Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 20 June 1945
Aircraft Type: Boeing-Canada PB2B-1 Catalina
Owner/operator: Royal Australian Air Force – RAAF
Registration Number: A24-206
Location: East Arm, Darwin, NT –
ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: Standing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Component Affected: The Catalina aircraft’s structure and systems, specifically the depth charges.The Catalina aircraft’s structure and systems, specifically the depth charges.
Category: Other
A Catalina aircraft, while refueling and loaded with depth charges, experienced a catastrophic failure during a test flight, resulting in the sinking of the aircraft and the unintended detonation of the remaining depth charges.A Catalina aircraft, while refueling and loaded with depth charges, experienced a catastrophic failure during a test flight, resulting in the sinking of the aircraft and the unintended detonation of the remaining depth charges.
Description
The Catalina was tethered to a buoy at the southern anchorage at East Arm, Darwin after a test flight by. Whilst refueling and being loaded with multiple 250 lb depth charges, one was accidently released, falling through a timber barge and sinking to it pre-set ignition depth, which went off, causing the Catalina to sink, resulting in the other wing mounted depth charges to go off when the aircraft sank.
Source of Information
http://www.adf-serials.com, http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/pby/A24-206.htmlhttp://www.adf-serials.com, http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/pby/A24-206.htmlPrimary Cause
Release of a depth charge during refueling and loading, leading to a sinking of the aircraft.Release of a depth charge during refueling and loading, leading to a sinking of the aircraft.Share on:
