Consolidated PBY Catalina

Aeroservicio Parragué - ASPAR

Operator:

Registration:

CC-CCS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Región Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo

MSN:

2043

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

Tanker 34

Location:

Lake Gutierrez

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Engaged in a fire fighting mission, Tanker 34 was completing a scoop procedure in Lake Gutierrez when it struck an obstacle floating on water, maybe a tree trunk. The airplane came to rest and sak. A pilot was rescued while the second was killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Northport: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1985 at 1538 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aries Aire

Registration:

N2886D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2104

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

Tanker 49

Location:

Northport

Washington

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

17000

Aircraft flight hours:

4415

Circumstances:

Water bomber aircraft landed on lake with dump doors partially open during landing phase of water pickup run. Mechanically operated dump door locks were applied before dump doors were closed. Pilot controlled dump doors from pilots control wheel, copilot operated door locks by separate control independent of the dump doors. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: miscellaneous/other
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
1. (c) checklist - not followed - pilot in command
2. (c) fatigue (chronic) - pilot in command
3. (f) in-flight planning/decision - inadvertent - pilot in command
4. (f) pressure - pilot in command
5. (f) psychological condition - pilot in command
6. (c) improper use of equipment/aircraft - pilot in command
7. (c) improper use of procedure - company/operator management

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Lewistown: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1985 at 0844 LT

Type of aircraft:

Diversified Drilling Muds

Operator:

Registration:

N84857

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Lewistown - Reno

MSN:

1522

YOM:

1944

Location:

Lewistown

Montana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6838

Captain / Total hours on type:

19.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1481

Circumstances:

During taxi to takeoff the brakes failed. The pilot attempted to ground loop the aircraft. The aircraft rolled down a hill and collided with a gully. The pilot was fatally injured. During preflight the copilot inadvertently added hydraulic fluid in the alcohol tank. The hydraulic pump cavitated. The pilot failed to use the hydraulic emergency hand pump or the a.c. Electric pump.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: miscellaneous/other
Phase of operation: standing - pre-flight
Findings
1. (f) fluid, hydraulic - inadequate
2. (c) aircraft preflight - inadequate - pilot in command
3. (f) acft/equip inadequate, visual restriction - copilot/second pilot
4. (f) hydraulic system, reservoir - low level
5. (c) aircraft service - improper - copilot/second pilot
6. (f) window, inspection/observation - blocked (partial)
7. (f) crew/group coordination - poor - pilot in command
8. (f) anti-ice/deice system, propeller - unmarked
9. (c) supervision - poor - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: taxi - to takeoff
Findings
10. Hydraulic system, pump - failure, total
11. Brakes (normal) - selected - pilot in command
12. (c) hydraulic system - pressure too low
13. (c) brakes (emergency) - not used - pilot in command
14. (c) safety system (other) - not engaged
15. (c) emergency procedure - not followed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: loss of control - on ground/water
Phase of operation: taxi - to takeoff
Findings
16. Ground loop/swerve - attempted - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #4: on ground/water encounter with terrain/water
Phase of operation: other
Findings
17. Terrain condition - ditch

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Port Isabel: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1984 at 0803 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N16KL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Aerial photography

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Harlingen - Harlingen

MSN:

2068

YOM:

1944

Location:

Port Isabel

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8695

Captain / Total hours on type:

70.00

Aircraft flight hours:

6457

Circumstances:

Aerial photos were being taken of the mishap aircraft. Mission called for a simulated water landing (actual water landing prohibited) by flying as close as possible to water. Copilot at controls descended aircraft to about 6 feet, then gradually reduced clearance to 6-12 inches above water, airspeed 105 mph. Copilot inadvertently allowed aircraft to touch water. On touchdown, aircraft decelerated violently and broke up, ejecting several of the occupants and coming to rest inverted. Examination of aerial photos shows aircraft hull at touchdown was slightly nose down vice normal landing attitude; water contact made at location of nose landing gear doors. Photos show outward rupturing of forward hull structure, nose gear doors missing. Hull at rear of step showed two parallel, 3-feet long by 2-in wide, fore-to-aft and outboard-to-inboard penetrations. Floor of shallow lagoon known to have scattered debris from petroleum explorations; however, no positive determination of aircraft contact with submerged object could be made. Seven occupants were killed while three others were injured.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: maneuvering
Findings
1. (f) terrain condition - water, glassy
2. (c) clearance - misjudged - copilot/second pilot
3. (c) supervision - inadequate - pilot in command
4. (c) door, landing gear - overload
5. (c) door, landing gear - separation

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Sioux Lookout

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

The Flying Fireman

Registration:

C-GFFJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sioux Lookout - Sioux Lookout

MSN:

2067

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

Tanker 9

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in the region of Sioux Lookout and was completing a scooping maneuver on Lake Jackson when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Alverca: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Philippe Cousteau

Registration:

N101CS

Flight Phase:

Survivors:

Site:

Estremadura - Lisbon District

MSN:

2141

YOM:

1944

Location:

Lisbon-Alverca

Country:

Portugal

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The seaplane christened 'La Calypso volante' was returning to Lisbon following a scientific mission. Off Alverca, the seaplane landed hard on the Tagus, causing the left wing to separate and the left engine to struck the cockpit. The pilot Philippe Cousteau, son of the French explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, was killed. Seven other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the speed upon landing was slightly too high.

Crash of a Consolidated CA-10A Catalina off Santo Antônio do Içá: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

6550

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1681

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while trying to land off Santo Antônio do Içá, Amazonas. All 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina in Harlingen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1975 at 1310 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N15KL

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Harlingen - Harlingen

MSN:

2070

YOM:

1944

Location:

Harlingen-Valley Intl

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2200

Circumstances:

Following several technical modifications, among them the replacement of the right engine carburetor, the crew was in charge to conduct a post maintenance test flight. After takeoff, the right engine failed. The right propeller was not feathered and the aircraft stalled and crashed. Three crew members were killed while two others were injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine after takeoff for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew failed to follow the approved procedures,
- The crew failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Propeller unfeathered, gear down.

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Wikieup: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1975 at 2130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Operator:

Registration:

N5588W

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Las Vegas - El Paso

MSN:

920

YOM:

1941

Location:

Wikieup

Arizona

Country:

Region: