Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 24 March 1943
Aircraft Type: Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina
Owner/operator: United States Navy
Registration Number: 08136
Location: 1,2 km S off Gavutu Island –
ÿ Solomon Islands
Phase of Flight: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9
Component Affected: EnginesEngines
Category: Accident
A Catalina 08136 aircraft experienced a catastrophic landing during a combat zone flight back to Luganville Seaplane Base, New Hebrides. Due to a fuel tank malfunction, both engines ceased operation, resulting in a forced landing with a violent impact. The aircraft spun, causing significant damage to the port wing and subsequent loss of the starboard wing, leading to sinking in 60 feet of water.A Catalina 08136 aircraft experienced a catastrophic landing during a combat zone flight back to Luganville Seaplane Base, New Hebrides. Due to a fuel tank malfunction, both engines ceased operation, resulting in a forced landing with a violent impact. The aircraft spun, causing significant damage to the port wing and subsequent loss of the starboard wing, leading to sinking in 60 feet of water.
Description
The crew of Catalina 08136 was being relieved from a combat zone and was flying back to their base at Luganville Seaplane Base, New Hebrides (now Vanuatu). After zooming the base at Gavutu after takeoff, the airplane pulled up in a sharp climb. Suddenly both engines stopped dead. At the steep angle, water residing in the fuel tanks had been sucked into the carburettors. A forced landing was carried out during which the port wing float struck violently, cart wheeling the plane and breaking off the port wing. The Catalina spun around again and shed the starboard wing also, finally sinking in 60 feet of water.
Primary Cause
Fuel tank malfunction leading to engine failure.Fuel tank malfunction leading to engine failure.Share on:
