ASN Aircraft accident Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina 08051 Vella Lavella
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Status:
Date:Saturday 17 July 1943
Time:01:00
Type:Silhouette image of generic CAT model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina
Operator:United States Navy
Registration: 08051
MSN:
First flight:
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 13
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 13
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:1,6 km (1 mls) NW off Vella Lavella (   Solomon Islands)
Phase: Landing (LDG)
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Henderson Field (HIR/AGGH), Solomon Islands
Destination airport:Henderson Field (HIR/AGGH), Solomon Islands
Narrative:
A US Navy Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina took off from Henderson Field at 19:00 on July 16 for a 12 hour anti shipping search and patrol in the Shortland-Vella Lavella area.

At 01:00 on July 17 the port engine caught fire and the plane was forced to land in the water about one mile from the NW off Vella Lavella Island. On the second bounce during landing the port engine broke loose from the wing and tore through the side of the navigation compartment.
The crew evacuated and one crew member fired tracer shots from a machine gun into the bottom of the burning plane. The Catalina sank.

Sources:
» VP-54 Mishap List (vpnavy.com)


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This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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