Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner in Trinidad

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
2-P-22
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
11319
Location:
Trinidad Island
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was supposed to deliver the airplane to Argentina. Enroute, an engine caught fire, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed on Tobago Island and was seriously damaged. There were no injuries. It was later transferred to the US for repair but was destroyed by fire and irreparable.
Probable cause:
An engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-228F in Port of Spain

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC33611
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4102
YOM:
1941
Location:
Piarco
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff at Port of Spain-Piarco Airport for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all 12 occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Martin M.130 off Port of Spain: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1945 at 2116 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin M.130
Operator:
Registration:
NC14716
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Miami – San Juan – Port of Spain – Léopoldville
MSN:
558
YOM:
1935
Flight number:
PA161
Location:
Port of Spain
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total flying hours:
7040
Captain / Total hours on type:
1560.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7034
Copilot / Total hours on type:
832
Aircraft flight hours:
20545
Circumstances:
On final approach to Port of Spain, the seaplane hit the water surface some 1,5 mile short of the touchdown zone, overturned and sank. 23 occupants were killed while seven others were injured.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was:
- First Officer Cramer’s failure to realize his proximity to the water and to correct his attitude for a normal landing and,
- the lack of adequate supervision by the Captain during the landing, resulting in the inadvertent flight into the water in excess of normal landing speed and in a nose-down attitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin PBM-3C Mariner off Trinidad: 12 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
6713
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Waller - Waller
Location:
Trinidad and Tobago
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an anti-submarine mission off the coast of Trinidad Island. The aircraft crashed into the sea off the Island in unknown circumstances, but most probably during or after an engagement with enemy submarine. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the 12 crew members based at Waller Field, Trinidad.

Crash of a Douglas C-49D in Grande Rivière: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7717
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Losey - Willer
MSN:
4142
YOM:
1941
Location:
Grande Rivière
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Losey AFB (Porto Rico) to Willer AFB, Trinidad. While approaching its destination, the aircraft hit a mountain located five miles south of Grand Rivière and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25D-30 Mitchell in Trinidad

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
43-3448
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
100-23774
YOM:
1943
Location:
Trinidad Island
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on Trinidad Island. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Douglas A-20C-5-DO Havoc off Trinidad Island

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
42-33055
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Trinidad Island
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane was ditched in the sea off Trinidad Island. All crew members were rescued. The airplane should be delivers to the Royal Air Force with registration BZ300.

Crash of a Douglas C-49D near Waller AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7718
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4143
YOM:
1941
Location:
Waller AFB
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
At least one crew member was killed when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances north of Waller AFB, some 10 km east of Piarco Airport.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Port of Spain

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
04482
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
484
YOM:
1941
Location:
Port of Spain
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After one hour and fifteen minutes of flight during a five hour engine run-in on the morning of 2 January 1943, the starboard engine lost power. This was indicated by decrease in RPM and loss of fuel pressure, followed by a drop in oil pressure. The flight engineer was unable to maintain fuel pressure by use wof wobble pump and crew feathered starboard engine propeller and stopped engine. Fuel supply was shut off during time propeller was feathering. Indications show that fuel pump line gave way before entering fuel pump or after leaving pump. In either case the action of wobble pump forced gas into accessory section. This gas undoubtly came in contact with exhaust collector ring and caused fire. Since this plane had airplane change #70 incorporated during engine change; crew was unable to make an attempt to put fire out. From C.O statement: After oil pressure had dropped and engines RPMs and manifold pressure fell off, the pilot immediately feathered the starboard engine. At this point co-pilot noticed the starboard engine was on fire. This fire spread rapidly and burned off all fabric on the starboard wing as well as the fabric on the rudder and elevators, thereby preventing successful single engine operation. With full power on the port engine the rate of decent could not be reduced below 500 feet per minute. The pilot continued to maintain control but at abut 150 feet the starboard engine fell off the wing. Floats were lowered and a landing at sea was made. All personnel aboard escaped in rubber boats and were picked up by a US Coast Guard Cutter shortly thereafter. After the plane was abandoned it continued to burn and later sank.
Crew (VP-53):
Ap1cWilliam E. Edwards, pilot,
Ap1c Granville C. Crumpler,
Ens Harry W. Wolfarth,
Amm1c Joseph O. McCadden,
Amm2c William L. Barnes,
Amm2c Michael Haloostock,
Rm3c William Moore,
Rm3c Carl D. Buchanon,
William A. Cooper.
Source: https://www.vpnavy.org/vp53_mishap.html
Probable cause:
Failure and fire of the right engine in flight.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-10-CO Liberator near Cumuto

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-23882
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
677
YOM:
1942
Location:
Cumuto
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Piarco Airport, the airplane lost height and crashed near Cumuto, some 13 km east of the airfield. There were no casualties.
Subscribe to Trinidad and Tobago