Incident Overview
Date: Monday 19 January 1942
Aircraft Type: Consolidated Catalina I (PBY-5)
Owner/operator: Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: Z2148
Location: South Yell, Shetland Islands –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 10
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Accident
A Catalina aircraft carrying a crew was dispatched to Norway to search for and attack the German battleship Tirpitz. The pilot experienced disorientation and crashed, resulting in the deaths of seven crew members and three survivors.A Catalina aircraft carrying a crew was dispatched to Norway to search for and attack the German battleship Tirpitz. The pilot experienced disorientation and crashed, resulting in the deaths of seven crew members and three survivors.
Description
The crew of the Catalina had been briefed to carry out a sortie over the coast of Norway in order to locate the Kriegsmarine battleship “Tirpitz”, and to bomb the ship. The pilot became disoriented and the plane crashed, killing 7 crew members while three survived.
Primary Cause
Pilot disorientation and loss of control during a mission.Pilot disorientation and loss of control during a mission.Share on:
