5 fatalities

Floatplane Crash During Maritime Patrol Mission (Y-44)

Tanjung Pandan, IndonesiaFlight

On December 6, 1941, a Consolidated PBY Catalina (registration Y-44) operated by Royal Netherlands Navy - Marineluchtvaartdienst (MLD) was involved in an aviation accident near Tanjung Pandan, Indonesia in flight. 5 people were killed. 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.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-26Data APIEditorial standards

A floatplane crashed during a maritime patrol operation, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members aboard. The specific circumstances leading to the accident remain unknown.

What happened

The incident involved a floatplane that was conducting a routine maritime patrol mission at the time of the accident. During this operation, the aircraft crashed under circumstances that have not been fully determined or disclosed in available records. The impact resulted in fatal consequences for everyone on board.

There were five individuals serving as crew members on the flight. Tragically, all five crew members lost their lives in the crash. No survivors were reported from the event. The specific location of the crash site is not detailed in the provided source material, nor are there details regarding the exact phase of flight during which the failure occurred, other than it being part of a maritime patrol.

Findings

The available information does not specify any technical failures, human error factors, or environmental conditions that contributed to the accident. The cause is described as unknown, indicating that either an investigation has not been completed, or the findings have not been made public in this context. Without further data on mechanical status, weather conditions, or pilot actions, no definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the primary causal factor.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 6 Dec 1941 Consolidated PBY Catalina accident near Tanjung Pandan, Indonesia?

A floatplane crashed during a maritime patrol operation, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members aboard. The specific circumstances leading to the accident remain unknown.

Were there any fatalities in the 6 Dec 1941 Consolidated PBY Catalina accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 5 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 6 Dec 1941 involved a Consolidated PBY Catalina, registration Y-44, operated by Royal Netherlands Navy - Marineluchtvaartdienst (MLD), at Tanjung Pandan, Indonesia.