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Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Sydney

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AND
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne – Sydney
MSN:
42950
YOM:
1946
Location:
Sydney
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop and overran. The airplane hit a drain, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was heavily damaged. It was later considered as damaged beyond economical repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 near York: 29 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1950 at 2212 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ANA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Perth – Adelaide – Melbourne
MSN:
42910
YOM:
1946
Location:
York
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft christened 'Amana' left Perth Airport runway 29 at 2150LT on a regular schedule service to Melbourne via Adelaide. Shortly after takeoff, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine number four that must be shut down. Later, few other problems occurred on the three remaining engines, and in such situation, the captain decided to return to Perth for a safe landing. During the last turn completed by night and at low height, the aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area located 19 km northwest of York. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. A passenger was seriously injured while 28 other occupants were killed. Six days later, the only survivor died from his terrible injuries.
Probable cause:
The Inquiry found that the aircraft suffered a total loss of engine power on at least one occasion, followed by rapid loss of height until it struck the ground. However, the evidence did not allow the court to determine the cause of the total loss of engine power. Consequently, the court was unable to determine the cause of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-232 in Mangalore

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Launceston - Melbourne
MSN:
2002
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mangalore
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (two pilots and one stewardess) was positioning from Launceston to Melbourne. On approach to Essendon, poor weather conditions forced ATC to close the airport to all trafic and VH-UZJ was diverted to Mangalore Airport. On approach, the aircraft was too low, crashed in a field and broke in two. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the pilot who continued the approach at an unsafe altitude.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-232 in Mount Macedon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1948 at 0740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Melbourne – Deniliquin
MSN:
2003
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mount Macedon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Kurana' left Melbourne-Essendon at 0726LT bound for Deniliquin. Fourteen minutes later, the crew encountered low visibility due to clouds. At an altitude of 3,000 feet, the crew increased power on both engines to gain height but the aircraft hit trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All 19 passengers and the stewardess were injured while all three crew members were killed as the cockpit was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the aircraft striking high ground whilst flying in cloud at a height of approximately 3,000 feet was that:
a) The pilot failed to follow the track specified in his flight plan and deviated about nine miles to port of the correct track. This deviation was either deliberate or due to an error in navigation.
b) The pilot failed to comply with the visual flight rules' requirements, thus violating the conditions of his flight clearance.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL near Quirindi: 13 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1948 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ANK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Brisbane – Sydney
MSN:
9999
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
ANA331
Location:
Quirindi
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While cruising in low visibility due to marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Square Peak (4,600 feet) located in the region of Quirindi. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 13 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was off course by 100 miles.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, the inquiry found that the probable cause of the crash was interference with the airplane's magnetic compass due to a nearby electrical storm and a defect in the navigational signals sent by the Government-maintained Kempsey low-frequency radio range station, an important navigational aid to flights in the area. Errors and deficiencies in the aeronautical charts used to navigate the mountainous area were also found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Hobart: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1946 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AET
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hobart – Melbourne
MSN:
6013
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hobart
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1400
Aircraft flight hours:
7477
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Hobart-Cambridge Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control, nosed down and crashed in the Derwent estuary, near the Seven Mile Beach. The aircraft was destroyed and no survivor was found among the 25 occupants.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the captain inadvertently switched on the autopilot system in lieu of the fuel cross feed system. A forward movement on the control column was then noted and the aircraft plunged into the sea. At the time of the accident, the capacities and the performances of the captain were considered as reduced because he suffered of diabetes and was under influence of insulin, which could be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-49A-DO off Tacloban: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1945 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CDC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Manila – Tacloban
MSN:
3282
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tacloban
Leyte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The approach to Tacloban was performed in poor weather conditions. The aircraft landed hard and after touchdown, the captain decided to go around, increased power on both engines, pull up the control column and attempted a go around. The aircraft climbed to a height of 200 feet, passed few meters from the control tower, continued over the sea and eventually crashed into the sea about a mile offshore. Rescue teams arrived on the scene about five hours later and a passenger was rescued while 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, weather conditions at Tacloban were considered as poor with heavy rain falls, strong winds and low visibility due to night. Fuel reserve were sufficient to divert to another airport and the crew underestimated the situation and continued the approach despite the low visibility and poor weather. Following this tragedy, night operations will be prohibited on Philippines airports for USAAF.

Crash of a Stinson Model A-2W near Redesdale: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1945 at 0825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UYY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne – Kerang – Mildura – Broken Hill
MSN:
9130
YOM:
1936
Location:
Redesdale
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Enroute, the outer port wing broke off. The three engine aircraft christened 'Tokana' dove into the ground and crashed near Redesdale, killing all 10 occupants.
Crew:
Alan Murn, pilot,
Orville Openshaw, copilot.
Probable cause:
It appears that the physical loss of the port wing was caused by a structural failure due to the presence of fatigue cracks. Following this accident, it was decreed that all aircraft should henceforth be x-rayed for signs of cracks and structural weaknesses. The presence of turbulence and strong winds at the time of the accident was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-40-11 LodeStar in Brisbane

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CAF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2121
YOM:
1942
Location:
Brisbane
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Brisbane-Archerfield Airport. No casualties. This was the third landing accident with this aircraft at Archerfield in three months. The previous time, on February 23, the aircraft made a belly landing as well.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide near Cape Sidmouth

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1944
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne - Cairns
MSN:
6341
Location:
Cape Sidmouth
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. Aircraft ended up on a beach located 13 miles south of Cape Sidmouth, near the Princess Charlotte Bay. The crew of a RAAF Catalina spotted the aircraft a day later and was able to land and to evacuate all six occupants uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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