Accident Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina N101CS,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 328572

Date:	Thursday 28 June 1979
Time:
Type:	Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina
Owner/operator:	Philippe Cousteau
Registration:	N101CS
MSN:	2141
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 8
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	off Alverca - Portugal
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Test
Departure airport:
Destination airport:

Narrative:
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.

Sources:

Wikipedia: Philippe Cousteau
The Warbirds Resource Group (warbirdregistry.org)

Location

Images:

photo (c) Luis Pina; off Alverca; June 1979