1 fatality

Delivered Seaplane Ditches Off Scottish Coast, One Fatality (CF-EPX)

Kyleakin, United KingdomFlight

On December 22, 1955, a Consolidated PBY Catalina (registration CF-EPX) operated by Spartan Air Services was involved in an aviation accident near Kyleakin, United Kingdom in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion due to strong headwinds. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered CF-EPX
Aircraft registered CF-EPX. Photo: Richard Goring / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A seaplane on a delivery flight from Montreal to Karachi suffered dual engine failure off the Scottish coast. The captain ditched near Kyleake; the aircraft lost its floats, sank, and one crew member died.

Incident Overview

A seaplane completing a delivery flight from Montreal, Canada, to Karachi, Pakistan, experienced a dual engine failure while approaching the Scottish coast. The captain executed a ditching maneuver off Kyleake. Upon touchdown, the aircraft lost its floats, drifted, and subsequently sank.

Rescue and Casualties

Five crew members were rescued from the water. One crew member, the navigator, was killed in the accident.

Probable Cause

Official investigation findings attributed the double engine failure to fuel exhaustion caused by strong headwinds encountered during the flight.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 22 Dec 1955 Consolidated PBY Catalina accident near Kyleakin, United Kingdom?

A seaplane on a delivery flight from Montreal to Karachi suffered dual engine failure off the Scottish coast. The captain ditched near Kyleake; the aircraft lost its floats, sank, and one crew member died.

Were there any fatalities in the 22 Dec 1955 Consolidated PBY Catalina accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 22 Dec 1955 involved a Consolidated PBY Catalina, registration CF-EPX, operated by Spartan Air Services, at Kyleakin, United Kingdom.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion due to strong headwinds.