HI-328 ¦ MIA 05.02.1981
Lockheed C-121B (L.749) Constellation (c/n 2607)
Aérolineas Argo
Miami-International (MIA/KMIA)
05 February 1981
Built for the USAF as 48-0615 and delivered in 1949 as a C-121A, this Constellation eventually became a VC-121B, and a C-121B when sold to the civil market in 1968. Registered as N9466 and flying as a sprayer with Christler Flying Service for almost ten years, the Connie was eventually converted to a freighter and acquired by Santo Domingo-based Aérolineas Argo in May 1979.
Now registered as HI-328, it became a regular at Miami, hauling freight from and to the Dominican Republic at least once per week. Here HI-328 is seen taxiing up to runway 12 for an evening departure after arriving earlier in the day, and also showing Argo's elegant red streak livery.
HI-328's life with Argo, unfortunately, was rather short, as nine months after this photo was taken it crashed into the sea about 2 miles from the runway at St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, after doing a 360 turn to avoid other traffic. The final report concluded a misjudgment of altitude and clearance by the PiC. The three crew members did not survive the crash.
HI-328 ¦ MIA 05.02.1981
Lockheed C-121B (L.749) Constellation (c/n 2607)
Aérolineas Argo
Miami-International (MIA/KMIA)
05 February 1981
Built for the USAF as 48-0615 and delivered in 1949 as a C-121A, this Constellation eventually became a VC-121B, and a C-121B when sold to the civil market in 1968. Registered as N9466 and flying as a sprayer with Christler Flying Service for almost ten years, the Connie was eventually converted to a freighter and acquired by Santo Domingo-based Aérolineas Argo in May 1979.
Now registered as HI-328, it became a regular at Miami, hauling freight from and to the Dominican Republic at least once per week. Here HI-328 is seen taxiing up to runway 12 for an evening departure after arriving earlier in the day, and also showing Argo's elegant red streak livery.
HI-328's life with Argo, unfortunately, was rather short, as nine months after this photo was taken it crashed into the sea about 2 miles from the runway at St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, after doing a 360 turn to avoid other traffic. The final report concluded a misjudgment of altitude and clearance by the PiC. The three crew members did not survive the crash.