Date & Time:
Apr 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-36
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cairns - Cairns
MSN:
1084
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
6
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful night anti-submarine mission off the Australian coast, the crew was returning to his base after a 23 hours and 23 minutes flight. On approach to Cairns' harbor, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea. Six crew members were killed while two others were rescued. The aircraft was lost but later converted to ground training aid.
Probable cause:
It appears that the loss of control on approach was caused by a double engine failure due to a fuel exhaustion.
