Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 off St Peter

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP122
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The flying boat hit a submerged rock upon landing in the St Peter harbor, causing a rupture in the hull. The airplane sank but there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Collision with submerged rock upon landing.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 off Cheung Chau Island

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VB887
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a reconnaissance mission after a RAF Harvard was missing. While taking off Cheung Chau Island, the seaplane lost a float, went out of control and plunged into the sea. All five crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 off Flying Fish Cove

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SZ599
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While landing off the island, the seaplane hit a swell, lost a float and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 off Milford Haven: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NJ267
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff, while climbing, the seaplane nose down, hit the water surface and crashed upside down, broken in two. Quickly on the scene, rescuers were able to evacuate four people while seven others, including four members of the crew, were killed.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 off Pembroke Dock

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NJ180
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Pembroke Dock
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Hit a buoy while landing off Pembroke Dock. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Collision with a buoy upon landing.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 into Angle Bay

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RN290
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie when an engine caught fire in flight. The pilot-in-command attempted an emergency landing in Angle Bay but the airplane touchdown hard, causing a float to be sheared off. The aircraft came to a halt in flames. While all six crew members were able to evacuate the cabin and were uninjured, the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 off Tsushima

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RN302
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine number four lost power. Ten minutes later, the engine number two suffered a similar issue. The crew attempted an emergency landing off Tsushima Island. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on two engines in flight.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 off Sangley Point

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RN269
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing off Sangley Point, the seaplane hit waves and bounced. During a second landing, it nosed down, plunged into the sea and sank. There were no casualties but the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 off Iwakuni AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP148
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
During a night landing on rough seas off Iwakuni AFB, the seaplane went out of control and came to rest upside down. Four crew members were killed while seven others were rescued. It was determined that the visibility was low at the time the crew tried to land on rough seas with high winds.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland 3 off Calshot

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGKY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Southampton – Lisbon – Funchal
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The takeoff from Southampton was attempted by night. During the takeoff roll on the Solent, the seaplane was unstable and the captain was unable to maintain the aircraft on the right course so he decided to abandon the takeoff procedure. A float located on the left wing hit the water surface and the left wing was submerged to the outer engine. All 31 occupants were quickly rescued and were uninjured while the aircraft sank.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to an error of airmanship by the captain in that he did not ascertain the crosswind component and in consequence attempted to take off under conditions with which he could not contend. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- The control officer misinformed the captain of the relationship between the wind and the flare path at the time of takeoff,
- The sudden deterioration of the weather conditions during the takeoff procedure.