Warbird Information Exchange

From ANN:
DC-3 Ditched In Caribbean Gooney Bird Chooses To Stay In Virgin Islands

Aero-News has learned a
Four Star Air Cargo service DC-3 ditched into the sea on Wednesday,
July 19 shortly after takeoff from Cyril E. King International
Airport in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

The aircraft, which flies a mail transport route between San
Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International and the USVI, had just taken
off enroute to Puerto Rico when it lost an engine and the crew was
forced to set it down in the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

All four souls on board -- pilot, first officer and two
passengers -- managed to board the aircraft's life raft and were
picked up by a passing vessel, which then return them to shore for
medical care. Of the three, only one suffered a minor injury, a cut
to his head. All four are residents of Puerto Rico.

"We will of course cooperate with all the authorities in
investigating this," said Richard Diamond, president and CEO of the
St. Thomas-based cargo company, to the Associated Press.

The aircraft is lying under 70 feet of water, and no decision
has been made as to the salvage of the aircraft, according to Mr.
Diamond. The US Coast Guard plans to send a team to the site to
determine if the plane poses any environmental threats, and both
the FAA and NTSB are investigating.

** Report created 7/21/2006 Record
3
*************************************

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 782T
Make/Model: DC3 Description:
DC-3, DST ( C-41, C-47, C-47A to J, AC-4
Date: 07/19/2006 Time: 1123

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
None Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
City: SAINT THOMAS
State: Country: VI

DESCRIPTION
N782T, A TOL AIR DOUGLAS DC3 ACFT, ON DEPARTURE, ONE ENGINE
FAILED, AND
ACFT DITCHED INTO THE OCEAN ONE MILE OFF THE END OF THE
RUNWAY, THE FOUR
PERSONS ON BOARD WERE RESCUED, SAINT THOMAS, U S VIRGIN
ISLANDS

INJURY DATA Total
Fatal: 0

# Crew: 2 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:

# Pass: 2 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:

# Grnd:
Fat: 0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:

WEATHER: 1130Z 14011 10SM SCT016 BKN060 29/24 3003

OTHER DATA

Departed: SAINT THOMAS,
USVI Dep
Date: Dep.
Time:
Destination: SAN JUAN,
PR
Flt Plan: VFR
Wx Briefing:
Last Radio Cont:
Last Clearance:

FAA FSDO: SAN JUAN, PR
(SO21)
Entry date: 07/20/2006
FMI: www.fourstaraircargo.com