Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner in Trinidad

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
2-P-22
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
11319
Location:
Trinidad Island
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was supposed to deliver the airplane to Argentina. Enroute, an engine caught fire, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed on Tobago Island and was seriously damaged. There were no injuries. It was later transferred to the US for repair but was destroyed by fire and irreparable.
Probable cause:
An engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-228F in Port of Spain

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC33611
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4102
YOM:
1941
Location:
Piarco
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff at Port of Spain-Piarco Airport for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all 12 occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Martin M.130 off Port of Spain: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1945 at 2116 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin M.130
Operator:
Registration:
NC14716
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Miami – San Juan – Port of Spain – Léopoldville
MSN:
558
YOM:
1935
Flight number:
PA161
Location:
Port of Spain
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total flying hours:
7040
Captain / Total hours on type:
1560.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7034
Copilot / Total hours on type:
832
Aircraft flight hours:
20545
Circumstances:
On final approach to Port of Spain, the seaplane hit the water surface some 1,5 mile short of the touchdown zone, overturned and sank. 23 occupants were killed while seven others were injured.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was:
- First Officer Cramer’s failure to realize his proximity to the water and to correct his attitude for a normal landing and,
- the lack of adequate supervision by the Captain during the landing, resulting in the inadvertent flight into the water in excess of normal landing speed and in a nose-down attitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin PBM-3C Mariner off Trinidad: 12 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
6713
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Waller - Waller
Location:
Trinidad and Tobago
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an anti-submarine mission off the coast of Trinidad Island. The aircraft crashed into the sea off the Island in unknown circumstances, but most probably during or after an engagement with enemy submarine. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the 12 crew members based at Waller Field, Trinidad.

Crash of a Douglas C-49D in Grande Rivière: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7717
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Losey - Willer
MSN:
4142
YOM:
1941
Location:
Grande Rivière
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Losey AFB (Porto Rico) to Willer AFB, Trinidad. While approaching its destination, the aircraft hit a mountain located five miles south of Grand Rivière and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-49D near Waller AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7718
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4143
YOM:
1941
Location:
Waller AFB
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
At least one crew member was killed when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances north of Waller AFB, some 10 km east of Piarco Airport.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra in Port of Spain: 13 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1942 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
PJ-AIP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Willemstad – Port of Spain – Paramaribo
MSN:
1410
YOM:
1938
Location:
Port of Spain
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after take off from Port of Spain-Piarco Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located few km from the airport. The aircraft christened 'Parkiet' was destroyed on impact and all thirteen occupants were killed.
Crew:
P. Badings, pilot,
N. H. de Bruyn, flight engineer,
C. van Oyen, radio operator.
Passengers:
A. C. Alwart,
P. van Eeten,
O. Elmont,
K. Hakhof,
H. Kinds,
P. M. Mosterdijk,
G. E. van Notten,
W. A. Verboog,
L. A. Vijzelman,
M. Waaldijk.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. Nevertheless, the weather conditions were marginal with storm activity and turbulence at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder at Waller Field

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-7420
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7420
YOM:
1941
Location:
Waller AFB
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was on its way to Africa to be delivered to the Royal Air Force with registration FK369 when it crashed upon takeoff from Waller AFB, Trinidad & Tobago. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo near Waller AFB

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-481
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2481
YOM:
1937
Location:
Waller AFB
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Waller AFB, the twin engine airplane crashed 5 km east from the airbase. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Port of Spain: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2399
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
214
YOM:
1941
Location:
Port of Spain
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While landing at night off Port of Spain, the seaplane crashed into the Gulf of Paria and sank. Ten occupants were killed and two others were rescued. The airplane sank and was lost.
Crew (Scouting Squadron VP-31):
Lt Cmdr William W. Winika, pilot,
Lt Joseph S. Boren +10.
Probable cause:
The seaplane crashed while attempting to land at too high an airspeed.
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