Darwin Charles Brown for the Civil Aeronautics Board

“ There was no evidence that the aircraft was landed in an unduly nose—low position, which is conducive to waterlooping. It was the captain's theory that a wind shift, preceding the rain squall which hit the ship shortly after the landing was completed, caused the night wing to drop just as the ship was setting off the step. On the other hand, Pan American attributes the accident to the raising of the flaps during the run on the step, causing a slight change of altitude and a momentary period of directional instability beyond the power of the rudder to counteract. ”

“ Pan American Airways Flight No. 520 of September 23, 1941, originated at Barranquilla, Colombia, and was en route to Miami, Florida, with scheduled intermediate stops at Kingston, Jamaica, and Cienguegos, Cuba. ”