Douglas DC-3 crash, Oct 26, 1959 (1 killed), Santa Maria...
Douglas DC-3 accident on October 26, 1959 near Santa Maria California, United States with 1 fatality. Cause: After left engine failure the ring cowl...
- Date: October 26, 1959
- Aircraft: Douglas DC-3
- Location: Santa Maria California, United States
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: After left engine failure the ring cowl deformed, causing buffeting and drag that made sustained flight impossible
Pacific Air Lines Flight 308 had an explosion and fire in the left engine shortly after takeoff from Santa Maria. The propeller was feathered and the fire went out, but severe buffeting caused loss of altitude and the captain made an emergency landing about 1.5 miles north of the airport. The copilot was killed and the captain and others were injured.