Crash of a Grumman HU-16B Albatross at Ramey AFB

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
51-5305
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
G-188
YOM:
1952
Location:
Ramey AFB (Aguadilla)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Ramey AFB for unknown reason. No casualties.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16B off Alborán Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
AN.1-7
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Jerez de la Frontera – Jerez de la Frontera
MSN:
G-222
YOM:
1952
Location:
Alborán Island
Andalusia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While completing a maritime patrol flight over the Alborán Sea, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances near the Alborán Island. All seven crew members perished.

Crash of a Grumman SA-16B off Cartagena: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
AN.1-4
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Jerez de la Frontera – Cartagena
MSN:
G-215
YOM:
1952
Location:
Cartagena
Region of Murcia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While descending to Cartagena, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 2,5 km offshore. A crew member was rescued while seven others were killed.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16E Albatross near San Luis Obispo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
2128
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
G-355
YOM:
1953
Location:
San Luis Obispo
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was searching for an overdue vessel along the California coastline in marginal weather. While cruising in limited visibility due to fog, the seaplane struck a mountain slope and crashed north of San Luis Obispo. Three crew members were killed while five others were rescued.
Those killed were:
LTJG Francis J. Charles,
AD3 William E. Prowitt,
AD3 John G. Medek.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16E Albatross near Sloko Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
7237
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
G-324
YOM:
1953
Location:
Sloko Lake
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from the State of Montana to Juneau, Alaska. En route, he was requested to take part to a SAR mission after a small plane carrying two people was missing. In the region of the Sloko Lake, the seaplane struck a mountain and crashed. Three crew members were killed and three others were rescued.
Those killed were:
Lt Robert D. Brown,
Lt David J. Bain,
AT2 Robert W. Striff Jr.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16E Albatross into the Gulf of Mexico: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
1240
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
G-61
YOM:
1951
Location:
Gulf of Mexico
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On a Sunday night search and rescue case the aircraft and crew responded to a request for assistance from a fishing vessel reportedly taking on water 20 miles off the coast. The same plane and crew had just returned from another search of over six hours. The entire crew perished when their seaplane struck the water while attempting to deliver a dewatering pump to a sinking vessel. No trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members was found.
Crew:
Lt Clifford E. Hanna,
Lt Jg Charles F. Shaw,
AD1 Ralph H. Studstill,
AT1 Eckley M. Powlus Jr.,
AT2 James B. Thompson,
AE3 Arthur L. Wilson Jr.
Probable cause:
Under the circumstance, the most plausible explanation for a crash of this nature is that the pilot inadvertently flew the aircraft into the water. However, insufficient evidence was available to support a conclusion as to the factors causing the accident. Consequently, the mishap was placed in the undetermined cause category.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16E Albatross on Saint Paul Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
1271
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
G-247
YOM:
1953
Location:
Saint Paul Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
This HU-16E crew was performing a scheduled logistics/law enforcement mission to the Loran Station on St. Paul Island. When then arrived they encountered poor weather with a ceiling below 400-feet with light snow falling. With insufficient fuel available to reach an alternate airfield, the pilot attempted to land at the strip. On the fourth attempt to land, the plane crashed when the right wing tip struck the ground. AT2 Frank R. Edmunds was fatally injured as a result.
Source: http://www.check-six.com/lib/Coast_Guard_Aviation_Casualties.htm

Crash of a Grumman HU-16B Albatross into the China Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
51-7145
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
G-195
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
Crown Bravo
Location:
South China Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Đà Nẵng in poor weather for a patrol over the Gulf of Tonkin. Using the call signe Crown Bravo, a name that was assigned to the afternoon patrol of each day, the aircraft encountered worsening weather and failed to make a routine radio report. As soon as the weather cleared enough a second Albatross left Đà Nẵng on a SAR mission. No trace of the aircraft or its crew was ever found. The last known position was about 64 km off Đồng Hới.
Crew:
Maj Ralph Harold Angstadt,
1st Lt John Henry Sotheron Long,
Maj Inzar William Rackley,
T/Sgt Robert Laverne Hill,
S/Sgt Lawrence Clark,
S/Sgt John Reginald Shoneck,
A2C Steven Harold Adams.
Source: Chris Hobson.
Probable cause:
It was suspected that the aircraft was lost due to extreme weather rather than enemy action.

Crash of a Grumman CSR-110 Albatross near Hope Slide: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
9302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Comox - Williams Lake
MSN:
G-450
Location:
Hope Slide
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Comox Airbase on a training flight to Williams Lake. While cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the seaplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 10 miles east of Hope Slide. The aircraft was destroyed and while the f/o Bob Reid survived, all five other occupants were killed. More info on https://www.notaries.bc.ca/resources/scrivener/fall2004/walkdownthemountains-50.pdf
1st Lt Pete Semak, †
1st Lt Phil Montgomery, †
F/O Chris Cormier, †
F/O Bob Reid,
Lac Bob MacNaughton. †
Passenger:
James Braiden. †

Crash of a Grumman HU-16B Albatross off Hải Phòng: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
51-071
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
G-151
YOM:
1952
Location:
Hải Phòng
Hải Phòng City District
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The HU-16B Albatross flying boat was deployed to rescue two crew members of a downed McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom off Haiphong in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Albatross landed in the sea close to the shoreline. It was quickly approached by several North Vietnamese boats. They began to open fire on the Albatross, finally firing a mortar shell. They flying boat burst into flames. The survivors were later rescued by Navy helicopters.
Crew:
Cpt David P. Westenbarger,
Lt Walter Hall,
Cpt Donald Price,
S/Sgt Clyde Jackson,
A1C Robert Larie Hilton, †
A1C James Edward Pleiman. †
Source: Chris Hobson & Joe Baugher.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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