12 fatalities

Fatal seaplane crash during patrol flight in Philippines (135478)

Philippines, PhilippinesFlight

On August 2, 1962, a Martin P5M-2 Marlin (registration 135478) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Philippines, Philippines in flight. 12 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an error in navigation during the flight. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A patrol mission over the Philippines ended in tragedy when a seaplane collided with a mountainside, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

During a scheduled patrol operation conducted over the Philippine islands, a seaplane impacted the slope of a mountain. The collision occurred during the flight phase while the aircraft was navigating the mountainous terrain. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.

There were no survivors of the accident. The incident claimed the lives of all 12 crew members on board the aircraft.

Findings

Official investigations into the crash concluded that the primary reason for the collision was a navigation error. This mistake led the aircraft into the terrain during its patrol mission.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an error in navigation during the flight.