Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Elwood: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A4-11
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
977
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight following recent modification on the communication systems. While returning to his base at Laverton, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog and reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft impacted the water surface and crashed into the Port Phillip Bay off Elwood, south of Melbourne. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ronald Davies,
Cpl Gordon Peake,
AC1 John Quinn.
Probable cause:
Too low approach in foggy conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Malvern

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1937 at 1840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ULH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Benalla – Melbourne
MSN:
Genairco 7
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was being flown by Jack Macalister who was attempting a night landing at Essendon Airport, Melbourne. Due to heavy fog, he flew over the city looking for an alternate landing ground. Attempting to land at the Malvern Oval, he struck the spire of St. George's Anglican church and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Mount Waverley: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UII
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
895
YOM:
1929
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Norman K. Field was performing a local training flight out from Essendon Airport. While cruising at low altitude over East Oakleigh, near Mount Waverley, in the suburb of Melbourne, the single engine aircraft hit telephone wires and a chimney then crashed onto a house, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed while nobody on the ground was hurt.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86 in Bass Strait: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Launceston – Melbourne
MSN:
2301
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While overflying Bass Strait, the four engine aircraft named 'Miss Hobart' crashed in unknown circumstances some 16 km off the coast of the Wilsons Promontory National Park. SAR teams found some debris and oil leak at the surface of the water a day later but no trace of the 11 occupants was ever found.
Crew:
Cpt Victor C. Holyman, pilot and cofounder of the airliner,
Cpt Gilbert Jenkins.
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash could not be determined. However, one of the recommendations made by the accident investigative commission was to prohibit the changing of pilots in an aircraft while in flight, since one theory into the disappearance of VH-URN pointed to a loss of control resulting from such action by the crew.

Crash of an Avro 618 Ten in the Snowy Mountains: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1931 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UMF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sydney – Melbourne
MSN:
241
YOM:
1929
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Sydney at 0810LT bound for Melbourne. En route, the crew encountered strong unfavorable winds and the weather conditions worsened with poor visibility. The aircraft named 'Southern Cloud' hit the slope of a mountain located in the Snowy Mountains, in the Kosciuszko National Park, west of Jindabyne. SAR were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants were found, so all operations were eventually suspended. On 26 October 1958, more than 27 years later, Tom Sonter, a man aged 22, found the wreckage while on a walk in the bush. The crash occurred in a very inaccessible area.
Crew:
Travis W. Shortridge, pilot,
Charles I. Dunnell, copilot.
Passengers:
Elsie May Glasgow,
Clyde C. Hood,
Hubert A. Farall,
Julian Margules,
William O’Reilly,
Claire Stokes.
Probable cause:
The aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path due to unfavorable winds. The crew failed to see and avoid the mountain due to low visibility and poor weather conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9 in Melbourne: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A6-5
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Point Cook - Point Cook
MSN:
D1187
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
For the official visit of Duchess of York in Australia, a team of seven De Havilland DH.9 was performing a demonstration flight in a V formation. At 1,000 feet, all aircraft plunged and regained height at 500 feet. On sixth position, number A6-26 hit with its engine the A6-5's machine which was on fourth position in the formation. Both aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants on both aircraft were killed, among them three pilot and a photographer.
Crew:
Lt R. I. Dines,
Cpl J. Ramsden.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9 in Melbourne: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1927
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A6-26
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Point Cook - Point Cook
MSN:
C6241
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
For the official visit of Duchess of York in Australia, a team of seven De Havilland DH.9 was performing a demonstration flight in a V formation. At 1,000 feet, all aircraft plunged and regained height at 500 feet. On sixth position, number A6-26 hit with its engine the A6-5's machine which was on fourth position in the formation. Both aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants on both aircraft were killed, among them three pilot and a photographer.
Crew:
F/O V. H. Thornton,
Sgt H. G. Hay.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.