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Pan Am Clipper Endeavor Is Found After Over 70 Years Lost at Sea
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- On April 11, 1952, a Pan American Clipper Endeavor Douglas DC-4 lost power in its right two engines shortly after takeoff from San Juan, Puerto Rico, forcing the pilot to ditch the plane at sea.
- Although all 69 passengers and crew survived the initial water landing, panic and confusion led to the tail section breaking off and the fuselage sinking, resulting in 52 fatalities.
- The tragedy prompted significant improvements in airline safety briefings and procedures that have influenced aviation safety for generations.
- After nearly 75 years lost in the Atlantic Ocean, the wreckage was discovered on June 2, approximately 2,000 feet underwater and five miles offshore, identified by the Pan American World Airways logo on the plane’s wing and nose.
