Pan Am Flight 115

Pan Am Flight 115 was a commercial flight from Paris via London and Gander to New York City. At 22:05 GMT (16:05 EDT) on February 3, 1959, the Boeing 707 was involved in one of the most significant jet upset incidents of the jet airliner age, over the North Atlantic near Newfoundland. This was one of three notable aviation incidents to occur on this date; the other two were the crash of American Airlines Flight 320 in New York City, and the death of rock and roll artists Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J.P. Richardson.

Incident

The jet, crewed by pilot-in-command Captain Waldo Lynch, Captain Samuel Peters, flight engineer George Sinski, and navigator John Laird, with 129 people on board, experienced an uncommanded and rapid descent of 29000 ft from 35000 ft.

With the autopilot engaged, the captain left the cockpit and entered the main cabin. During his absence, the autopilot disengaged and the aircraft smoothly and slowly entered a steep descending spiral. The copilot was not properly monitoring the aircraft's instruments or the progress of the flight and was unaware of the actions of the aircraft until considerable speed had been gained and altitude lost. During the rapid descent the copilot was unable to effect recovery. When the captain became aware of the unusual attitude of the aircraft he returned to the cockpit and with the aid of the other crew members was finally able to regain control of the aircraft at approximately 6000 ft; they later made an emergency landing at Gander with damaged flaps.