Samoan Clipper was one of ten Pan American Airways Sikorsky S-42 flying boats.

The aircraft was carrying only airmail and express freight; no passengers were aboard.

The aircraft developed an oil leak shortly after taking off from Pago Pago harbor, and the crew decided to return to port.

However, the S-42, fully loaded with fuel, was too heavy to land safely in the limited space of the harbor, so the crew elected to dump fuel before landing.

While fuel dumping was in progress, there was a fire and explosion which destroyed the aircraft, killing all aboard.