1957-12-09: Martin P5M-2 Marlin (130291) — United States Navy - USN — Corpus Christi, United States of America

9 fatalitiesCorpus Christi, United States of AmericaTakeoff (climb)

A seaplane experienced an engine explosion shortly after takeoff, resulting in a fatal crash approximately 30 km from Corpus Christi.

What happened

Shortly after departing from Corpus Christi, the aircraft experienced a sudden engine explosion during its initial climb. This mechanical failure caused the plane to become uncontrollable, leading to a crash roughly 30 km away from the departure point. Upon impact, the aircraft caught fire.

There were ten people on board at the time of the accident. During the descent, one crew member managed to deploy a parachute and reach safety. However, the remaining nine fatalities included the pilot, co-pilot, navigator, and several other crew members.

Findings

Official investigations concluded that the primary factor in the accident was an engine explosion occurring during the early phase of flight.

Probable cause

An engine explosion occurred during the initial climb following takeoff.