Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 27 November 1938
Aircraft Type: Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat Mk I
Owner/operator: Imperial Airways
Registration Number: G-AETW
Location: Lake Habbaniyah –
ÿ Iraq
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants:
Component Affected: Flying boat engineFlying boat engine
Category: Accident
A flying boat, the Calpurnia, crashed during a sandstorm at night due to excessive engine power, resulting in damage to the water.A flying boat, the Calpurnia, crashed during a sandstorm at night due to excessive engine power, resulting in damage to the water.
Description
Crashed during sandstorm at night. The captain descended very low in the darkness and bad weather in order to fix his position by ground observation. The flying boat, named “Calpurnia”, struck the water with the engines running at full power.
Primary Cause
Excessive engine power during a sandstorm.Excessive engine power during a sandstorm.Share on:
