View source for Florida Commuter Airlines Flight 65

{{Short description|Passenger aircraft that crashed in 1980}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
|Crash image= DC-3landingLodi (7594055090).jpg
|Image caption= A Douglas DC-3 similar to the accident aircraft 
|Date= September 12, 1980 
|Type= Cause undetermined<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>
|occurrence_type= Accident
|Site=[[Atlantic Ocean]] near [[West End, Grand Bahama|West End Settlement]], [[Grand Bahama Island]], [[Bahamas]]
|coordinates = {{coord|26|17|45|N|79|27|26|W|type:event|display = inline,title}}
|Injuries=
|aircraft_type=[[Douglas DC-3|Douglas DC-3A]]
|Origin=[[Palm Beach International Airport]], [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]], [[Florida]], [[United States]] 
|Destination=[[Grand Bahama International Airport]], [[Freeport, Bahamas|Freeport]], Bahamas
|Operator=[[Florida Commuter Airlines]]
|tail_number=N75KW
|Occupants=34
|Passengers=30
|Crew=4
|Fatalities=34
|Survivors=0
}}

On September 12, 1980, '''Florida Commuter Airlines  Flight 65''', operating from [[West Palm Beach, Florida]] to [[Freeport, Bahamas]], crashed into the [[Atlantic Ocean]] near West End Settlement on [[Grand Bahama Island]]. The [[Douglas DC-3A]] used on the flight was not recovered and all 34 persons on board were killed.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/><ref name=iwasscared>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PwAtAAAAIBAJ&pg=2107%2C2807090 |title="I Was Scared": Six Friends Die In Plane Crash |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=September 15, 1980 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128692307/ Clipping at] [[Newspapers.com]].</ref><ref name=flighttofreeporth>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OwAtAAAAIBAJ&pg=2557%2C1422448 |title=Flight to Freeport Crashes; 34 Dead |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |pages=A1, A24 |date=September 14, 1980 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128692849/ Clipping] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>  

Investigators were unable to determine the cause of the crash, but determined that factors likely contributing to the crash included flight into a thunderstorm, unreliable instruments due to discrepancies in the [[pitot-static system]], and lack of proper operational oversight by airline management.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report">{{cite book |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8105.pdf |title=Florida Commuter Airlines, Inc. Douglas DC-3, N75KW, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas, September 12, 1980 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |id=NTSB-AAR-81-5 |date=March 20, 1981 |access-date=December 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330235901/http://ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8105.pdf |archive-date=March 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} - [https://www.ntsb.gov:443/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8105.pdf New URL] - [https://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR81-05.pdf Copy at] [[Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]].</ref>

==Flight information==
Florida Commuter Airlines Flight 65 was a scheduled passenger flight from [[Palm Beach International Airport]] in [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]], [[Florida]] to [[Grand Bahama International Airport]] in [[Freeport, Bahamas]].<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>{{rp|1}}The flight was operated using a [[Douglas DC-3A]] ([[Aircraft registration|registration number]] ''N75KW''). The aircraft had not been flown for about five weeks prior to the accident, and the [[pitot tube]]s were left uncovered during that period.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>{{rp|6}}

The flight was operated by Captain William "Bill" Selva Jr. (44), and First Officer Diana Leonard (25).  The captain was described as an excellent pilot and very familiar with the route; the first officer had experience on the route and with flying the DC-3.<ref name=allbut2ofvictims/>  Two flight attendants and 30 passengers were also on board.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>{{rp|1}}

A passenger had initially booked the flight for 13 friends and colleagues<ref name=mysterycrash/><ref name=jodi>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OwAtAAAAIBAJ&pg=5071%2C1410341 |title=Jodi's the Only One Left Now |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=September 14, 1980 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128692931/ Clipping of first] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128693074/ second page], at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> on the airline's much smaller [[Piper PA-31 Navajo|Piper Navajo]], paying $400 for the trip. As the Navajo seats a maximum of 7 passengers, the airline decided to use the larger DC-3 aircraft.  In order to fill the excess seats, the airline informally sold tickets for as low as $18 to airline business partners.<ref name=iwasscared/> This resulted in large numbers of passengers who were acquaintances.<ref name=crashvictimburied>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PQAtAAAAIBAJ&dq=jack-levenson&pg=1442%2C3194156 |title=Crash Victim Buried Amid Rain, Grief |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=September 16, 1980 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128693226/ Clipping of first] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128693248/ of second page] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref><ref name=threevictims>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OwAtAAAAIBAJ&pg=1104%2C1588152 |title=Three Victims Worked, Bowled, Died Together |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=September 14, 1980 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128693385/ Clipping] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>

==Accident==

Flight 65 was originally scheduled to depart at 19:30 [[Eastern Daylight Time]].{{efn|name="NTSB Time"|All times in the NTSB's final report are given in Eastern Daylight Time.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>{{rp|1}}}}  At 19:40, Flight 65 attempted to depart, but the pilots aborted the takeoff because they had no airspeed indication.  Passengers were deplaned.  Maintenance determined that [[mud dauber]] nests were blocking the [[pitot tube]] openings for the plane's [[pitot-static system]] (which is used to measure airspeed).  Maintenance cleared the nests, and a high speed taxi run verified the fix.  Passengers reboarded, and the plane departed West Palm Beach at approximately 20:35.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>{{rp|3}}

At 20:49, Flight 65 flew beyond the range of Miami radar.  At 20:55, Flight 65 made contact with [[air traffic controller#Approach and terminal control|approach controller]]s at Freeport. At 20:58, the approach controller cleared Flight 65 to descend to 1,400 feet, and the first officer acknowledged the transmission.  That was the last communication from the plane.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>{{rp|4}} 

The plane had no radar and no way to know how bad the weather was ahead of them. The control tower tried to radio the plane at 21:15, but received no response.<ref name=allbut2ofvictims>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OwAtAAAAIBAJ&dq=florida-commuter-airlines&pg=2783%2C1412328 |title=All but 2 of Victims Lived in PB County |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=September 14, 1980 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128692508/ Clipping of first page] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128692712/ of second page] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> At 22:43 a [[United States Coast Guard]] [[C-131]] reached the area and spotted debris and bodies floating in the water.  There were heavy thunderstorms in the area.  16 bodies were recovered prior to the termination of the search on September 15, 1980.  There were initial reports that some of the bodies were wearing life jackets, but later reports from the US Coast Guard indicated none of the recovered passengers were wearing life jackets.<ref name=mysterycrash>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19800917&id=KmdQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6450,343786 |title=Mystery Crash Did People Aboard The Airplane Have Any Idea They Were About To Die?  |newspaper=St. Petersburg, Evening Independent |date=September 17, 1980}}</ref>

Eyewitness accounts state that the plane was flying low and plunged into the ocean shortly after passing through a cloud.<ref name=mysterycrash/>

== Investigation ==
The crash was investigated by the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] (NTSB).

Wreckage from the aircraft was not recovered, except for seat cushions and plywood [[Bulkhead (partition)|bulkheads]] found floating near the accident site.  Regulations at the time did not require [[flight recorder]]s to be installed on the aircraft, and no cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder was installed.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>{{rp|9}}  Due to lack of evidence, the NTSB was unable to determine the probable cause of the accident.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>{{rp|1}}  

However, the NTSB did identify factors which may have contributed to the crash.  Such factors included "known thunderstorm activities and turbulence, preexisting discrepancies in the [[pitot-static system]] of the aircraft and their effect on the reliability of the [[flight instruments]], and lack of operational control exercised by the airline's management."  The originally scheduled pilot was unable to fly and the replacement pilot informed flight operations for [[Florida Commuter Airlines]] that he was not qualified to operate Part 135{{efn|name="Part 135"|{{CodeFedReg|14|135}} (known as Part 135<ref name="Title 14 Overview">{{cite web|title=Overview — Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)|url=https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/amt_handbook/media/FAA-8083-30_Ch12.pdf|work=FAA.gov|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|accessdate=December 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021130116/http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/amt_handbook/media/FAA-8083-30_Ch12.pdf|archive-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{rp|3}}) governs commercial operations of aircraft in the United States.  Part 135 operations have more detailed and strict operational requirements than Part 91 private pilot operations.  Both the pilot and operating entity must be Part 135 certified during any Part 135 commercial operations.<ref name="Whitfield 91-135 differences">{{cite web |url=http://www.whitfieldlaw.com/media/cms/Part_91_2C228839A9BFD.pdf |title=Part 91 and 135 Operations: An Important Difference |last=Reynolds |first=Kevin M. |publisher=Whitfield & Eddy, PLC |accessdate=December 27, 2017 |archive-date=May 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508162535/http://www.whitfieldlaw.com/media/cms/Part_91_2C228839A9BFD.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} flights since he was overdue for a 6-month instrument check. The Director of Operations assured the replacement pilot that the flight was to be conducted under Part 91{{efn|name="Part 91"|{{CodeFedReg|14|91}} (known as Part 91<ref name="Title 14 Overview"/>{{rp|3}}) governs private operations of aircraft in the United States.  With few exceptions, any commercial operation of an aircraft exceeds Part 91 and must meet more stringent Part 135 requirements.<ref name="Whitfield 91-135 differences"/>}} and he was not required to have a current 6-month instrument check. The pilot then agreed to fly a Part 91 flight.<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>

The NTSB determined that the method used to clear the pitot tubes was an "...improper maintenance procedure"<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/> and may have contributed to the crash.  The chief mechanic, Sam DeThomas, used a small screwdriver and a coat hanger instead of the required procedure to remove the mud dauber nest.  DeThomas said the reason he didn't follow the proper procedure (which required disconnecting instruments from the panel and blowing compressed air through the pitot tubes) was passenger impatience. DeThomas told investigators that "I had the problem of people screaming that they wanted to get back on the airplane – not get back on the airplane, but they wanted to go."<ref name=aircrashproben>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1_4sAAAAIBAJ&dq=crash%20bahamas%20florida%20commuter&pg=2682%2C5360440 |title=Air Crash Probe Set by Board |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=February 17, 1981 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128694497/ Clipping] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>

During the investigation, investigators received "specific allegations" of the possibility of sabotage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f_NdAAAAIBAJ&pg=1033%2C2368768 |title=Sabotage Now Suspected In Commuter Plane Crash |newspaper=Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA) |date=September 15, 1980 |accessdate=December 27, 2017}}</ref> However, in its final report, the NTSB noted "''Sabotage, or foul play, has been discounted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and has not been considered in this evaluation''".<ref name="NTSB AAR-81-05 Final Report"/>{{rp|13}}

== Aftermath ==
A committee called the ''Raise the Plane Committee'' made plans to locate the aircraft and recover it from an estimated depth of 1800 feet.  The recovery effort was abandoned after the committee was unable to secure enough money to locate the plane.<ref name=raisetheplane>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KgAtAAAAIBAJ&dq=florida-commuter-airlines%2034&pg=6411%2C959434 |title='Raise the Plane' Committee Outlines Recovery Plans |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=September 24, 1980 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128694664/ Clipping] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>

The Airline was insured by Aviation Insurance Co., a representative of [[Lloyd's of London]].  Coverage included aircraft liability, property damage, bodily injury to passengers, and damage to passenger's property.<ref name=crashprobeextended>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PgAtAAAAIBAJ&dq=crash%20bahamas%20kruger&pg=3303%2C3638942 |title=Crash Probe Is Extended To Bahamas |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=February 17, 1981 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128697654/ Clipping] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> Several of the passenger's families sued the airline,   but later settled for $35,000 per passenger.  The mother of one of those killed later stated that "I feel badly about it, but we couldn't go through any more. Answering all those questions... They (attorneys for the insurance company) made us feel like she was someone who rented a room from us.  I cannot tell you what she meant to me.  A beautiful young girl walked out the door and was brutally murdered."<ref name=crashlawsuit>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TE4tAAAAIBAJ&dq=crash%20bahamas%20florida%20commuter&pg=4573%2C4536018 |title=Crash Victims' Relatives Suing |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=March 31, 1981 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128697730/ Clipping] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref><ref name=lawsuitsettle>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z5VUAAAAIBAJ&pg=2613%2C677480 |title=11 Lawsuits Settled in Bahamas Air Crash |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=October 13, 1982 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128697849/ Clipping of first page] and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128697884/ complete article] at [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
{{NTSB}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1980}}

[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 1980]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the Bahamas]]
[[Category:Florida Commuter Airlines accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:1980 in the Bahamas]]
[[Category:September 1980 in the United States]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-3]]