Zone
Hawaii

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Pearl Harbor

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1982 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
N21DR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honolulu - Kahului
MSN:
325
YOM:
1956
Location:
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
3550
Captain / Total hours on type:
88.00
Aircraft flight hours:
40846
Circumstances:
After liftoff, the pilot called for the landing gear to be raised. As the plane was climbing through about 100 feet agl, the pilot noted a loss of power in the right engine and saw a fire light. Ground witnesses heard a muffled explosion and saw smoke and fire trailing from the right engine. The right engine was feathered and the pilot attempted to return to the airport, but was unable to maintain altitude. The plane was ditched near the entrance of Pearl Harbor. A tear down of the right engine revealed that the top ring lands of the n° 10 and n°14 pistons were broken and the top ring was missing from each of the pistons. Also, the rear counterbalance drive intermediate gear was worn and 11 gear teeth were missing. Additionally, the rear counterbalance drive gear was worn.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power and mechanical failure during initial climb due to partial piston failure. The following findings were reported:
- Engine assembly, ring, partial failure,
- Fire, explosion,
- Dark night.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Pearl Harbour: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1981 at 1908 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Jump Hawaii Club
Registration:
N8185H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honolulu - Honolulu
MSN:
AF-381
YOM:
1953
Location:
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
375
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Honolulu Airport to take part to a local airshow, carrying 11 skydivers and one pilot. While making a turn toward the jump area, the airplane entered a spin. Four occupants parachuted before the airplane crashed in Pearl Harbour. Only one passenger survived the crash and was seriously injured while 11 other occupants were killed. The airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The airplane stalled and entered a spin after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Unqualified person operated aircraft,
- Estimated CofG 10 inches behind limit.
Final Report:

Crash of a Sikorsky XPBS-1 off Alameda NAS: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vought-Sikorsky VS-44
Operator:
Registration:
9995
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pearl Harbor - Alameda
MSN:
4400
YOM:
1937
Location:
Alameda NAS (Oakland)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Pearl Harbor, the seaplane landed into the bay off Alameda NAS when it collided with a submerged object. It overturned and came to rest in water. A flight crew member (Lt Thomas M. Roscoe) was killed while all other occupants were injured, among them Admiral Chester William Nimitz.
Probable cause:
Collision with a submerged object after landing.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Pearl Harbor: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
05018
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pearl Harbour - Pearl Harbour
MSN:
0347
YOM:
1941
Location:
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While performing a training sortie, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Pearl Harbor. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Frank H. Henderson, pilot,
Lt Robert L. Conrad,
Acom Robert Osborn,
Amm1c Bennie R. Summerlin,
Amm1c Glenn A. Jamieson,
Amm2c Phillip M. Campbell,
Amm3c Raymond E. Fehr,
Amm3c Clarence A. Stausebach,
Arm3c John J. Altieri,
Aom Orlando R. Smith.
Probable cause:
Eye witness accounts of the events leading up to the accident indicate that the plane first got into trouble at an altitude of approximately 2,500 feet. The accident was apparently caused by the pilot conducting the check. Lt Henderson, making radical settings on the control tabs, causing the plane to assume dangerous attitudes with violent maneuvers which might have partially incapacitated the pilots from maintaining proper control. The attitude assumed by the plane when the left wing fell and the nose went down and at the same time being thrown into a right skid could well have thrown the plane into an outside turn downward. The forces exerted by such a movement could well have thrown and pinned the pilots against the top of the cockpit in which position neither of them would have been able to contact the controls. This would allow the plane to fall freely in a vertical dive as it was observed to have done.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY Catalina in Pearl Harbor

Date & Time: May 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2476
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
343
YOM:
1941
Location:
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Water looped and sank in Pearl Harbor. There were only minor injuries among the crew.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina in the Pacific Ocean: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2413
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Topham - Pearl Harbor
MSN:
0229
YOM:
1941
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The floatplane failed to arrive at destination while on a flight from Topham (Canton Island) to Pearl Harbor with 11 crew members on board. Lost without trace. SAR operations stopped on 10 February 1942.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Pearl Harbor: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1942 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2452
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Palmyra Atoll - Pearl Harbor
MSN:
0288
YOM:
1941
Location:
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The floatplane suffered an accident at Palmyra Atoll after colliding with coral reef resulting in extensive damage to the hull. After being repaired, it was transferred on January 11 to Pearl Harbor. Upon landing in darkness, the airplane landed hard and sank. Three crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Ens Glen S. Stewart, pilot, †
Ens C. V. Lindsey, †
AMM1 E. E. Ruark, †
RM2 B. W. Gross,
AMM3 R. J. Redhage.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-2 Catalina in Pearl Harbor: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
0482
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pearl Harbor - Pearl Harbor
MSN:
29
YOM:
1937
Location:
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The float plane crashed against a dock in Pearl Harbour and came to rest. Two crew members were killed, threes were injured and one was unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas PD-1 Flying Boat of Pearl Harbor: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1933 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas PD-1 Flying Boat
Operator:
Registration:
A7989
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pearl Harbor - Pearl Harbor
Location:
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The float plane departed Pearl Harbor on a local training flight. En route, it suffered a structural failure and crashed one mile offshore. A crew member was injured while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following a structural failure in the tail assembly.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Pearl Harbour

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1922
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
AS-64461
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luke Field - Luke Field
Location:
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in Pearl Harbor following an engine failure. The pilot was slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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