Lisbon – Funchal

On November 9, 1958 at 01:21 PM, Lisbon – Funchal experienced a crash involving Martin PBM Mariner, operated by Aero Topografica, with the event recorded near Atlantic Ocean All World.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

36 people were known to be on board, 36 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 30, passenger fatalities: 30, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The airplane was schedule to leave Lisbon at 0700LT but the departure was postponed to midday due to poor weather conditions. It finally left Lisbon-Cabo Ruivo Seaplane Base at 1223LT bound for Funchal, Madeira Island. Shortly after takeoff, the crew was cleared to climb to 8,000 feet and 17 minutes later, the pilot requested the permission to descent to 6,000 feet. At 1321LT, the captain was able to send a brief message 'QUG emergency'. As nothing further was heard from the crew, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 36 occupants was found. The brevity of the message "QUG EMERGENCY" in which QUG means in the international code 'I am forced to alight immediately' and the absence of an answer to questions, show that there was an abnormal situation on board. The signal "QUG" may also mean, "I will be forced to alight at. . . ' when followed by the indication of the place where the alighting will probably take place.

Aircraft reference details include registration CS-THB, MSN 45409, year of manufacture 1944.