Sikorsky S-38
Safety Rating
9.8/10Total Incidents
20
Total Fatalities
40
Incident History
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Biscayne Bay, off Miami. All three crew were killed.
Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano - LAB Airlines
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties. The aircraft did not have any registration but was christened 'Nicolás Suárez'. Source & photos: http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/aeronaves/sikorsky.htm
Sociedad Argentina de Navegacion Aérea
The crew was completing a test flight from the Quilmes seaplane base when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Rio de la Plata, off Berazategui, in the southeast suburb of Buenos Aires. Four crew members were killed while two others were rescued.
Aéromaritime
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown as well.
Panair do Brasil
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown as well. The exact date of the accident remains unknown.
SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos
Christened 'Guillermo Valencia', the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Colombia.
Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano - LAB Airlines
En route from Trinidad to Todos Santos, the crew encountered problems and attempted an emergency landing in Aguas Negras, near the Rio Sécure, State of Beni. The seaplane came to rest in a muddy field. Both pilots Armando Suárez and Sergio Ríos Toro later obtained help and were able to leave. While approaching Colquiri, weather conditions deteriorated and the aircraft hit a mountain slope and was wrecked. Both pilots were injured, Sergio Ríos Toro more seriously. The aircraft did not have any registration but was christened 'El Marihui'. Source and more info: http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/aeronaves/sikorsky.htm
China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC
One hour after his departure from Shanghai, while overflying the Bay of Hangzhou, the crew encountered foggy conditions and informed his base he was returning to Shanghai. A brief message was transmitted with two audible words 'turning back'. Shortly later, the seaplane crashed in the Bay of Hangzhou, south of Shanghai. Some debris were found 10 days later and the dead body of the captain was found four months later. The passenger was a Japanese citizen. Crew: Robert H. Gast, pilot, James Frink, pilot, Ivan Carlson, radio operator.
SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos
Named 'Von Krohn', the seaplane aircraft was on its way from Quibdó to Cartago, in the province of Valle del Cauca. The crew maintained radio contact till 1055LT. Five minutes later, the aircraft impacted a mountain slope in the region of El Águila. SAR arrived on the scene two weeks later only because the aircraft crashed in an isolated and unreachable area. The passenger J. C. Zúniga Angel and the mechanic Haucke Notz were found dead in the cabin while the pilot Hans-Walter Geck and the radio operator Ernst Jahnke were found dead few km from the main wreckage. They probably walked away to find help but they died en route. Eventually, the passenger N. C. Marshall was found alive near the wreckage and later evacuated to a local hospital. Crew: Hans-Walter Geck, pilot, † Haucke Notz, mechanic, † Ernst Jahnke, radio operator. † Passengers: J. C. Zúniga Angel, † N. C. Marshall.
China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC
On approach to Hangzhou, the crew reduced his altitude due to low visibility caused by foggy conditions. As the Captain was unable to locate the landing area in the Hangzhou Bay, he initiated a go around procedure. During the last turn, while flying too low, the float plane impacted a hill and crashed. All 11 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
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Safety Profile
Reliability
Reliable
This rating is based on historical incident data and may not reflect current operational safety.
