On January 11 , 1938 , Pan Am Flight 1 , an S-42B named '' Samoan Clipper '' ( formerly '' Pan American Clipper II '' ) , exploded near Pago Pago , American Samoa . The flying boat developed an engine problem shortly after takeoff . The pilot elected to dump fuel before making an emergency landing , but the aircraft exploded while fuel dumping was in progress . All seven crew members ( including famous aviator Captain Ed Musick ) , died in the crash
Samoan Clipper
Samoan Clipper
Sikorsky S-42