Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 28 June 1979
Aircraft Type: Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina
Owner/operator: Philippe Cousteau
Registration Number: N101CS
Location: off Alverca –
ÿ Portugal
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 8
Component Affected: WingWing
Category: Accident
A Catalina aircraft experienced a high-speed taxi run in the Rio Tejo River following a water landing, resulting in a nose-over incident. The aircraft’s wing separated, causing the fuselage to break and the captain’s cockpit to be damaged. A left engine broke off, penetrating the captain’s side of the cockpit.A Catalina aircraft experienced a high-speed taxi run in the Rio Tejo River following a water landing, resulting in a nose-over incident. The aircraft’s wing separated, causing the fuselage to break and the captain’s cockpit to be damaged. A left engine broke off, penetrating the captain’s side of the cockpit.
Description
The aircraft nosed over in the Rio Tejo (Tagus River) during a high speed taxi run after a water landing, to check the hull for leakage. The Catalina turned upside down, causing the fuselage to break behind the cockpit. The wing separated from the fuselage and the left engine broke off, penetrating the captain’s side of the cockpit. Philippe Cousteau, son of French explorer Jacques Cousteau, was killed in the accident. It has also been suggested that the undercarriage was down during a water landing.
Source of Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Cousteau, http://www.warbirdregistry.org/pbyregistry/pby-64071.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Cousteau, http://www.warbirdregistry.org/pbyregistry/pby-64071.htmlPrimary Cause
High-speed taxi run following a water landing, resulting in a nose-over and fuselage separation.High-speed taxi run following a water landing, resulting in a nose-over and fuselage separation.Share on:
