CAPTAIN BLAMED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27383, 8 May 1950, Page 5

CAPTAIN BLAMED

Sinking Of Catalina Flying BoatCONTROL NOT TAKEN OVER PA WELLINGTON. May 6. The captain of the RNZAF Catalina flying boat which sank in Evan’s Bay, Wellington, on February 17, committed an error of judgment in not resuming control of the aircraft immediately the pilot failed to lift the nose. This finding of the court of inquiry into the accident was released today by the Minister of Defence. Mr Macdonald. The Minister said the court’s report indicated that the accident was of a type which might occur during flying boat training. The Minister said the captain of the aircraft decided that' the prevailing water conditions would provide an opportunity for his second pilot to obtain the necessary experience of handling in a choppy sea. and therefore instructed him to take the aircraft off. Just prior to the aircraft reaching take-off speed, tne pilot failed to lift it above a series of short, successive choppy waves, with the result that the bomb-aimer's window in the nose of the aircraft became dislodged and water entered the hull.. The Minister added that he had been advised that the locality had no bearing whatever on the accident.