Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Port of Spain

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
04482
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
484
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After one hour and fifteen minutes of flight during a five hour engine run-in on the morning of 2 January 1943, the starboard engine lost power. This was indicated by decrease in RPM and loss of fuel pressure, followed by a drop in oil pressure. The flight engineer was unable to maintain fuel pressure by use wof wobble pump and crew feathered starboard engine propeller and stopped engine. Fuel supply was shut off during time propeller was feathering. Indications show that fuel pump line gave way before entering fuel pump or after leaving pump. In either case the action of wobble pump forced gas into accessory section. This gas undoubtly came in contact with exhaust collector ring and caused fire. Since this plane had airplane change #70 incorporated during engine change; crew was unable to make an attempt to put fire out. From C.O statement: After oil pressure had dropped and engines RPMs and manifold pressure fell off, the pilot immediately feathered the starboard engine. At this point co-pilot noticed the starboard engine was on fire. This fire spread rapidly and burned off all fabric on the starboard wing as well as the fabric on the rudder and elevators, thereby preventing successful single engine operation. With full power on the port engine the rate of decent could not be reduced below 500 feet per minute. The pilot continued to maintain control but at abut 150 feet the starboard engine fell off the wing. Floats were lowered and a landing at sea was made. All personnel aboard escaped in rubber boats and were picked up by a US Coast Guard Cutter shortly thereafter. After the plane was abandoned it continued to burn and later sank.
Crew (VP-53):
Ap1cWilliam E. Edwards, pilot,
Ap1c Granville C. Crumpler,
Ens Harry W. Wolfarth,
Amm1c Joseph O. McCadden,
Amm2c William L. Barnes,
Amm2c Michael Haloostock,
Rm3c William Moore,
Rm3c Carl D. Buchanon,
William A. Cooper.
Source: https://www.vpnavy.org/vp53_mishap.html
Probable cause:
Failure and fire of the right engine in flight.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-10-CO Liberator near Cumuto

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-23882
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
677
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Piarco Airport, the airplane lost height and crashed near Cumuto, some 13 km east of the airfield. There were no casualties.

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:
Operator:
Registration:
PJ-AIP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Willemstad – Port of Spain – Paramaribo
MSN:
1410
YOM:
1938
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after takeoff from Port of Spain-Piarco Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located few km from the airport. The airplane named 'Parkiet' was destroyed upon impact and all 13 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:
Operator:
Registration:
41-7420
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7420
YOM:
1941
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:
Operator:
Registration:
37-481
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2481
YOM:
1937
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:
Operator:
Registration:
2399
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
214
YOM:
1941
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.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo of Port of Spain: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
37-580
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
2580
YOM:
1937
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Gulf of Paria off Port of Spain. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo at Waller AFB

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
37-31
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
1892
YOM:
1937
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances after takeoff from Waller AFB and came to rest one mile west from the runway. Crew fate unknown.
Crew:
Leland W. Johnson.

Crash of a Sikorsky OA-11 off Port of Spain: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-1
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4314
YOM:
1936
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The floatplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing in the Cocorite Bay off Port of Spain. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-42B in Port of Spain: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1936 at 0510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC824M
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami – Port of Spain – Natal – Rio de Janeiro – Buenos Aires
MSN:
4202
YOM:
1935
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After takeoff from the harbor of Port of Spain, while climbing at night, the captain saw a boat and initiated a sharp turn to avoid the collision. Nevertheless, the right pontoon impacted the boat and the aircraft crashed into the bay. A crew member and two passengers drowned while all 22 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft named 'Puerto Rican Clipper' was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited because of the night.