Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Sydney: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1944 at 0730 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ABB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sydney – Townsville
MSN:
S.877
YOM:
17
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
2886
Circumstances:
After take off from Rose Bay in Sydney, the crew encountered technical problems with the flaps that should be raised manually because the electric flap motor failed. Twenty minutes into the flight, the flight oil pressure on starboard inner engine fell below normal levels. The captain decided to return to Rose Bay to rectify faults and the landing approach was made into the north and without flaps. Finding that he had excess height, the captain introduced a left-hand side-slip during the approach. On straighening out from the side-slip, the captain proceeded with the intention of making a normal landing. On checking the glide at about 40 feet, he realized that the aircraft was flattening out too high. He stopped easing back on the controls expecting the boat to sink further towards the water. Without any further control movement the aircraft completely stalled some twelve feet above the water, dropped sharply and made contact with the water in a normal attitude but with considerable force. Impact caused a major failure of the hull which allowed extensive break-up of the fuselage. Considerable length of the rear end of the hull and tail unit separated from rest of aircraft and both sections sank within 15 minutes. Passengers and crew escaped the wreckage and were rescued but one passenger drowned.
Crew:
Cpt K. C. Caldwell, pilot,
Cpt L. J. Brain, pilot.
Passenger drowned: Mr. J. Mott.
Source & photos:
http://www.aussieairliners.org/shortfb/vh-abb/vhabb.html
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to an error of judgement on the part of the captain.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Port Moresby: 13 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1943 at 2000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADU
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Townsville – Port Moresby
MSN:
S.844
YOM:
1937
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
6500
Circumstances:
At 1250LT, the engines were started and the seaplane christened 'Camilla' took off from Townsville. Aboard with twenty seven passengers including 22 from the Royal Australian Air Force and 5 from the USAAF. The weather reports before departing and radio reports en route were favorable. After climbing to 2,000 feet, Camilla flew northward towards New Guinea. At 1600LT, Koch heard reports from other aircraft that Port Moresby was experiencing light rain with a ceiling of 1,000' and visibility of 2,000 yards. Despite the bad weather, he elected to proceed believing it was only localized weather that would pass. As he neared the southern coast of New Guinea clouds were increasing and he took a sun sight bearing twenty minutes off Hood Point before receiving reports that the weather was deteriorating, with a ceiling of 600' and visibility of 1,100 yards. While over Hood Point, Camilla received another weather report that conditions were improving with 1,000' ceiling and 2,000 yards visibility. Flying westward, the weather over Bootless Bay appeared to be clear, but Koch opted not to land there fearing the presence of mines and proceed toward Basilisk Light at the edge of the Basilisk Passage on Natera Reef off Port Moresby but flew into light rain showers and dense overcast. By radio, Camilla was advised to wait to land until a flare path was laid in Fairfax Harbor. While waiting, Camilla circled Basilisk Light twice at 500'. Due to fatigue from circling on instruments, Koch opted to fly to the northwest but found the weather was no better and returned to Basilisk Light, but conditions had further deteriorated and Koch opted to fly to the northwest toward Yule Island in hopes of landing there, but was unable to find the island or see the coastline due to poor weather conditions and climbed to 4,700'. Another radio message stated the flare path was still being laid. Koch ordered the crew to instruct the passengers about the possibility of an emergency landing and for everyone to don their life jackets and prepare to use the life rafts. At 1727LT, Camilla's radio operator asked Port Moresby to turn on their radio direction finding station, but it was not functioning, but a USAAF beacon was on as of 1700LT and a RAAF beacon was turned on at 1730LT. Flying eastward again, Camilla returned toward Port Moresby using the radio direction finding beacons. Radio messages stated the flare path was still being laid and weather conditions were not improving. By 1820LT, the RAAF marine section had laid a flare path on Fairfax Harbor but was having problems keeping them lit due to heavy rain. At 1855LT, Koch requested that search lights be turned on. At 1910LT, three searchlights were on converging at 4,000' and the flare path was reported as laid but visibility was nil. Due to the poor weather, Koch decided to attempt to land at sea south of Port Moresby towards the southeast towards Hood Point but the sea proved to be too rough and the landing was aborted and Camilla returned to Port Moresby using the radio beacon signals. Flying southward at 3,000' the sea was less rough and Camilla turned northward towards Port Moresby but were unable to observe the flare path, but were able to briefly see searchlights at 5 Mile Drome and 7 Mile Drome. Airborne for roughly seven hours, Camilla had only 90 gallons of fuel aboard and Koch prepared to make an emergency landing then taxi into Fairfax Harbor and radioed at 1955LT that he was going to land at sea. Flying south of Port Moresby and descending to 1,500' before landing with quarter flaps descending at 200' per minute at approximately 105 mph with the engines throttled back to a quarter power and the autopilot on. Before landing, purser Barley served cold drinks to the pilots to quench their thirst. During the descent, clouds were observed outside even at 100' altitude before the sea was visible. Before landing at altimeter reading of zero, the autopilot was disengaged and nose elevated to decease the speed further. Realizing they were still above the sea, the throttles were increased but the right engine did not immediately respond and the left engine throttle was closed as Camilla nosed down descending at 400' per minute and altitude of -30' before impacting the surface of the sea.
Crew:
Cpt Albert Aubrey Koch, pilot,
F/O Sydney William John Peak, copilot,
P/O Theo J. Phillips, radio operator, †
P/O Walter R. Bartley, purser. †
Passengers:
AC1 Alan R. Stephens, †
Sgt Ernest John Grady, †
Sgt Ernest Alfred Flanagan, †
AC1 James A. Harris, †
LAC Alfred J. Ellis, †
AC1 Vincent E. Grogan, †
Cpl Donald W. Nicholson, †
AC1 Jack S. Sherwin,
Pvt John F. Walters, †
Pfc Clyde Dobbs Jr., †
1st Lt Norman B. Slote, †
Sgt Frederick A. Burness Jr, †
T/Sgt O'Dell 14.
Source: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/short/camilla.html

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Darwin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
G-AEUF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brisbane – Karumba – Darwin
MSN:
S.848
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After landing at night some 2 miles off Darwin, the seaplane named 'Corinthian' collided with unknown debris floating on water and sank rapidly. Two passengers were killed and 13 other occupants were rescued. All passengers were members of the 102nd Coastal Artillery Battalion.
Probable cause:
Collision with unknown floating objects.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat into the Indian Ocean: 22 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
G-AETZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jakarta – Cilacap – Broome – Darwin – Sydney
MSN:
S.842
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Aircraft flight hours:
7000
Circumstances:
The floatplane named 'Circe' was performing a flight from Indonesia (Jakarta and Cilacap) to Sydney on behalf of Qantas Airways, carrying 18 'refugees', women and children, escaping the war. While in cruising altitude some 400 km south of Cilacap, it was shot down by a Japanese bomber that was performing a maritime patrol flight from Denpasar. Out of control, the Empire Flying Boat crashed into the sea and was not recovered. All 22 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese bomber.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Townsville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942 at 1802 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A18-12
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Townsville - Townsville
MSN:
S.849
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a 50 hours inspection flight. While approaching Townsville, the floatplane named 'Coogee' hit the water surface and crashed in the Cleveland Bay. Six crew members were killed while five other occupants were injured.
Crew killed:
F/O Robert John Love, pilot, †
P/O Harold John Wagner, pilot, †
LAC Maurice Clayton, †
Cpl William James French, †
P/O Peter Satterswaite Devonshire, †
Sgt John Gordon Nicholson. †

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Kupang: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1942 at 0800 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AEUH
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Surabaya – Kupang – Darwin
MSN:
S.850
YOM:
1938
Flight number:
XWS160
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The airplane was performing a special flight from Surabaya to Darwin with an intermediate stop in Kupang on behalf of Qantas Airways. While approaching Kupang, the floatplane named 'Corio' was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea few hundred yards offshore. The captain, the copilot and three passengers were able to swim to shore and were rescued while 13 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Sabang: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
G-ADUX
Flight Phase:
MSN:
S.815
YOM:
1935
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While taking off from the Bay of Sabang, the floatplane collided with debris floating on water. Named 'Cassiopeia', the airplane came to halt and sank. At least four people were killed in the accident.
Probable cause:
Collision with floating debris while taking off.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat in Calcutta

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1939
Operator:
Registration:
G-ADVE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Auckland – Singapore – Calcutta – London
MSN:
S.822
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane was approaching Hoogly River in Calcutta in strong winds. Upon landing, it went out of control and sank. All eight occupants were rescued and the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Loss of control upon landing due to strong winds.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Lumbo: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1939
Operator:
Registration:
G-ADVD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London – Cairo – Mombasa – Dar es-Salaam – Lumbo – Maputo – Johannesburg
MSN:
S.821
YOM:
1935
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to abandon a first landing attempt off Lumbo for unknown reason. During the second attempt, the seaplane named 'Challenger' impacted the water surface and came to rest off the Ilha de Mocambique Island. Two crew members, the radio officer Tom Webb and the flight clerc George Knight were killed while all four other occupants were injured. The cockpit separated from the fuselage upon impact.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Batavia

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1939
Operator:
Registration:
G-ADUY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
S.816
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The seaplane aircraft named 'Capella' was engaged in an international schedule flight on behalf of Qantas. While taxiing in the harbor of Batavia (Jakarta), the aircraft collided with an unknown floating object. The captain abandoned the departure procedure and returned to the harbor when the airplane partially sank. All eight occupants evacuated safely and the float plane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Collision with an unknown floating object while taxiing for takeoff.