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.

July 25, 1933 7 Fatalities

United States Army Air Corps - USAAC

Oceanside California

The seaplane departed March AFB on a flight to San Diego-Rockwell Field. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane suffered a structural failure. It entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a pasture in Oceanside. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all seven crew members were killed. Crew: Lt Carl H. Murray, Sgt Archie W. Snodgrass, Sgt Bonnell L. Herrick, Cpl Walter T. Taylor, Pvt Stanley Book, Pvt Albert Overend, Pvt Vincent Galdin.

June 11, 1933 9 Fatalities

C. G. Bennett

Glenview Illinois

The aircraft departed Chicago-Palwaukee in the early afternoon to complete a sightseeing tour over the Lake Michigan. While returning to his base, the crew decided to land on Lake Michigan in the harbor of Chicago. Due to strong winds, the lake was rough and the float plane hit violently the water surface. Consequently, the captain decided to abort the landing, increased engine power and elected to divert to Palwaukee Airport in Chicago. Shortly later, while climbing to a height of 600 feet, the aircraft lost its right wing and dove into the ground in a huge explosion. All nine occupants were killed.

SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos

Colombia All Colombia

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Colombia. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1932. The airplane was named 'Ernesto Cortissoz'.

Panair do Brasil

São João de Meriti Rio de Janeiro

While parked in the hangar of the company, the float plane was stolen by three men who took a fourth people as an hostage. Few minutes after takeoff, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in São João de Meriti, in the suburb of Rio de Janeiro, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed. Brazilian authorities stated that the hijack took place during the Constitutional Revolution.

George R. Hutchinson

Angmagssalik (Tasiilaq) Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq

Owned by the American Lt Colonel George R. Hutchinson, the seaplane was on its way from New York to London on a private and nonstop transatlantic flight with seven passengers and a crew of two on board. En route, the crew encountered snow falls and the aircraft was too heavy due to snow accumulation. The pilot attempted an emergency landing off the Greenland coast but after landing, the airplane struck an iceberg and was seriously damaged. Several distress calls were sent but the aircraft moved on rough seas. The aircraft was eventually localized by the crew of the British fishing trawler named 'Lord Talbot' on September 18, five days after the accident, some 40 miles southwest of Angmagssalik (Tasiilaq). All nine occupants were rescued and repatriated to Europe. Lt Colonel Hutchinson was travelling with his wife Blanche and his two girls, Kathryn (8) and Janet Lee (6). The aircraft was lost and abandoned as a wing was torn off. Crew: Lt Colonel George R. Hutchinson +1. Passengers: Blanche Hutchinson, Kathryn Hutchinson, Janet Lee Hutchinson, Peter Redpath, Joseph Ruff, Gerald Altfilisch, Norman Alley, American filmmaker.

New York Airways

New York New York

Crashed in the harbor of New York shortly after takeoff. There were no casualties.

Pan American World Airways - PAA

San Juan All Puerto Rico

Upon landing off San Juan, the floatplane collided with an undetermined floating object and was damaged beyond repair. All nine occupants were rescued.

Panagra - Pan American-Grace Airways

Colón Colón

The crew was completing a mail flight from Talara, Peru, to France Field (Colón). Upon arrival, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Limón Bay. All three occupants were injured.

September 9, 1930 5 Fatalities

Government of the State of Yucatán

Mérida Yucatán

The seaplane named 'Mayab' crashed in unknown circumstances in Mérida, killing all five occupants.

Pan American World Airways - PAA

Miami Florida

Shortly after takeoff from the Miami harbor, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Safety Profile

Reliability

Reliable

This rating is based on historical incident data and may not reflect current operational safety.

Primary Operators (by incidents)

Pan American World Airways - PAA3
SCADTA - Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos3
China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC2
Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano - LAB Airlines2
Panair do Brasil2
Aéromaritime1
C. G. Bennett1
George R. Hutchinson1
Government of the State of Yucatán1
New York Airways1