Date & Time:
Feb 7, 1943 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Operator:
Registration:
41-23903
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
698
YOM:
1941
Country:
Kiribati
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
4
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
14
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Topham Airfield (Canton Island), Kiribati, the pilot completed a last turn to reach the approach path when the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred metres offshore. 18 occupants were killed while three others were rescued. The flight was operated by a United Airlines crew on behalf of the Air Transport Command (ATC).
Passengers:
Col John Dibble,
Col Ralph F. Love,
Lt Col William Hyatt Bache,
Lt Col Powhatan Moncure Morton,
Lt Col John R. Pitman Jr.,
Maj James J. Gleason,
Maj Clark Wilson Mayne,
2nd Lt Gerald H. Levine,
M/Sgt Kendall Maxfield Taylor,
T/Sgt Felix M. Padkosky,
S/Sgt Percy J. Archdale.
W/O Alexander E. Dale,
T4c Robert Lambie.
Passengers:
Col John Dibble,
Col Ralph F. Love,
Lt Col William Hyatt Bache,
Lt Col Powhatan Moncure Morton,
Lt Col John R. Pitman Jr.,
Maj James J. Gleason,
Maj Clark Wilson Mayne,
2nd Lt Gerald H. Levine,
M/Sgt Kendall Maxfield Taylor,
T/Sgt Felix M. Padkosky,
S/Sgt Percy J. Archdale.
W/O Alexander E. Dale,
T4c Robert Lambie.
Probable cause:
It was deemed possible that an asymmetric flap deployment was the cause of the accident.
