Suva - Suva

Shortly after take off from the Laucala Bay, off Suva, while on a night training sortie, the seaplane reached the height of 200 feet and then plunged into the bay, few hundred yards off shore. All four occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Suva - Suva

Registration

NZ4002

MSN

1334

Date

September 23, 1943 at 08:50 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Suva All Fiji Islands

Region

Oceania • Fiji Islands

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On September 23, 1943 at 08:50 PM, Suva - Suva experienced a crash involving Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Suva All Fiji Islands.

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

4 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Shortly after take off from the Laucala Bay, off Suva, while on a night training sortie, the seaplane reached the height of 200 feet and then plunged into the bay, few hundred yards off shore. All four occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ4002, MSN 1334.

Fatalities

Total

4

Crew

4

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

Shortly after take off from the Laucala Bay, off Suva, while on a night training sortie, the seaplane reached the height of 200 feet and then plunged into the bay, few hundred yards off shore. All four occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 4

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Suva - Suva

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

Oceania • Fiji Islands

Aircraft Details

Registration

NZ4002

MSN

1334

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