Page:CAB Accident Report, Pan American Flight 161.pdf/3

 He also stated that at an indicated altitude of 250 feet with airspeed at 100 knots, he called out these readings to Cramer. Soon thereafter, Goyette, whose attention was still focused in the cockpit, heard what he described as a "tearing, shearing" noise, followed by a sudden lurch. As the plane came to an abrupt stop in the water, the hull broke in two at a point about three feet aft of the hull step (about the center of compartment 2) and the rear part of the hull was forced up and forward. Water poured into the cabin and major portion of the flying boat sank immediately. Certain parts of the wreckage remained afloat for a short period while rescue work was conducted by company service launches and Navy rescue and salvage units. The point at which the wreckage sank was 1¼ miles short of the No. 1 light which marked the nearest portion of the intended landing area.

During the investigation the surviving three crew members and four passengers described their impressions of the crash. Captain Goyette, seated in the right hand pilot's seat, stated that the "tearing, shearing" noise emanated from a point forward of him, lasted several seconds, and was followed by a "quivering" motion and impact. During this time both Goyette and Cramer were forced forward in their seats. Third Officer S. K. George III, seated and facing aft in compartment 3, said that there was no shock or jar prior to contacting the water, and the sound of contact was deeper than usual and was followed by a violent lurch. He was thrown backwards toward the front of the cabin. Acting Flight Engineer J. W. Morse, seated on the left side of compartment 2 facing forward, had been in the flight compartment prior to the approach and noted that the indications of the 3 airspeed instruments of the pilot, co-pilot and navigator corresponded.