Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 18 August 1943
Aircraft Type: Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina
Owner/operator: Royal Australian Air Force – RAAF
Registration Number: A24-24
Location: 9 km E off Bowen, QLD –
ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 16
Component Affected: Port wing of the Catalina flying boatPort wing of the Catalina flying boat
Category: Accident
A Catalina flying boat crashed into the sea during an air to sea gunnery training exercise near Bowen, Queensland, following a run across the wave tops. The aircraft sustained damage to the port wing.A Catalina flying boat crashed into the sea during an air to sea gunnery training exercise near Bowen, Queensland, following a run across the wave tops. The aircraft sustained damage to the port wing.
Description
The Catalina flying boat took off from Bowen, QLD on an air to sea gunnery training exercise flight. After completing the firing practice, the aircraft was making a run across the wave tops over a choppy sea and it is assumed that the port wing hit the water and the aircraft crashed into the sea.
Primary Cause
Impact with the water during a run across the wave tops.Impact with the water during a run across the wave tops.Share on:
