Avalon – Wilmington

On November 2, 1933 at 12:00 AM, Avalon – Wilmington experienced a crash involving Douglas Dolphin, operated by Wilmington-Catalina Airlines, with the event recorded near Avalon (Catalina Island) California.

The flight was categorized as positioning and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 66.7%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

Shortly after takeoff from Avalon's harbor, while climbing, the float plane crashed into the sea for unknown reasons. The captain Walter L. Seiler was seriously injured while the copilot George R. Baker and the passenger were killed. The crew was positioning to Wilmington to complete the first commercial flight of the day to the Catalina Island. Crew: Walter L. Seiler, pilot, George R. Baker, copilot. Passenger: Elliott McFarlan Moore, General Manager of Wilmington-Catalina Airlines.

Aircraft reference details include registration NC12212, MSN 1002, year of manufacture 1931.