Consolidated PBY Catalina accident at Saint Johns River, United States of America, 25 Jun 1943 (08422)
On June 25, 1943, a Consolidated PBY Catalina (registration 08422) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Saint Johns River, United States of America in flight. 13 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The left engine detached from its mound for unknown reason. This caused fuel lines to be disconnected and about 400 gallons in the left main fuel tank ignited, causing a major explosion in the air. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
The left engine detached from its mound for unknown reason. This caused fuel lines to be disconnected and about 400 gallons in the left main fuel tank ignited, causing a major explosion in the air.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The seaplane departed Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS on a local training exercise. While flying at an altitude of 1,800 feet, the left engine suffered a catastrophic failure and detached from its mound. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and caught fire after fuel lines disconnected. At a height of 800 feet, the airplane exploded, disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed into the Saint Johns River, some 8 km south of Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS. The airplane was destroyed and all 13 crew members were killed. Crew: Lt Mark M. Bolin, pilot, 2nd Lt Francis J. Dorie, 2nd Lt Donald A. LeFrois, 2nd Lt John Patrick Keelen, Rm3c Sload B. Mussewhite, Rm3c Harry Gibbs Jr., Rm3c Robert John Barber, Rm3c Albert Arsenault, Rm3c John Robert Ayres, Amm3c Thomas John Sletz, S/Sgt Claude C. Lody, S/Sgt Henry Crossetti Jr., S/Sgt John L. Geer.
Probable cause (official findings): The left engine detached from its mound for unknown reason. This caused fuel lines to be disconnected and about 400 gallons in the left main fuel tank ignited, causing a major explosion in the air.