Narrative:Crashed after encountering a severe thunderstorm. The airplane came down in sea five miles from Natal. The Catalina was part of group being ferried from Norfolk NAS to Natal, Brazil.
Probable Cause:
Probable cause: Flying at low altitude in heavy rain and rough air, the pilot temporarily lost his horizon and put plane in glide into water.
Sources:
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US Navy and US Marine Corps Aircraft Serial Numbers and Bureau Numbers--1911 to Present / Joe Baugher» US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Atlantic War / Ragnar Ragnarsson
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g1.globo.com
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Belém/Val-de-Cans International Airport, PA to Natal Airport, RN as the crow flies is 1544 km (965 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.