Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou inKudjeru Gap: 25 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1972 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A4-233
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Lae - Port Moresby
MSN:
233
YOM:
1965
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Lae to Port Moresby, carrying three crew members and 26 cadets of the PNG Army. After passing over Wau in good weather conditions, the pilot decided to enter the Kudjeru Gap Valley when the weather conditions worsened rapidly with clouds up to 10,500 feet. At an altitude of 5,000 feet while trying to gain height, the right wing struck trees and the aircraft crashed on the slope of a mountain, about 50 meters below the summit. The wreckage was found three days later. Five injured passengers were evacuated but one of them died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The pilot entered an area of low visibility and the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK in Bereina

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PAT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Kundiawa
MSN:
16494/33242
YOM:
1945
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the crew informed ground about an in-flight fire and elected to divert to Bereina for an emergency landing. As the crew was unable to extinguish the fire, the airplane landed on fire and came to rest in flames. All three crew members were able to evacuate safely while the airplane burned for about 24 hours before being totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the fire was caused incorrectly packed chemicals.

Crash of a Piaggio P.166 in Mt Owen Stanley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PAU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Popondetta – Port Moresby
MSN:
366
YOM:
1960
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Geoffrey Wallace was performing a cargo flight from Popondetta to Port Moresby and encountered poor weather conditions en route. At an altitude of 9,400 feet, the twin engine aircraft struck trees and crashed on Mt Owen Stanley. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found. In October 1970, while searching for a missing Piper Aztec, the wreckage of the Piaggio was found.
Probable cause:
It was reported the pilot failed to follow the proper routing to Port Moresby.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Bereina

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BMN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Bereina
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft landed hard, causing a wing to touch the ground and to be sheared off. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway and came to rest. All 15 occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Wabag

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BMD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Wabag
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A undercarriage collapsed on landing at Wabag Airstrip. The twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed on landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Kokoda

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UTY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Kokoda
MSN:
4041
YOM:
1933
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was performing a cargo flight from Port Moresby to Kokoda, carrying mail, freezer meat, bread, Christmas parcels and general cargo. The pilot Frank Goosens remembers: "I had to circle and circle to climb over the Gap. I jumped over the ridge to get over Lake Myola, and had to tackle one more ridge. Instead of getting an updraft, I was in a downdraft, tried to turn back and in doing so, dodging around the hills, I fell into a spin, caught not get out and wrapped the Fox Moth around a tree. The plane was a wreck but apart from a bleeding forehead I was unscratched. Everything in front of the pilot's cabin was crushed. The engine was pushed right back and must have just missed my head." Frank Goosens attempted to walk out of the jungle on the Kokoda Trail, but after being seen by a searching DC-3, returned to the wreck and slept in the cockpit for two nights while waiting the arrival of the ground search party.
Probable cause:
Caught by downdraft on approach.

Crash of a Short S.45 Solent 3 off Brisbane

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-TOC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brisbane – Port Moresby
MSN:
S.1308
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The takeoff procedure from the Brisbane River was completed by night. After liftoff, while climbing to a height of 5 meters at a speed of 110 knots, the seaplane hit a davit on the stern of a moored dredge, causing the right wing to be cut off for about 6.7 meters in line with the float. The fuselage was also badly damaged in different points. The crew abandon the takeoff and was able to park the airplane on the beach. All four crew members were unhurt but the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Cpt K. H. Goddard,
Cpt P. H. Mathieson,
F/O J. Cole,
F/O R. Bush, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the takeoff procedure was attempted in strong winds and that the crew failed to observe the obstacles in due time.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Tapini

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Tapini
MSN:
4040
YOM:
1933
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was performing a flight from Port Moresby with three passengers, one pilot and two sacks of rice. Upon landing, an undercarriage failed. The aircraft veered off runway and eventually collided with an embankment. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was not repaired and considered as damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the pilot was normally on DC-3's and that his experience on DH.83 Fox Moth was negligible. Apparently, the aircraft encountered katabatic winds on landing.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Port Moresby

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AVQ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lae – Port Moresby
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Port Moresby Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances 20 miles east of the city. Both crewmen were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson in Port Moresby

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VH-AVZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cape York - Port Moresby
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing in Port Moresby, the brakes failed. The aircraft overran and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off. It was performing a flight from Cape York-Higgins Field (Red Island, Queensland).
Probable cause:
Failure of the brake systems.