Cubana de Aviación Flight 493, registration was a Douglas DC-4 en route from Miami, Florida, to Havana, Cuba, on April 25, 1951. A US Navy Beechcraft SNB-1 Kansan, BuNo 39939, was on an instrument training flight in the vicinity of Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, at the same time. The two aircraft collided in mid-air over

Key West Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...

, killing all 43 aboard both aircraft.

Flight history

Flight 493 departed Miami at 11:09 a.m. that day and was cleared to climb to 4,000 feet on a direct heading to Key West. Approximately ten minutes later, the SNB-1 took off from Key West NAS for simulated instrument training. Although the flight was not cleared to a specific altitude or heading, standard instrument training procedures were in place. At 11:49 a.m. Flight 493, heading south, and the SNB-1, heading west, collided over the Key West NAS at an estimated altitude of 4,000 feet.

Investigation

Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) investigators determined that there were no mechanical problems with either aircraft. Both were operating under visual flight rules, as the weather at the time of the crash was clear and calm. The probable cause of the accident was given by the CAA as a failure on the parts of both air crews to exercise due vigilance in looking for and avoiding conflicting traffic. The CAA also called for a review of air traffic control procedures.

External links and references

* Civil Aeronautics Boardbr>Aircraft Accident Report on the collisionArchive
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cubana De Aviacion Flight 493 Airliner accidents and incidents in Florida Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 1951 Mid-air collisions Mid-air collisions involving airliners Mid-air collisions involving military aircraft Accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-4 Accidents and incidents involving the Beechcraft Model 18

493 Year 493 ( CDXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Albinus and Eusebius (or, less frequently, year 1246 '' Ab urbe ...

Cuba–United States relations History of Key West, Florida 1951 in Florida April 1951 events in the United States

Flight history

Investigation

See also

External links and references