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| Date: | Friday 21 September 1973 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Grumman HU-16E Albatross |
| Owner/operator: | United States Coast Guard |
| Registration: | 2123 |
| MSN: | G-350 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Gulf of Mexico -
 Atlantic Ocean
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | KNGP |
| KNGP |
On Sept. 21, 1973, the crew of HU-16 Albatross CG2123 answered the call of duty and responded to a search and rescue case for a man reported overboard off the merchant vessel Berlin Ester, just to the east of the Port Aransas jetties.
As the crew began dropping hand-launched MK-45 parachute flares for the HH-52 helicopter aircrew searching behind them, a fire erupted in the cabin. The aircrew attempted to ditch the aircraft, but the intense smoke of the fire incapacitated them. The aircraft made an uncontrolled descent into the water.
Sources:
US Coast Guard Aircraft Serial Numbers
Location
Images:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Aug-2024 18:46 | Anon. | Updated [Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Photo, ] |
| 23-Aug-2024 18:46 | ASN | Updated |
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