16 Jul 2019

Search for famous aviator's final resting place off American Samoa

11:18 am on 16 July 2019

An exploration vessel, Nautilus, is trying to find the wreckage of a Pan Am sea plane which went down in waters near American Samoa's Tutuila more than 80 years ago.

The expedition is aiming to locate, identify and document the wreckage of Samoan Clipper, a Pan American Airways Sikorsky flying boat that was lost off the northwest coast of Tutuila in January 1938.

Tutuila Beach, American Samoa

Tutuila Beach, American Samoa Photo: Hakeem Khaaliq

The mission will also investigate deep-sea habitats, sea-floor geology and biological communities.

If successful, the survey will determine the final resting place of pioneering aviator, Captain Edwin Musick and his six-man crew, plus investigate the wreckage for evidence of what caused the flying boat to crash.