What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was operating under the command of No. 6 Squadron. The event took place approximately ten miles south of Beqa Island during a routine procedure following maintenance work.
During this test flight, the pilot deliberately induced a stall at an altitude of 5,500 feet. However, the maneuver did not recover as intended; instead, the aircraft entered an uncontrollable spin. The seaplane subsequently dove into the sea in the vicinity of the island.
The crash resulted in significant loss of life. Twelve people were killed, comprising four crew members and eight passengers. In contrast, six individuals survived the initial impact. These survivors, consisting of two crew members and four passengers, managed to escape from the wreckage before the aircraft sank completely beneath the surface.