers blocked access to the crash site. The accident resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, with several crew members and passengers being transported via U.S. Coast Guard helicopters and ambulances to medical facilities in Miami.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the failure of a single cylinder in the number three engine was the catalyst for the fire. Although the crew correctly implemented emergency protocols, including fuel shutoff and propeller feathering, the aircraft's altitude could not be sustained.
- The primary cause was the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude while attempting an emergency return to the airport due to being distracted by the engine fire.
- Investigators noted that smoke from the same engine had been reported during a previous ferry flight, but this issue had not been documented in the aircraft logs.
- The remaining three engines remained fully operational and provided sufficient power.
- Atmospheric conditions and weather were determined not to be contributing factors to the crash.