NZ4031

On April 13, 1945 at 06:20 AM, NZ4031 experienced a crash involving Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Funafuti All Tuvalu.

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

10 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 7 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 30.0%.

Crew on board: 10, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Shortly after takeoff from the Funafuti harbor, while climbing at a height of 15 feet, the aircraft stalled and hit the water surface. Seven crew members were rescued while three others were drowned with the seaplane that sank by 100 feet deep. Crew was from the 5th Squadron.

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ4031, MSN 28120.