Sikorsky S-43 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

After departure from Hong Kong, while overflying the Bias Bay (Daya Bay), the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to ditch the aircraft offshore. Upon landing, the float plane named 'Chekiang' hit waves and lost its both wings before coming to rest. Seven passengers found refuge on a wing and were later rescued by the crew of the British destroyed 'HMS Thracian'. Unfortunately, three crew members, among them the copilot George Ohrnberger, were killed. The captain survived and the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-43 off Cristóbal: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1937 at 1938 LT

Type of aircraft:

Sikorsky S-43

Operator:

Registration:

NC15065

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Lima – Guayaquil – Tumaco – Cali – Cristóbal – Panama City

MSN:

4305

YOM:

1936

Location:

Colón

Country:

Panama

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

991.00

Circumstances:

While descending to Cristóbal-France Field (Colón) at an altitude of some 2,000 feet, the pilot informed ATC that he was approaching the city via the Bahía Limón Bay. In limited visibility due to rain falls, the float plane named 'Santa Maria' went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. Debris were found the following floating on water and all 14 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The Board is conclusively of the opinion that the accident was caused by the NC15065 striking the water while moving less then 90 miles per hour, tearing the ship to pieces, causing the death of all aboard and that a fire resulted from the impact with the water. The Board is convinced that at the time of the collision the plane had a minimum of 80 gallons of gas which would have burned on the water a sufficient length of time to cause all burns or scorches found one any recovered wreckage. The specific contributing cause of this aircraft colliding with the water is beyond the knowledge of man. However, there must have been a specific contributing cause or causes, and the Board is of the opinion that the most probable contributing cause is one of the following and in the order named:
- Failure of one or both engines due to faulty gasoline system, occurring during the spiraling down mentioned in the pilot's last radio message.
- The encountering of a sudden severe rain, as altitude was being lost by the plane in the spiraling descent, resulting in the blanking out of all visual contact.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-43 off Desertores Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1937

Type of aircraft:

Sikorsky S-43

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Puerto Montt – Punta Arenas

MSN:

4319

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The seaplane was on its way from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas, operating the line named 'Línea Experimental Puerto Montt-Magallanes'. While cruising off the Chiloé Islands, the float plane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. Few debris were found on the shores of the Desertores Island but no trace of the occupants was ever found.

Fire of a Sikorsky S-43 off Vitória

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1937 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Sikorsky S-43

Operator:

Registration:

PP-PAR

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Vitória – Rio de Janeiro

MSN:

4307

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The float plane departed Vitória at 1400LT on a regular service to Rio de Janeiro with 13 passengers and four crew members on board. En route, both engines caught fire and the captain J. H. Hart decided to return to Vitória then completed a safe landing. All 17 occupants were able to disembark before the aircraft would be destroyed by fire and sank.

Probable cause:

Double engine fire in flight for unknown reasons.