Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Walterboro

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
N10019
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Walterboro – Charleston
MSN:
1697
YOM:
1944
Location:
Walterboro
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was to be ferried from Walterboro to Charleston, South Carolina, after a period of non-use, except one flight, of about two years. Following takeoff and two circles in the vicinity of the airport, course was set for Charleston at an altitude of about 1,000 feet. Shortly thereafter the left engine followed by the right began to surge and lose power. In the attempt to reach an open field beyond trees the aircraft stalled and crashed. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Source:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19610814-1
Probable cause:
Examination of the wreckage revealed water contamination of the fuel system of the aircraft. Evidence of water was found in the left main fuel feed line and cylinders of the left engine. The right carburetor screen was excessively corroded and a fuel sample showed pronounced evidence of water. Cylinders of the right engine revealed water. The left and right fuel selector valve screen showed no evidence of having been pulled and cleaned and there was water present in both screens. The refueling facility from which the aircraft had been refueled was examined for water but none was found. From the above evidence it was obvious that water contamination caused the power failure and that preparation of the aircraft for the flight after a prolonged period of non-use was inadequate.

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

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1961 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
CF-EMW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1742
Location:
Schefferville
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While preparing to land on Knob Lake at Schefferville, the seaplane landed hard, struck the water surface, came to rest upside down and sank. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command and an inappropriate flare.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Lake Peñuelas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
560
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Quintero - Quintero
Location:
Lake Peñuelas
Región de Valparaíso
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left Quintero Airport for a training mission in the region of Valparaiso. In unclear circumstances, the seaplane crashed into the Lake Peñuelas located about 12 km southeast of Valparaiso. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in El Refugio: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1001E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Araracuara – Villavicencio
Location:
El Refugio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in the jungle while en route from Araracuara to Villavicencio. Two crew members and four passengers were killed and seven other occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Ketchikan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1959 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
California Aircraft Company
Registration:
N64T
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Juneau - Annette Island
MSN:
2102
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ketchikan
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Juneau to Annette Island, the crew reported engine problems. The seaplane later crashed in an isolated area located in the region of Ketchikan. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated C-10A Catalina near Curralinho: 23 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1959 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
6513
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1888
YOM:
1944
Location:
Curralinho
Pará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the jungle near Curralinho, Pará. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 23 occupants were killed, among them four crew members.
Crew:
Maj Paulo Ribeiro,
Cpt Rubens Rozsa,
Qav Florival Nery de Souza,
Qmr Aguinaldo Martins Favacho.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Pozo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Pozo
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in the region of Pozo (16 miles east of San Luis Obispo) when the tanker crashed in unknown circumstances. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Arnel James Talbot Jr.,
Stuart Ashburn Kilgour.

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

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Cuban Air Force - Fuerza Aérea del Ejército de Cuba (1952-1961)
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Preston
Holguín
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed and caught fire while landing at Preston, Cuba. Both pilots and three passengers were killed. Four other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Ricardo Longueira Santana, pilot,
José Antonio Alemán Morgado, copilot.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY5-A Catalina in Belém: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
6517
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1920
YOM:
1944
Location:
Belém
Pará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed while performing a training mission, killing one of the four crew members on board.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Raiatea: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1958 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
F-AOVV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Papeete – Raiatea – Bora Bora
MSN:
296
YOM:
1941
Location:
Raiatea Island
Windward Islands
Country:
French Polynesia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total hours on type:
36.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
91
Aircraft flight hours:
2277
Circumstances:
The approach to Raiatea lagoon was performed in good weather conditions with a grey ceiling (altostratus) and several fractocumulus at 400 meters, good visibility. No wind and no waves on the sea gaves a very calm lagoon. While completing a last turn to the right to align to the landing area (seaplane base), the right wing tip struck the water surface. The airplane cartwheeled and crashed into the sea about 1,400 meters short of landing point. Eleven passengers were injured while 15 other occupants, among them all three crew members, were killed. The airplane sank by a depth of 36 meters ten minutes later.
Probable cause:
The combination of an uniformly gray sky (altostratus clouds across the region and some fractocumulus at 400 meters), the absence of wind and the absence of lines on a gray and smooth lagoon created favorable conditions for an illusion and made it difficult to assess the exact height above the water level during the most difficult operation of the flight, the water landing. The evidence indicates that no maneuver was initiated to change the nose down attitude. The pilot did not see the water. Although there was no wind, the windsock had previously stopped in a position that prompted the pilot to land facing the NW which is used once in twenty at Raiatea. In addition, the sun , even through the altrostratus could be annoying; facing the NW, the pilot had the sun three quarter from the rear. Note that during the landing opposite the NW, the lap is necessarily right to avoid overflying the city and land. Vertical visibility of the first pilot during a right turn is poorer. Finally, the slight correction of alignment by the pilot resulted the right wing striking the water at too low altitude.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Consolidated PBY Catalina