Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 15 January 1942
Aircraft Type: Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina
Owner/operator: Royal Australian Air Force – RAAF
Registration Number: A24-11
Location: Kavieng Harbour –
ÿ Papua New Guinea
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9
Component Affected: Catalina flying boat (A24-11)Catalina flying boat (A24-11)
Category: Accident
A Catalina flying boat carrying a full fuel load and a 4000 lb bomb was lost during takeoff from Kavieng Harbour. One boat struck a rogue wave near the harbour’s mouth, resulting in hull damage and wing breakage, leading to the deaths of all nine occupants.A Catalina flying boat carrying a full fuel load and a 4000 lb bomb was lost during takeoff from Kavieng Harbour. One boat struck a rogue wave near the harbour’s mouth, resulting in hull damage and wing breakage, leading to the deaths of all nine occupants.
Description
Three RAAF Catalina flying boats were preparing for takeoff from Kavieng Harbour with a full fuel load and with a 4000 lb bomb load. One of the overloaded Catalinas, A24-11, hit a “rogue” wave towards the end of its run near the mouth of the harbour, split the hull and the wings broke off spilling fuel. All nine aboard were killed.
Primary Cause
Overloading of the Catalina flying boat with a large bomb load.Overloading of the Catalina flying boat with a large bomb load.Share on:
