Suva - Suva

On January 27, 1945 at 10:58 AM, Suva - Suva experienced a crash involving Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Beqa Island All Fiji Islands.

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

18 people were known to be on board, 12 fatalities were recorded, 6 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 66.7%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 12, passenger fatalities: 8, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The seaplane stalled and spun into water some 10 miles south of Beqa Island, while operating with No. 6 squadron. During a post maintenance test flight, the aircraft was deliberately stalled at 5,500 feet but entered an uncontrollable spin and dove into the sea near Beqa Island. Four crew and eight passengers were killed while two crew and four passengers got clear of the wreckage before it sank and survived. Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ4022, MSN 1470.