Zone

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Mississippi River: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
46617
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a medical evacuation from a vessel on the Mississippi River. Upon landing, the Catalina struck a submerged obstacle that caused the aircraft to water loop, separating the wing from the fuselage. The aircraft quickly sank and was lost. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.
Crew killed were:
Ens V. C. Fleck,
Ad2 J. C. Netherland,
Aic M. L. Sweet.
Probable cause:
Collision with an unknown floating obstacle while landing on the Mississippi River.