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An accident involving aircraft NC 15376, a Sikorsky S-42B, occurred during a landing in the harbor at San Juan, Puerto Rico, on October 3, 1941, about 5:48 p.m. (EST), while the aircraft was operating in scheduled air carrier service between Miami, Flordia, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, as Trip 203 of Pan American Airways, Inc.^[1] The accident resulted in the destruction of the aircraft, fatal injuries to two passengers, serious injuries to two members of the crew, and minor injuries to four members of the crew and seven passengers. The remaining passengers were not injured.

The Civil Aeronautics Board^[2] was apprised of the accident about an hour after it occurred. Immediately after receiving this notification, the Board initiated an investigation of the accident in accordance with the provisions of Section 702 (a)(2) of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended. An investigator and an examiner were sent to the scene of the accident and arrived there about 1:00 p.m., October 5, 1941. In accordance with instructions of the Board, the damaged aircraft had been placed under guard and the wreckage had not been disturbed except to the extent necessary to remove injured persons, cargo, and to conduct the subsequent salvage operations in removing the wreckage from the water. Upon arrival, the investigator took custody of the wreckage and began his inspection.

After the inspection of all the parts of the aircraft was completed by the Board's personnel on October 7, 1941, the aircraft was released to Pan American.

In connection with the investigation of the accident a public hearing was held in Miami, Florida, on October 22, 1941. Robert W. Chrisp, an attorney for the Board, acted as Presiding Examiner, and the following personnel of the Safety Bureau of the Board participated in the hearing. Frank E Caldwell, Chief, Investigation Division; James H Douglas, assistant to the Chief, Investigation Division; and Harold G Crowley, Accident Reports Consultant.

All of the evidence available to the Board at the time was presented at the hearing. Eleven witnesses testified and fourteen exhibits were introduced. Depositions of passengers on the airplane and other witnesses who saw the accident were received in evidence at the hearing. While the Examiner and the representatives of the Safety Bureau were the only ones designated to ask questions directly of the witnesses, the Presiding Examiner, acting under instruction of the Board, announced at the opening of the hearing that any person who had any evidence, questions, or suggestions to present for consideration in the proceeding might submit them in writing to the Examiner. No such questions were submitted during the hearing.

Upon the basis of all the evidence accumulated in the investigation and hearing, the Board now makes its report an accordance with the provisions of the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended.

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Pan American Airways, Inc., a New York Corporation, was operating at the time of the accident as an air carrier under a currently effective certificate of public convenience and necessity and an air carrier operating certificate theretofore issued to it pursuant to the Act. These certificates authorized it to engage in air transportation with respect to persons, property and mail between various points, including Miami, Florida; Antilla, Cuba; Port au Prince, Haiti; San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Port of Spain, Trinidad; Belem, Brazil; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Porto Alegro, Brazil; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

On the flight under discussion the crew consisted of Captain Charles A Lorber, First Officer Harvey E Breaux, Flight Mechanic J. E. Donnelley, Radio Operator W. P. Mahoney, and Flight Stewards Joe Catala and A. E. Calligari.