1945 — Nov 8, two US Navy PBM Mariners collide mid-air over Corpus Christi Bay, TX–22
Last edit Nov 25, 2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–22 Aviation Safety Network. USN PBM Mariners collide 2.5M NNW off Corpus Christi NAS.
–22 Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, 38.
Narrative Information
Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999”
“Date: 8 November 1945 (c.20:00)
“Location: Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, US
“First aircraft
“Operator: US Navy
“Type: Martin PBM-3S Mariner (01710)
“Second aircraft
“Operator: US Navy
“Type: Martin PMB-5 Mariner (69113)
“Two twin-engine amphibious bombers [01710 & 69113] collided and crashed about 2½ miles… north-north-west of Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. Killed in the accident were 22 American servicemen, including all 12 occupants of 69113; the five survivors from 01710 suffered various injuries.
“Both aircraft were on training flights, 69113 having taken off from the water on a true heading of 150 degrees, while 01710 was making its approach to a different landing area and on a course of 165 degrees true. Despite taking off behind it, the former overtook the latter due to the differences in speed between the two models of the PBM, flying slightly to starboard but on an approximately parallel course. The tail lights on the Mariner were at best difficult to see, but when 01710 turned on its landing lights, 69113 pulled up and turned left in a futile attempt to avoid the collision, which occurred in darkness at an estimated height of 400ft (120m). The PBM-5 then plummeted straight down, exploding on impact with the water….
“An investigative report attributed the accident to error by the crew of 69113, primarily inattention on the part of its co-pilot, whose role would normally have been relegated to that of `look-out’ during instrument take-offs and landings. Other factors were the judgment displayed by its pilot in pulling up upon the sudden appearance of 01710, which was probably related to confusion on his part, when maintaining the same course could possibly have avoided the collision.” (Gero 1999, pp. 38-39.)
Sources
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 127. US Navy PBM Mariners collide 2.5M NNW off Corpus Christi NAS, TX, 8 November 1945. Accessed 11-25-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19451108-1
Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.