What happened
During the annual Flag Day festivities in Samoa, an aircraft was performing aerial maneuvers to drop skydivers near a designated reviewing area. While executing its second pass over the harbor, the plane struck a mile-long tramway cable that spans across Pago Pago Harbor toward Mount Alava.
The impact caused a portion of the wing to detach from the fuselage. Following the structural failure, the aircraft descended into an area situated in front of the two-story Rainmaker Hotel, where it caught fire upon impact. The accident resulted in eight fatalities, comprising all six people on board the plane and two individuals who were on the ground at the time of the crash.
Findings
- The collision with a tramway line spanning the harbor led to the separation of part of the wing.
- The aircraft was engaged in skydiving operations during a public celebration.