2 fatalities

Maritime patrol aircraft crashes into sea north of Mallorca after engine failure (62-4)

Mediterranean Sea, WorldFlight

On May 25, 1938, a CRDA CANT Z.501 Gabbiano (registration 62-4) operated by Spanish Air Force - Aviación Nacional (1936-1939) was involved in an aviation accident near Mediterranean Sea, World in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure in flight led to a loss of control and subsequent crash into the sea. 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A maritime patrol aircraft crashed into the sea north of Mallorca Island following an engine failure during a patrol mission, resulting in two fatalities and three survivors.

What happened

The incident occurred while the crew was conducting a maritime patrol flight. During the operation, one of the aircraft's engines failed. The captain initiated a ditching procedure to land the plane on the water surface. However, control of the aircraft was lost during this maneuver, causing it to crash into the sea in the waters north of Mallorca Island.

Following the impact, rescue operations were conducted by the crew of the British cruiser 'Sussex'. Three members of the flight crew were successfully rescued from the water. Tragically, two other occupants did not survive the accident and were killed.

The individuals involved included Lieutenant Cayo, who survived, along with Sergeant Llorente and another officer identified as Br Arellano. The fatalities included Lieutenant Alcalá del Olmo and Alf Hortz.

Probable cause

Engine failure in flight led to a loss of control and subsequent crash into the sea.