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Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Surabaya

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGEW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Surabaya – London
MSN:
JM665
YOM:
1942
Location:
Surabaya
West Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from the Surabaya Bay, while in initial climb, the seaplane lost a float, lost height and crashed into the sea. All 25 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sandringham 2 off Buenos Aires: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1948 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
LV-AAP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rosario – Buenos Aires
MSN:
SH-02C
Flight number:
343
Location:
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires City
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The approach to Buenos Aires harbor was completed in foggy conditions. The seaplane hit the water surface and crashed in the River Plate. Six passengers were injured while 18 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, two survivors died from their injuries.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland V in Singapore

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1948 at 0918 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
NJ276
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Singapore - Singapore
Location:
Singapore-Seletar
Singapore
Country:
Singapore
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight in Singapore-Seletar Airport. Just after liftoff, an engine was cut by the instructor. The aircraft stalled and bounced, causing the tail to separate. The seaplane crashed and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland V off Enniskillen

Date & Time: May 31, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
SZ574
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Enniskillen - Enniskillen
Location:
Enniskillen
Fermanagh
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During takeoff from Lough Erne off Enniskillen, the seaplane hit several waves in strong winds. The departure was interrupted and the aircraft came to rest. There were no casualties but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III in Brightstone Down: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1947 at 0805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGHW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hythe – Poole
YOM:
1943
Location:
Brightstone Down
Isle of Wight
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height in poor weather conditions, the seaplane hit the slope of a hill and crashed in Brightstone Down, Isle of Wight. A crew member was killed, three others were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of flying into high ground in conditions of low cloud and poor visibility . This must be attributed to navigational errors by the pilot.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Southend: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
DV976
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
During a training sortie, the engine number three failed. The captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to ditch the aircraft when the same engine caught fire. Shortly later, the engine detached and the seaplane hit the water surface at high speed, overturned and came to rest off Southend. Six crew members were injured while the captain and all three passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the engine failure was not determined with certainty. However, the absence of an experienced copilot was considered as a contributory factor as the workload caused by an emergency situation was too heavy for the sole captain.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland V off Inishtrahull Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
PP113
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Inishtrahull Island
Ulster
Country:
Ireland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an anti-submarine attack simulation of the HMS Sentinal. While cruising at low height, the seaplane hit the water surface, exploded and crashed about 32 km north of the Inishtrahull Island, off Donegal County. Five crew members were rescued while seven others were killed. For unknown reason, the pilot was flying at a too low altitude to complete the exercise. Crew from the 201st Squadron.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland V off Hong Kong

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
PP132
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Hong Kong-Kai Tak
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing in the Kowloon Bay near the Kai Tak Airport, the airplane failed to stop and hit the shore. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland V off Seletar: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
PP103
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Singapore-Seletar
Singapore
Country:
Singapore
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Singapore-Seletar Airport, while climbing to a height of some 200 feet, both left engines lost power. Heavily loaded and at low speed, the airplane stalled and crashed into the Seletar River. Thirteen occupants were killed while eight others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Poor coordination by the crew led the flight engineer to inadvertently reduce power on both left engines during the initial climb, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Poole

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGEV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
YOM:
1942
Location:
Poole
Dorset
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the seaplane landed hard off Poole. There were no casualties among the 20 occupants but the aircraft christened 'Hailsham' was considered as damaged beyond repair.
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