Sikorsky S-38

Historical safety data and incident record for the Sikorsky S-38 aircraft.

Safety Rating

9.8/10

Total Incidents

20

Total Fatalities

40

Incident History

December 11, 1941 3 Fatalities

Pan American World Airways - PAA

Biscayne Bay Florida

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Biscayne Bay, off Miami. All three crew were killed.

Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano - LAB Airlines

Guayaramerín Beni

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

January 24, 1940 4 Fatalities

Sociedad Argentina de Navegacion Aérea

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires City

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

Calabar Cross River

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown as well.

Panair do Brasil

Rio Branco Acre

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown as well. The exact date of the accident remains unknown.

SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos

Colombia All Colombia

Christened 'Guillermo Valencia', the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Colombia.

Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano - LAB Airlines

Colquiri Cochabamba

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

April 10, 1934 4 Fatalities

China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC

Hangzhou Zhejiang

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.

March 10, 1934 4 Fatalities

SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos

El Águila Valle del Cauca

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

Hangzhou Zhejiang

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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